Colton Dixon Biography
Who is Colton Dixon?
Michael Colton Dixon, born Oct. 19, 1991, in Murfreesboro, TN, is an American singer-songwriter known for his contributions to Christian music. He gained national attention as a finalist on the eleventh season of American Idol in 2012, finishing in seventh place.
Dixon first auditioned for American Idol in its tenth season alongside his sister Schyler but did not advance to the Top 24. He returned the following season initially to support his sister, but after encouragement from the judges, he auditioned himself. Performing David Cook's "Permanent," Dixon earned a golden ticket. While Schyler was eliminated early, Dixon advanced to the Top 13, gaining momentum with his performance of Paramore's "Decode."
Following American Idol, Dixon signed with Sparrow Records and released his debut album, A Messenger, in 2013. The album topped the Billboard Christian Albums chart and reached No. 15 on the Billboard 200. His second album, Anchor (2014), also debuted at No. 1 on the Christian chart, driven by the single "More of You." In 2015, he released The Calm Before the Storm, combining his acoustic EP Calm with the remix EP Storm. His third studio album, Identity, arrived in 2017 and again reached No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart.
In 2020, Dixon transitioned to Atlantic Records and worked with producers including Robopop and Busbee on his self-titled EP, Colton Dixon. His 2022 single "Build a Boat" became a major Christian radio hit. A new version featuring Gabby Barrett followed in January 2023. The song, along with "My Light," appeared on his 2023 EP, Canvas.
Since 2020, Dixon has also released several non-album singles that have extended his radio presence. "Up + Up" became a Top 10 Christian radio hit, while "Rest of My Life," released in 2024 and featured in the film Sight, marked a return to a more cinematic sound. He followed with "The Love I Have for You" in 2025, which charted across multiple Christian formats. In 2026, Dixon released "In Spite of Me" and "Bones." Released on October 9, "Bones" draws inspiration from the biblical account of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37.
Dixon's music combines rock, electro-pop, and Christian music, and he continues to release music as a recording artist in contemporary Christian music.