Season 12 of American Idol has its share of Christian contestants: Eight of the top 10 are Christians.
Contestants Candice Glover, Lazaro Arbos, Janelle Arthur, Curtis Finch Jr., Amber Holcolm, Angie Miller, Devin Velez, and Burnell Taylor are all in it to win it.
They’re also not ashamed to share their faith with the world while they’re at it. Angie Miller, who many expect to be crowned winner this year, often tweets about her faith.
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“Church isn’t the only time to worship and hear from/spend time with God. That should happen on an everyday basis,” she recently tweeted.
Miller became a fan favorite after performing an original worship song called, “You Set Me Free,” during the Hollywood auditions. (Read the lyrics below.)
Judges were blown away by the performance.
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Judge Mariah Carey later said the performance left her “clothed in goose bumps and bathed in tears.”
Miller also performed a slowed down rendition of “Never Gone” by Season 11 American Idol contestant Colton Dixon. Dixon, who often spoke about his faith while on the show, released a Christian album called A Messenger in January.
Chicago native Devin Velez is another standout performer. Several home videos of the 18-year-old singing worship songs are posted on Youtube.
After making the top 10 on American Idol Season 12, the smooth crooner performed the song, “Power of One” by Grammy Award-winning artist Israel Houghton.
In a tweet Houghton replied, “Wow, man thanks for singing our song. Humbled and honored. And you smashed it!!! Congrats for going through. Take it all bro.”
Velez’s mother, Sandra Liz Lam, was in the audience of the Las Vegas theater when it was revealed her son made it to the finals of the competition.
Idol host Ryan Seacrest invited Lam on stage, where she wrapped her oldest child in a huge hug and shouted, “Hallelujah. Thank You, Jesus. Praise You, Jesus.”
Velez also tweets about his faith. On Thursday he tweeted, “This is the day the Lord has made so lets REJOICE!”
Another tweet read, “I just have to remember why I’m here, and that everything, is in HIS hands.”
Finsalist Cuirtis Finch Jr. impresses the Judges
Finalist Curtis Finch Jr., took Idol and America to church and left judges praising God after his rendition of “I Believe I Can Fly.”
Finch, a gospel singer and worship leader, received a standing ovation from the judges and the audience. Idol Judge Keith Urban was moved by the soul-stirring performance.
“Good and light and godly and whole. You have so much hope in you and we need that. Thank you, Curtis,” Urban said.
“Let’s all just say, ‘Praise God.’ Dude I felt like the competition tonight, it started right here,” judge Randy Jackson said. “This is what you do right here.”
While these contestants are all striving to be the next big star, they appear to be grounded in something bigger than the show or their voices.
Lyrics to “You Set Me Free”:
You find me here alone
I hear a voice that’s so unknown
It strikes courage up my backbone
Strengthen my heart
A life set apart
I see that’s what you are
You come, you come with open arms
And you say “I love you for who you are”
When I was haunted and alone
With this baggage on my back dragging me down
You set me free
You set me free
You set me free
