Local man heading to Nashville for ‘American Idol’

A local man is heading to Nashville to sing before judges on the TV show, “American Idol,” next month.

Elijah McCormick, of Hoke County, graduated Pinecrest High School in 2019 and is currently attending Sandhills Community College studying medical billing and coding. He works as a tech for a local ophthalmologist in Aberdeen. Even with his busy schedule, Elijah finds time to sing at weddings, church, and birthday parties.

“I started singing when I was around six in my dad’s family’s church,” said Elijah. “My family is full of singers, and my dad plays the drums. My freshman year of high school, in chamber choir, is when singing became a big part of me. I loved it; I got lost in it.” 

Singing a little bit of everything from R&B, gospel, pop, and some country, Elijah said, “Hands down, gospel and R&B are my favorite to sing.”

After his high school graduation, those dreams seemed impossible to reach. Elijah was involved in a fiery head-on collision near his home. Plans then to audition for a national singing competition were put on hold. 

Elijah McCormick’s car suffered extensive damage after he was involved in a life-altering accident on June 8, 2019/Sandhills Sentinel.

Elijah was life flighted from the crash scene and wouldn’t return home for almost three months. The first two weeks was critical as he could not breathe on his own. Having his hip replaced, multiple broken bones, and 10 surgeries, Elijah would go on to make a full recovery.

“I wondered if I could still sing,” said Elijah. “It took me a few months to get motivated, but the love for music never went away.” People kept telling Elijah that he was here for a reason, a purpose.  

Elijah will depart for Nashville on Nov. 8 to perform in front of famous judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Katy Perry. He will spend about a week there for interviews, rehearsals, and the actual audition. Elijah had to pass three producer rounds to get his ticket to Nashville.

“This is a great experience, once in a lifetime,” said Elijah. “I’m going to enjoy the moment.”

Elijah’s message to those with a dream is to ‘keep following your dream; there will be bumps and hills in the road but just do it and have faith.”

Watch for Elijah on “American Idol” in the spring.

To read about Elijah’s car accident in 2019, please click on below link/picture.

~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Curtis Self. Contact him at [email protected].

Feature photo of Elijah McCormick by Amber Leeann Photography.