Curtis "C.J." Harris (January 28, 1991 - January 15, 2023) was a contestant on Season 13 of American Idol.
Audition[]
C.J. auditioned in Salt Lake City. He sang "Soulshine" by The Allman Brothers. All three judges voted "yes", sending him to the next round.
Hollywood Round[]
C.J. was shown in the first part of Hollywood Week, in the same Group of Ten as Sam Woolf, Keri Lynn Roche and Ayla Stackhouse. He sang "Trouble" by Ray LaMontagne. He advanced alongside Sam and Keri Lynn. He was later shown in a group called "Freedom Breathers" with Caleb Johnson, Tyler Ahlgren and Matthew Hamel singing "Too Close" by Alex Clare. He advanced along with Caleb. For his final solo performance, he sang "Bring It on Home to Me" by Sam Cooke. During the Final Judgment, he was called alongside Casey Thrasher. The judges could not decide between the two, so they asked for a sing-off. On the post, C.J. sang "Whipping Post" by The Allman Brothers. The judges decided that both gentlemen did enough to become Top 30 finalists.
Top 30[]
C.J. was chosen by the judges to sing during Rush Week. He sang "Shelter" by Ray LaMontagne. He did not receive enough votes to place among the five men with the highest votes, however he was selected by the judges to sing again as a Wild-Card.
Wild-Card[]
C.J. sang "Bring It On Home to Me" by Sam Cooke. He was selected by the judges to become a Top 13 finalist.
Top 13[]
C.J. sang "Radio" by Darius Rucker. He received enough votes to be "safe" for another week.
Top 12[]
C.J. sang "Waiting On the World to Change" by John Mayer. He received enough votes to be "safe" for another week.
Top 11[]
C.J. sang "Can't You See" by The Marshall Tucker Band. He received enough votes to be "safe" another week.
Death[]
C.J. died on January 15th, 2023 of a heart attack. He was 31 years old. [1]
Season 13 |
Finalists |
ยทCaleb Johnson ยทJena Irene ยทAlex Preston ยทJessica Meuse ยทSam Woolf ยทC.J. Harris ยทDexter Roberts ยทMalaya Watson ยทMajesty Rose ยทMK Nobilette ยทBen Briley ยทEmily Piriz ยทKristen O'Connor |
Semifinalists |
ยทBria Anai ยทSpencer Lloyd โ ยทMalcolm Allen ยทGeorge Lovett ยทBriana Oakley ยทMarrialle Sellars ยทEmmanuel Zidor |
Quarterfinalists |
ยทJordan Brisbane ยทAndrina Brogden ยทKenzie Hall ยทEthan Harris ยทJillian Jensen ยทBriston Maroney ยทBrandy Neelly ยทCasey Thrasher ยทMaurice Townsend ยทAustin Wolfe ยทNeco Starr |