Throughout high school, Christian music artist Colton Dixon sang in the choir, while also playing in a rock band called Messenger with his younger sister, Schyler. ∙ Dixon first gained widespread attention in 2012 as a contestant on the 11th season of American Idol, in which he placed seventh. ∙ He didn’t originally intend to audition for American Idol—he had tagged along to support his sister—but wound up landing a spot after the judges encouraged him to try out. ∙ His 2013 debut, A Messenger, topped the Billboard Christian album chart, a feat he repeated with subsequent LPs Anchor and Identity. ∙ Following the release of Identity, he signed with Atlantic Records, his first contract with a non-Christian label. ∙ Dixon’s had a long-running collaboration with late songwriter/producer busbee (Gwen Stefani, P!nk, Kelly Clarkson) concluded with “Miracles,” the lead single from his self-titled 2020 EP. ∙ He has been nominated for four Dove Awards, winning twice.