Jay

S20 · Eliminated (6th–7th)

Latest documented update, April 29, 2023

Jay Copeland is a singer and actor from Salisbury, Maryland. He released the single Unlonely on May 13, 2022, through 19 Recordings. His stage credits include Hairspray, Jesus Christ Superstar and a 2022 opening set for Patti LaBelle. From April 11 to 29, 2023 he was in the cast of Ain't Misbehavin' at Westport Country Playhouse.⁠[1][2][3][4]

Career

Before the show

  1. 2020Jay Copeland won the 2020 National Association of Teachers of Singing competition with Lost in the Wilderness.⁠[7]

After the show

  1. May 13, 2022On May 10, 2022, Jay Copeland announced that the single Unlonely would come out that Friday. It was released on May 13, 2022, through 19 Recordings under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC.⁠[1][2]

Date not documented

  1. Before American Idol, Jay Copeland had been in graduate school on a fellowship for a master's degree in acting, after a bachelor's degree in theater and music.⁠[1]
  2. Jay Copeland is a Salisbury University alumnus of the class of 2020. He spent four years in its Music, Theatre and Dance program.⁠[7]

Discography

No releases are documented yet.

Awards

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2020National Association of Teachers of SingingNATS competition⁠[7]Lost in the WildernessWon

Other activity

  • 2022In 2022, Jay Copeland was the opening act for Patti LaBelle in concert. His other stage credits include Seaweed in Hairspray and Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar.⁠[3]
  • 2022Jay Copeland received a Platinum Ticket in the American Idol season 20 auditions. One account calls it one of three platinum tickets. Another account calls him the first contestant to receive a Platinum Ticket.⁠[1][3]
  • April 11, 2023Jay Copeland made his Westport Country Playhouse debut in the cast of Ain't Misbehavin', which ran from April 11 to 29, 2023.⁠[1][3][4]

Sources

7 sources

  1. American Idol: Jay Copeland Announces a New Single — Screen Rant, published May 10, 2022. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (7)
    • Opening: “23-year-old musician from Salisbury, Maryland”
    • Announcement: “he will release his single "Unlonely" this Friday”
    • Date: “Published May 10, 2022”
    • Training: “graduate school on a fellowship for a master's degree in acting”
    • Training: “a bachelor's degrees in theater and music”
    • Audition: “one of the three platinum tickets of the season”
    • Handle: “@theejaycopeland”
  2. iTunes Search API: Jay Copeland Unlonely — Apple. Release database. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (3)
    • Unlonely - Single: "releaseDate":"2022-05-13T07:00:00Z"
    • Unlonely - Single: "copyright":"℗ 2022 19 Recordings, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC"
    • Unlonely - Single: "artistName":"Jay Copeland"
  3. Jay Copeland — Westport Country Playhouse. Label or artist. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (6)
    • Stage credits: “opening act for Patti LaBelle in Concert 2022”
    • Credits: “Stage credits: Hairspray (Seaweed), Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas), opening act for Patti LaBelle in Concert 2022”
    • Idol: “the first-ever contestant to receive a Platinum Ticket”
    • Debut: “making his debut appearance at the Westport Country Playhouse”
    • Engagements: “Ain’t Misbehavin’”
    • Handle: “Instagram and TikTok: theejaycopeland”
  4. Ain't Misbehavin' — Westport Country Playhouse. Label or artist. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (2)
    • Dates: “April 11 – 29, 2023 Ain’t Misbehavin’”
    • Meet the cast: “Paris Bennett* Jay Copeland Judith Franklin*”
  5. List of American Idol finalists — Wikipedia, updated June 10, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • Contestants table, row Jay: Season 20, Place finish 6th-7th
  6. American Idol season 20 — Wikipedia, updated December 31, 2025. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • Top 7 – TikTok & Mother's Day (May 8) table (Eliminated); Elimination chart, row Jay: Pl. 6 (shared), Top 7 column (5/8)
  7. SU's Copeland Makes American Idol Debut March 21 — Salisbury University, published March 17, 2022. Official record. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (6)
    • NATS: “won the 2020 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition”
    • Entry: “Copeland’s entry, “Lost in the Wilderness,””
    • Alumnus: “Salisbury native and SU alumnus Jay Copeland ’20”
    • Program: “Music, Theatre and Dance Department”
    • Years: “over his four years in the program”
    • Entry: ““Lost in the Wilderness,””

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