Lee University Alumnus Clark Beckham Gets Runner-Up on American Idol
May 14, 2015–Class of 2014 Lee University graduate Clark Beckham was runner-up on the popular talent search competition American Idol, losing to fellow competitor Nick Fradiani on the show’s season finale Wednesday night.
Before millions on the FOX television network, Beckham sang a duet with legendary pop star Michael McDonald as part of the two-hour season-ending wrap up. Idol’s 14th season debuted in January with shows that criss-crossed the country in search of 24 contestants that would appear on the show. Beckham auditioned in Nashville, not far from his hometown of White House, Tennessee.
Clark Beckham performs on the American Idol stage (click photo to enlarge)
While a student at Lee, Beckham was a history major and an active member of the Campus Choir, directed by Jimmy Phillips. Throughout the season, Beckham lauded his experience at Lee University and with Campus Choir as the primary foundation of his performances on the show.
“Lee has formed me into being the man I am today,” Beckham told Lee President Dr. Paul Conn. “My Lee experience is absolutely, without question the primary factor in making me the musician, Christian and man that American Idol has seen, tested and has wanted on their show.”
As part of the season finale Wednesday night, Beckham and Fradiani were asked to invite their mentors as guests. Invitations were presented when the Top Four contestants travelled to their hometowns to give a concert performance. The hometown shows were aired on May 6 and coverage of Beckham’s concert at White House showed an appearance of the Campus Choir as a surprise to Beckham.
(L-R) Clark Beckham, Nick Fradiani and AI host Ryan Seacrest are joined by the mentors Jimmy Phillips (Beckham) and Nick Abraham (Fradiani) (TV screen shot; Click to enlarge)
During Wednesday’s finale, Beckham’s mentor was Campus Choir Director Phillips, who appeared on the show during a segment where the final two contestants publicly thanked their mentors for their leadership. As a surprise, Idol sponsor Ford Motor Company presented both the finalists and the mentors with keys to a new Ford Focus.
The show’s two-hour finale capped the five month run of Idol where the 24 original contestants were one-by-one voted off the show based on the results of millions of votes cast via online, phone, and text. Beckham gained weekly, nationwide exposure to millions as he sang and played his way to the Top Two finish.
Beckham’s Christian character and integrity showed through on several occasions during the season. He frequently thanked God for the opportunity, both live on the show and through social media. When asked during a live interview on the Wednesday finale of his feelings about what was in store, he stated, “whatever happens it’s in the Lord’s hands.” Following the announcement of the winner, Beckham tweeted, “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.”
Lee President Paul Conn tweeted, “I am so proud of Clark Beckham! In all the pressure, he stayed true to himself and his values. Great talent; great character.”
Although Beckham barely missed the top prize, his experience with Idol is far from over. This summer the Top Five will perform in 27 concerts across the country as part of the American Idol Tour.
“God is music, God made music, God put music in me,” Beckham said in an interview with the Nashville Tennesseean. “He’s driven me here, and in many ways, protected me from certain things, certain doors, that I wanted to go through that He closed. He so clearly opened this door, so I just went through. It’s just been really great, and I’m just trusting Him, going where He leads.”
—By Cameron Fisher
