Who is CJ Rislove? Wisconsin singer pulls up in his 'Jazz Wagon' house-on-wheels to 'American Idol' Season 22 audition
Disclaimer: SPOILERS AHEAD
CHIPPEWA FALLS, WISCONSIN: This weekend, a roaming troubadour will make his national television debut on Season 22 of 'American Idol'. CJ Rislove, a prominent musician in Chippewa Falls, will compete in an episode airing on ABC at 8 pm ET on Sunday, March 3.
CJ, a 23-year-old singer and multi-instrumentalist, has spent the last two years traversing the country in a converted bus equipped with a recording studio and a kitchen. If ABC promotional photographs are to be believed, both come in useful.
He is shown carrying a dish of cookies to his major audition in front of hosts Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie.
On January 17, CJ marked the two-year milestone of living full-time on the road! The bus has done so much for the singer, opening up many chances and introducing him to the most lovely group of people he has had the privilege of meeting over the last few years.
"Living in a bus for a lot of people is like, 'Oh really, you do that? That's a little crazy,' but they loved it the whole time," CJ said.
"They were like, 'This is awesome,' just encouraging me, so I drove right up to the audition area, I guess I won't spoil much, but it was just a huge blast."
Did CJ Rislove win Golden Ticket in 'American Idol' Season 22?
CJ stated that he has always been a fan of 'American Idol' and has enjoyed the opportunity to present his original tunes.
If photographs from ABC are any indication, CJ may have already secured a Golden Ticket to Hollywood. In the photo posted by ABC, CJ is seen standing with the Idol judges, holding what seems to be a Golden Ticket.
American Idol's CJ Rislove releases music inspired by Billy Joel and Elton John
CJ is a musician from Chippewa Falls. His beginnings came in high school when a mix of professors and experiences at Chippewa Falls Sr High School sparked his interest in singing.
In an era where digital platforms have become an essential aspect of music distribution, CJ has embraced this trend by committing to composing and releasing one song every day on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music.
This huge project exemplifies his creative nature as an artist and his desire to continually interact with his audience.
His musical approach, which he defines as a cross between Billy Joel and Elton John, appeals to listeners of classic pop and modern music equally.
What does the winner of 'American Idol' get?
According to Distractify, citing sources such as Taste of Country, the winner of 'American Idol' earns a $250,000 reward and a recording contract with Hollywood Records/19 Recordings.
According to the same source, the record label pays the winners $1,000 per week for living expenses, plus $1,000 for each completed and turned-in track.
Singers are expected to recoup their investment when they release the record, as well as pay back 50% of the promotion expenditures. Another participant, Madison Vandenburg, who finished third in Season 17, revealed her contract.
According to The Blast, the runner-up might receive $87,500 first and an additional $87,000 when they finish everything. However, the same story, quoting Newsweek, stated that Noah Thompson (who won in 2022) received only $125,000 initially after signing the contract.
He received the balance of the money after completing an entire album in four months.
'American Idol' Season 22 airs Sundays at 8 pm ET on ABC. It is also available on Hulu beginning at 3 am ET the day after the episode airs on ABC.