Michael J. Woodard

S16 · Eliminated (4th–5th)

As of November 28, 2025

Michael J. Woodard voiced Arlo in Arlo the Alligator Boy in 2021, signed with Unsub Records in May 2021, and released the EP MJW1 on January 12, 2024.⁠[1]

Career

Before the show

  1. 2009In 2009, performed the national anthem for the Philadelphia Freedoms and for the last men's quarterfinal at the US Open.⁠[1]
  2. 2010In 2010, performed at the US Open again, and months later performed at a rally for President Barack Obama.⁠[1]
  3. 2012In 2012, won Majors & Minors.⁠[1]

After the show

  1. March 17, 2021Mary Lambert and Michael J. Woodard released the single Follow Me Home on March 17, 2021.⁠[5]
  2. May 7, 2021On May 7, 2021, Katy Perry announced that she had signed him to Unsub Records, her Capitol Records imprint.⁠[1][4]
  3. January 12, 2024On January 12, 2024, released the debut EP MJW1 on Unsub Records/Capitol Records.⁠[1]

Date not documented

  1. After season 16, was featured on the American Idol Live tour with Cade Foehner, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Catie Turner, Gabby Barrett, Jurnee, and Maddie Poppe.⁠[6]
  2. By December 15, 2021, had released why you texting me? and hope full.⁠[7]

Discography

Releases of Michael J. Woodard
TitleTypeYearLabelRIAA certificationU.S. sales
MJW1⁠[1]EP2024Unsub Records/Capitol RecordsNot documentedNot documented

Awards

Award wins and nominations of Michael J. Woodard
YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2021Hollywood Music in Media AwardsBest Original Song in an Animated Film⁠[1][8]Follow Me HomeNominated
2022Annie AwardsOutstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production⁠[1][9][10]Arlo the Alligator BoyNominated

Other activity

  • 2021In 2021, voiced Arlo in the film Arlo the Alligator Boy and again in the series I Heart Arlo. By April 16, 2021, the film was streaming on Netflix.⁠[1][11]

Sources

11 sources

  1. Michael J. Woodard — Wikipedia, updated November 28, 2025. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
    Cited parts (8) of source 1
    • Career: “his voice acting debut in 2021, starring as the titular character in the animated musical film ''[[Arlo the Alligator Boy]]''.”
    • Career: “In May 2021, Woodard was signed to [[Unsub Records]]”
    • Career: “On January 12 2024 he released his debut E.P, ''MJW1'' on Unsub Records/Capitol Records.”
    • Lead sentence: “born October 6, 1997”
    • Infobox, Born line (birth_date): {{Birth date and age|1997|10|6}}
    • Career: “In 2009, Woodard performed the national anthem for the [[Philadelphia Freedoms]]”
    • Career: [[2009 US Open (tennis)|US Open]]
    • Career: “He performed at the US Open again in 2010, and months later performed at a rally for President [[Barack Obama]].”
  2. List of American Idol finalists — Wikipedia, updated June 10, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1) of source 2
    • Contestants table, row Michael J. Woodard: Season 16, Place finish 4th-5th
  3. American Idol season 16 — Wikipedia, updated July 21, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1) of source 3
    • Top 5 – Carrie Underwood & Mother's Day (May 13) table (Eliminated); Elimination chart, row Michael J. Woodard: Pl. 4 (shared), Top 5 column (5/13)
  4. Katy Perry Signs American Idol Alum Michael J. Woodard to a Record Deal — mjsbigblog, published May 7, 2021. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (3) of source 4
    • Lead: “she signed American Idol season 16 alum and animated movie star, Michael J Woodard to her Capitol Records imprint, Unsub Records.”
    • Dateline: “05/07/2021”
    • Lead: “Capitol Records imprint, Unsub Records.”
  5. MusicBrainz release group Follow Me Home — MusicBrainz. Release database. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (4) of source 5
    • Artist credit: "name":"Mary Lambert"
    • Artist credit: "name":"Michael J. Woodard"
    • Release group: "title":"Follow Me Home"
    • Release group: "first-release-date":"2021-03-17"
  6. What Ever Happened to American Idol Standout Jurnee? — Talent Recap, published April 7, 2022. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (1) of source 6
    • Jurnee on Tour: “featured fellow Idol contestants Cade Foehner, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Catie Turner, Gabby Barrett, Maddie Poppe, as well as Michael J. Woodard.”
  7. Interview: The Joy of Michael J Woodard — Atwood Magazine, published December 15, 2021. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (3) of source 7
    • Byline: “December 15, 2021”
    • Discography paragraph: “why you texting me?”
    • Discography paragraph: “hope full”
  8. Hollywood Music in Media Awards winners — Billboard. News report. Cited by another source; not opened by our researchers.
    Cited parts (1) of source 8
    • Winners article cited from the awards table
  9. Annie Awards Nominations 2022 — Deadline, published December 21, 2021. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (2) of source 9
    • Title: “Annie Awards Nominations 2022”
    • TV/Media nominees: “Michael J. Woodard ( Arlo the Alligator Boy )”
  10. 49th Annie Awards — Wikipedia, updated September 22, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (2) of source 10
    • Lead: “was held on March 12, 2022”
    • Winners and nominees, Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production: [[Michael J. Woodard]] as Arlo in ''[[Arlo the Alligator Boy]]''
  11. Philly native, American Idol alum lands title role in Netflix film Arlo the Alligator Boy — 6abc, published April 16, 2021. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (2) of source 11
    • Lead: “an animated musical now streaming on Netflix.”
    • Byline: “Friday, April 16, 2021”

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