'America's Got Talent' on NBC: Drake Milligan quit American idol but is back to try his luck again
Competing on a reality talent-hunt show is one of the easiest and sure-shot ways to not only break into the entertainment industry but also become famous, and nobody knows this better than Drake Milligan. The Texas native had fans swooning all over him after his performance on 'American Idol' Season 16. But sadly, the Elvis Presley impersonator left fans disappointed when he abruptly quit the singing competition show. If you've been missing him, then get ready to watch him audition for 'America's Got Talent'.
Will Milligan be able to impress Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, and Heidi Klum just the way he wowed the 'American Idol' judges? We will have to watch the upcoming episode to get our answers. But in the meanwhile, you can learn more about this King of Rock's look-alike here.
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Who is Drake Milligan?
Born in Mansfield, Texas, Drake Milligan is best known for his striking resemblance to Elvis Presley. Having grown up listening to country music, Milligan decided to pursue a career in the music industry. He started off by performing as Elvis's impersonator. He even landed a role on CMT's 'Sun Records' series where he reprised the role of Elvis.
In an interview with Sounds Like Nashville, Milligan discussed his childhood and career. He recounted, "I grew up with both of my parents’ music. My dad runs a scrap metal recycling yard and my mom’s a veterinarian. We had all the George Jones, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson and George Strait CDs. One of my first loves in music were George Strait’s CDs, which [my dad] always had in his car. My mom was cool too. She had all the Waylon Jennings and outlaw stuff that she loved."
"And then when I was about 7 or 8, I discovered Elvis and just thought he was the coolest thing ever. I tried to find everything I could about Elvis, researched all of his movies, songs and dance moves, which grew into me trying to sing like him throughout high school. That was my gig- traveling as an Elvis tribute artist. But all the while, I was playing traditional country songs as well. And then I got into [acting on] CMT’s Sun Records. I was lucky enough to be part of that and figured after the show, I’d move to Nashville to try to make my way as a songwriter and a singer," he added.
Why did Drake Milligan quit 'American Idol'?
After landing the plum role of Elvis Presley on the CMT series, Milligan became a household name when he auditioned for 'American Idol' Season 16. After showing off his velvety smooth vocals with a performance to George Strait's 'You Look So Good in Love', Milligan bagged the golden ticket from Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry. Sadly, fans didn't get to see much of him after his audition as he decided to withdraw from the competition.
In an Instagram post, he explained to his fans and followers that it was a "tough decision" but he wasn't ready for it. He wrote, "Been getting a lot of questions about no longer appearing on American Idol after my audition, just thought I'd let y'all know what's goin' on! After my audition I decided that I wasn't quite ready for that platform yet, and that it would be a better step for me to move to Nashville and focus on my music first! It was a very tough decision, and it in no way reflects my experience during the audition process... Everyone on the show was very kind and I feel absolutely blessed and gracious to have been a part of it! Wishing the best of luck to all the talented folks competing in the show. I will be tuning in all season and I hope y'all do the same! Happy Easter 🐇 #americanidol #bringincountryback #cowboycool."
Though Milligan didn't compete on 'American Idol', he still went on to sign a recording contract with BBR Music Group and released his self-titled debut EP produced by Tony Brown. We can't wait to watch Milligan on 'AGT' Season 17 and hear Simon Cowell's thoughts on him.
'America's Got Talent' Season 17 airs Tuesdays, at 8 pm on NBC. Following the show's premiere, you can catch all-new episodes every Tuesday from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT. For viewers who wish to tune in to the show without cable, they can do so using any of the following streaming services: Sling TV, fuboTV, Hulu With Live TV, AT&T TV, or YouTube TV.
