If you’ve spent any time sprinting through the Charlotte Douglas International Airport trying to catch a connecting flight, you might’ve heard him. A guy sitting at a baby grand piano in the middle of the terminal, basically providing the soundtrack to a thousand travel headaches. That’s Josh King. Or, as the world knows him now, the Season 23 standout who reminded everyone that American Idol still has a soul.
Most people come to these shows wanting to be a "star." Josh? He seemingly just wanted to be there.
There is something inherently "uncool" about being a lounge pianist, right? It’s background noise. It’s the music people talk over while they’re waiting for a delayed flight to Dallas. But Josh King turned that invisibility into a superpower. When he stepped onto that Nashville audition floor in 2025, he wasn't just another kid with a guitar. He was a 24-year-old from Matthews, North Carolina, who had already played thousands of hours for people who weren't even looking at him.
That kind of training does something to a performer. It makes you humble, or it makes you quit. Josh didn't quit.
The Audition That Almost Didn’t Happen
Honestly, the drive to the audition was a mess. It was only a few days after Hurricane Helene had torn through the region, and I-40 was a disaster zone. Josh actually had his dad help with the driving just so he could focus on his mental prep. Imagine that—weaving through road closures and storm debris just to get a shot at a Golden Ticket.
He walked in and sang "Over the Rainbow." It’s a cliché song choice, usually. But Josh did it with this jazz-inflected, scatting style that actually divided the judges.
Lionel Richie saw the "Pop" potential immediately. Luke Bryan was on board. But Carrie Underwood? She actually voted "no." She thought he was too "loungey"—stuck in that airport piano man headspace. She wasn't wrong, technically. Josh had spent years being the "background," and stepping into the foreground is a completely different beast.
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But he made it to Hollywood anyway. And that’s where the "Background Singer" started to disappear.
What Really Happened in the Bottom Two
Let's talk about the moment that basically broke the internet for Idol fans. It was May 5, 2025. The Top 8.
Josh was standing on that stage next to Mattie Pruitt. Only one of them was going to stay. The judges—Lionel and Luke—had the power to save one. It’s usually a high-drama, tear-filled TV moment where everyone is begging for their life.
Josh did something else.
While the judges were debating, he literally started pointing at Mattie. He was gesturing to the judges, basically saying, "Pick her. Save her." He wasn't giving up because he didn't care; he was giving up because he genuinely thought she deserved it more.
You don't see that on reality TV. It's a shark tank usually. People called him a "class act" for weeks after that, and honestly, it's the most "Josh King" thing that could’ve happened. He’s a guy who spent his life playing for tips and travelers; he knows how to share the room.
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The Setlist That Defined His Run
- Audition: "Over the Rainbow" (The jazz version that almost cost him)
- Top 24: "I'm Still Standing" (A high-energy Elton John pivot)
- Top 12: "All By Myself" (The performance that finally made Carrie a fan)
- Top 8: "Home" by Michael Bublé (His final, selfless curtain call)
The Health Scare Nobody Saw Coming
After the show ended, things got scary.
In June 2025, Josh was at a songwriting retreat in Virginia with a bunch of other Season 23 alumni—Nina Daig, Skylie Marie Thompson, and Grayson Torrence. It was supposed to be a fun "we survived Idol" getaway.
He woke up one morning and literally couldn't move.
The diagnosis was SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome). It’s basically when your body goes into a massive inflammatory overdrive. His heart rate was sitting at 130 bpm while he was just lying there. Doctors pointed to a "perfect storm" of dehydration, exhaustion, and the massive comedown from the stress of being on national television for months.
It was a wake-up call. The "Jack of all trades" (his own words) was running on empty.
Beyond the "Idol" Bubble
So, where is he now? If you think he just went back to the airport and faded away, you haven't been paying attention.
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Josh released a single on Thanksgiving 2025 called "Gingerbread Man." It’s not the lounge-jazz stuff people expected. It’s more "alt-pop"—think a mix of soulful vocals with a more modern, rhythmic edge. He’s also been leaning back into his roots. Not many people know this, but Josh was actually mentored by the late blues legend James Cotton.
Cotton used to call Josh his "musical grandson."
That’s why you’ll see Josh whip out a harmonica in the middle of a set and absolutely shred. It’s that raw, bluesy foundation that keeps his pop music from feeling too "shiny" or fake.
What You Can Learn From the Josh King Story
Josh King didn't win American Idol. Jamal Roberts took the crown for Season 23 (and deservedly so, the guy is a powerhouse). But Josh won the "long game."
He proved that you don't have to be the loudest person in the room to be the most memorable. He also proved that "success" on a reality show isn't always about the trophy; it's about the connections. He’s still tight with his Season 23 castmates—they were the ones who literally sat by his hospital bed when he was down.
Next Steps for Fans and Artists
If you’re following Josh’s journey or trying to build your own music career, here’s the "Josh King" playbook:
- Master your "10,000 hours" in the shadows. Play the airports, the hospitals, and the empty bars. By the time the cameras find you, you'll be unshakeable.
- Don't be afraid of the pivot. Josh moved from "Lounge Pianist" to "Alt-Pop Artist" because he listened to the critique that he was "too safe."
- Character is your best marketing. People remember how you treat others. That moment with Mattie Pruitt did more for his brand than a first-place trophy ever could.
- Watch for the debut album. He’s currently working on his first full-length project for a 2026 release. It’s expected to lean heavily into that "alt-pop" sound he’s been teasing on socials.
The CLT airport still has a piano, and Josh still has a voice. But these days, people aren't just walking past him to catch a flight. They're stopping to listen.
Check out his latest single "Gingerbread Man" on streaming platforms if you want to hear what he sounds like when the "lounge" filters are finally off.