Colton Dixon & Jordan Feliz: Love & Light Tour

Colton Dixon’s 2013 debut, A Messenger, set the record for biggest first-week sales by a new solo Christian act, becoming the No. 1 selling album of 2013 by a new Christian artist and the No. 9 best-selling album of 2013 in the Christian genre overall. A Messenger also became the No. 22 best- selling album across all genres that same year, while Dixon was still reeling from his highly publicized seventh place finish on Season 11 of American Idol.

Awards and accolades followed. Colton received three Dove Award nominations, winning for Best Contemporary/Rock Album, and he was nominated for Male Artist of the Year at the 2014 KLOVE Fan Awards. Colton also racked up two No. 1 radio singles in 2013 and toured with Third Day, TobyMac and Josh Wilson. And he was recently named an Official Steinway Artist by the legendary piano maker.

It was a dream debut, but Idol fame can be fleeting without a strong foundation and a solid sense of who you are as an artist and a person. Fortunately, as Colton Dixon readies his sophomore project, Anchor (August 19, 19 Recordings/Capitol CMG), he’s as grounded as ever, with his feet planted firmly in faith and family and a clear idea of where he’s headed artistically.

Despite all the life-changing opportunities of the past few years, Colton is still pretty much the same guy that left Tennessee for Hollywood. Home base is still in Murfreesboro, which speaks as much to his grounded foundation as it does to his hectic schedule. While Colton’s parents were always extremely supportive, a career in music wasn’t a given. A self-described “sports guy,” his early interests included soccer, hockey and baseball. His dad coached his little league team, and Colton loved the pitcher’s mound and the psychological aspects of the game.

If music hadn’t worked out, Colton probably would have gone into ministry. His passion for inspiring people and meeting them where they are may have been put to use pastoring a church, leading worship full-time or serving as a youth minister. Instead, music just happens to be the tool God gave him to minister to others.

“I have a strong passion for my generation, to motivate them to the keep the torch lit,” he says. That passion plays a starring role on the new album. After the first record, he realized how easy it was to get distracted, to drift from where he needed to be. That’s where the title Anchor came from. That tendency to drift wasn’t something unique to him. Colton knew that others would relate, and that he could encourage listeners by being honest about his own struggles.