Josh King

S23 · Eliminated (8th)

As of November 27, 2025

Josh King is a Charlotte, North Carolina singer and pianist who has played as a volunteer at Charlotte Douglas International Airport since 2018. On November 27, 2025, he released the single Gingerbread Man on Kings Forge Records.⁠[1][2][3]

Career

Before the show

  1. 2018He has been a volunteer piano player at Charlotte Douglas International Airport since 2018, and by October 23, 2025, he was playing the atrium baby grand again.⁠[1][2]

After the show

  1. November 27, 2025He released the single Gingerbread Man on November 27, 2025, on Kings Forge Records.⁠[3][6]

Date not documented

  1. Blues harmonica player James Cotton encouraged him to sing and write.⁠[1]
  2. During the show, Lionel Richie told him to believe in himself, write good songs, and never give up.⁠[2]
  3. He volunteers at local hospitals, where he performs for patients.⁠[1]

Discography

No releases are documented yet.

Awards

Checked October 8, 2026; none found.

Other activity

  • October 23, 2025As of October 23, 2025, he was using performance tips to pay for studio demos to send to record labels and producers.⁠[2]

Sources

6 sources

  1. Josh King on American Idol 2025 — The Direct, published April 15, 2025. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (4)
    • Lead: “the Charlotte, North Carolina hopeful”
    • Airport: “playing the grand piano in the atrium at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport”
    • James Cotton section: “credits James Cotton for encouraging the American Idol hopeful to sing, write music”
    • Hospitals: “he volunteers at local hospitals where he entertains and performs for patients”
  2. From Idol stage to CLT keys — Charlotte Douglas International Airport, published October 23, 2025. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (5)
    • Tips section: “King has been a CLT volunteer since 2018”
    • Dateline: “10-23-2025”
    • Opening: “returned to the new baby grand in the Airport's Atrium”
    • Lionel Richie: “Lionel told me I need to believe in myself, write good songs, and never give up.”
    • Studio costs: “uses his tips to help pay for studio time to create demos he can send to record labels and producers”
  3. Apple album search for Josh King — Apple. Release database. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (5)
    • Gingerbread Man: "collectionName":"Gingerbread Man - Single"
    • Gingerbread Man: "releaseDate":"2025-11-27T08:00:00Z"
    • Gingerbread Man: "copyright":"℗ 2025 Kings Forge Records"
    • Gingerbread Man: "artistName":"Josh King"
    • Gingerbread Man: "artistId":1854022825
  4. List of American Idol finalists — Wikipedia, updated June 10, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • Contestants table, row Josh King: Season 23, Place finish 8th
  5. American Idol season 23 — Wikipedia, updated April 10, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • Top 8 – Judges' Song Contest (May 5) table (Eliminated); Elimination chart, row Josh King: Pl. 8, 5/5 column
  6. Josh King official site — Josh King. Label or artist. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (2)
    • Navigation: “GINGERBREAD MAN”
    • Home: “JOSH KING OUT NOW”

How figures are chosen · Compare Josh King with others