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{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}

{{Notability|1=Biographies|date=July 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Paul McDonald
|Img =
| image = Paulidol.jpg
|Img_capt = Paul McDonald on Stage with The Grand Magnolias
| birth_name = William Paul McDonald
|Background = Lead Singer of "The Grand Magnolias" and American Idol Top 24 Contestant
| birth_place = [[Auburn, Alabama]], U.S.
|Name =Paul McDonald
| origin = [[Huntsville, Alabama]]<br />[[Nashville, Tennessee]]
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|8|24}}
| genre = Rock
|birth_place = [[Auburn, AL|Auburn]], [[Alabama]], [[United States]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Artist|singer-songwriter}}
|Origin =
| years_active = 2005–present
|Occupation = Lead singer, songwriter, frontman for The Grand Magnolias
| website = {{URL|thepaulmcdonald.com}}
|Years_active = 2006–present
| instruments = {{hlist|Vocals|guitars|piano|tambourine}}
|Genre = [[Rock|Rock]]
|Associated_acts =
|URL = [http://www.thepaulmcdonald.com]
}}
}}
'''Paul McDonald''' (born '''William Paul McDonald''') is an American singer-songwriter from [[Huntsville, Alabama]], who as of 2011 resides in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]. McDonald placed 8th on the [[American Idol (season 10)|tenth season]] of ''[[American Idol]]'' and since 2005, he has been the lead singer of the band Hightide Blues which was renamed The Grand Magnolias in 2010.

==Early life==
McDonald was born to Susan and David McDonald, in Auburn/Opelika. McDonald was raised in Huntsville, Alabama.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

==Career==

===The Grand Magnolias===
In August 2010, McDonald and his band members moved to Nashville and launched a campaign to let their fans choose a new name for the band. The group's first album under its new name, entitled ''The Grand Magnolias'', was released in 2011. The songs were written by McDonald and band member Jonathan Pears and produced by Dan Hannon and Ken Coomer. The album has seen a boost in sales since Paul McDonald's appearance on ''American Idol'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2011/03/paul-mcdonalds-grand-magnolias-reaping-idol-benefits/1 |title=Paul McDonald's Grand Magnolias reaping 'Idol' benefits |work=USA Today |date=March 9, 2011 |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref> and it reached number twelve on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and had sold 9,000 copies by April 27, 2011.<ref name="Idol Chatter 04-27-2011">{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2011/04/adele-returns-to-no-1-album-spot/1 |title=Chatter 04-27-2011 |work=USA Today |date=April 27, 2011 |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref> iTunes pulled the album from its store, without explanation, and the sales dropped off 60% from the previous week. A week later the album returned, again without explanation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2011/03/the-grand-magnolias-return-to-itunes/1 |title=The Grand Magnolias return to iTunes |work=USA Today |date=March 17, 2011 |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref>

When the band learned that McDonald had made it through to the Hollywood round they put together a content release campaign to maximize the exposure from the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/print-edition/2011/03/18/nashville-american-idol-paul-mcdonald.html |title=The Nashville Business Journal |work=The Business Journals |date=March 18, 2011 |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref>

===''American Idol''===
On January 27, 2011, McDonald received a golden ticket to compete in Hollywood from judges [[Steven Tyler]], [[Jennifer Lopez]] and [[Randy Jackson]], and made it into the Top 24<ref name="ok">{{cite web |url=http://www.okmagazine.com/2011/02/american-idol-top-24-contestant-paul-mcdonald-this-seasons-new-heartthrob/ |title=American Idol Top 24 Contestant Paul McDonald This Season's New Heartthrob? |work=OK! |date=February 24, 2011 |access-date=May 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816050600/http://www.okmagazine.com/2011/02/american-idol-top-24-contestant-paul-mcdonald-this-seasons-new-heartthrob/ |archive-date=August 16, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> by singing an original song, "American Dreams." He was one of ten candidates chosen as a finalist based on public voting.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Bell |first=Carrie |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20312226_20471464,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306173429/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20312226_20471464,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 6, 2011 |title=Entertainment Weekly: 'American Idol' – Q&As With the Top 13! |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 6, 2011 |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref> Thirteen competed in the finals.

Since entering the competition, McDonald has made use of the social networking site Twitter to communicate with his fans and promote his band, The Grand Magnolias. The album also debuted on the Billboard Heatseekers chart before McDonald even sang in the show's semi-final round.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2011/03/idol-albums-sales-crystal-bowersox-fantasia-and-more/1 |title='Idol' album sales: Crystal Bowersox, Fantasia and more |work=USA Today |date=March 2, 2011 |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref> He was the first 2011 ''Idol'' hopeful to reach 50,000 followers on his newly created official ''American Idol'' Twitter account. McDonald continues to be one of the most popular ''American Idol'' Season 10 competitors on the social networking site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dailynewsbeat.com/news-1246-headlines/2011/03/04/will-new-twitter-and-facebook-accounts-predict-the-next-american-idol-winner-photos-videos/ |title=Will new Twitter and Facebook accounts predict the next American Idol winner? |publisher=Dailynewsbeat.com |access-date=May 7, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408212804/http://dailynewsbeat.com/news-1246-headlines/2011/03/04/will-new-twitter-and-facebook-accounts-predict-the-next-american-idol-winner-photos-videos/ |archive-date=April 8, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.2snaps.tv/98110949|title=Paul McDonald Most Popular American Idol on Twitter|website=2snaps.tv|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=March 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307133257/http://www.2snaps.tv/98110949|url-status=dead}}</ref>

McDonald was eliminated from the show on April 14, 2011, finishing in eighth place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2011/04/did-american-idol-finally-send-a-guy-home/1 |title=Did 'American Idol' finally send a guy home? |work=USA Today |date=April 15, 2011 |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref>

====Performances and results====
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!Episode
!Theme
!Song choice
!Original artist
!Order #
!Result
|-
|rowspan="2"|Audition
|rowspan="2"|Auditioner's Choice<br /><ref>{{cite web|author=Chris Welch, The Huntsville Times |url=http://blog.al.com/entertainment-times/2011/03/post_81.html |title=Chris Welch, ''The Huntsville Times'': Paul McDonald's journey to 'American Idol' Top 13 |publisher=Blog.al.com |date=March 4, 2011 |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref>
|"[[Tutti Frutti (song)|Tutti Frutti]]"
|[[Little Richard]]
|rowspan="2"|N/A
|rowspan="2"|Advanced
|-
|"[[Maggie May]]"
|[[Rod Stewart]]
|-
|Hollywood Round, Part 1
|First Solo
|N/A
|[[Grace Potter and the Nocturnals]]
|N/A
|Advanced
|-
|Hollywood Round, Part 2
|Group Performance
|"[[Carry On Wayward Son]]"
|[[Kansas (band)|Kansas]]
|N/A
|Advanced
|-
|Hollywood Round, Part 3
|Second Solo
|"[[Landslide (Fleetwood Mac song)|Landslide]]"
|[[Fleetwood Mac]]
|N/A
|Advanced
|-
|Las Vegas Round
|Songs of The Beatles Group Performance
|"[[Blackbird (Beatles song)|Blackbird]]"
|[[The Beatles]]
|N/A
|Advanced
|-
|Hollywood Round Final
|Final Solo
|"American Dreams"
|The Grand Magnolias
|N/A
|Advanced
|-
|Top 24 (12 Men)
|Personal Choice
|"[[Maggie May]]"
|Rod Stewart
|10
|Advanced
|-
|Top 13
|Your Personal Idol
|"Come Pick Me Up"
|[[Ryan Adams]]
|4
|Safe
|-
|Top 12
|Year You Were Born
|"[[I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues]]"
|[[Elton John]]
|2
|Safe
|-
|Top 11
|Motown
|"[[The Tracks of My Tears]]"
|[[The Miracles]]
|9
|Safe
|-
|Top 11{{ref|1|1}}
|[[Elton John]]
|"[[Rocket Man (song)|Rocket Man]]"
|Elton John
|3
|Bottom 3{{ref|2|2}}
|-
|Top 9
|Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
|"[[Folsom Prison Blues]]"
|[[Johnny Cash]]
|9
|Safe
|-
|Top 8
|Songs from the Movies
|"[[Old Time Rock and Roll]]" — ''[[Risky Business]]''
|[[Bob Seger]]
|1
|Eliminated
|}

*<small>{{note|1|Note 1}} Due to the judges using their one save to save [[Casey Abrams]], the Top 11 remained intact for another week, when two contestants were eliminated.</small>
*<small>{{note|2|Note 2}} When [[Ryan Seacrest]] announced the results in the particular night, McDonald was in the bottom three, but was the only contestant declared safe as both [[Naima Adedapo]] and [[Thia Megia]] were eliminated.</small>

===Post-Idol===
McDonald was one of the 11 performers in the 2011 ''American Idols Live Tour'', which began in [[West Valley City]], [[Utah]], on July 6, 2011, and ended in [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]], New York, on September 10, 2011. On May 25, 2011, he appeared on ''[[Rachael Ray (TV series)|Rachael Ray]]'' along with [[Stefano Langone]] and [[Pia Toscano]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/149176-American-Idol-Judges-Save-Contestant-Fantasia-to-Perform-on-Next-Results-Show |title="American Idol" Judges Save Contestant; Fantasia to Perform on Next Results Show - Playbill.com |access-date=April 20, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020144333/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/149176-American-Idol-Judges-Save-Contestant-Fantasia-to-Perform-on-Next-Results-Show |archive-date=October 20, 2012 }}</ref> McDonald even recorded a song, "Now That I've Found You", with his wife [[Nikki Reed]], which debuted on Ryan Seacrest's radio show on November 15, 2011.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/nikki-reed-husband-paul-mcdonald-duet-song-i-found-article-1.977896 | location=New York | work=Daily News | title=Nikki Reed, husband Paul McDonald duet on new song 'Now That I Found You' – NY Daily News}}</ref> The couple released their first EP together, ''The Best Part'', on October 29, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|last=Garibaldi|first=Christina|title=Nikki Reed, Paul McDonald Give It Their Best On New EP|publisher=[[MTV]] |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1696766/twilight-nikki-reed-paul-mcdonald-best-part-ep.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108034929/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1696766/twilight-nikki-reed-paul-mcdonald-best-part-ep.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 8, 2012|access-date=November 7, 2012|date=November 5, 2012}}</ref>

In September 2012, McDonald appeared in a [[Parenthood (2010 TV series)|Parenthood]] episode as a musician who used Crosby and Adam's recording space, The Luncheonette, and sang a new song, "Counting Stars."

McDonald and his wife, Nikki Reed, starred in [[Hanson (band)|Hanson]]'s 2013 music video for "Get the Girl Back".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/artists/hanson/videos/145968 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403102429/http://www.mtv.com/artists/hanson/videos/145968 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 3, 2013 |title=Taylor Hanson shares a story and a clip of HANSON's new music video for Get The Girl Back. by Hanson |publisher=MTV |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref> The video was filmed in January 2013, and released in April 2013. Other famous faces in the video include [[Kat Dennings]], [[Drake Bell]], [[Drew Seeley]], Amy Paffrath, and Alex Beh. On July 8, 2014, McDonald and Reed released an album titled ''I'm Not Falling''.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

In 2014, McDonald launched his solo career by releasing a single, "Bright Lights," on October 7, 2014,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6281278/paul-mcdonald-bright-lights-american-idol-exclusive-premiere |title=Exclusive: 'American Idol' Alum Paul McDonald Premieres New Song 'Bright Lights' |first= Chris |last= Payne |date= October 9, 2014 |magazine=Billboard }}</ref> and a video released on November 3, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.baeblemusic.com/musicblog/11-3-2014/Premiere-Paul-McDonald-Bright-Lights.html |title=Premiere: Paul McDonald 'Bright LightS'|date= November 3, 2014 |first= Aimee |last= Curran |work=Baeble Music }}</ref>

==Personal life==
McDonald met actress [[Nikki Reed]] on the red carpet at the premiere of ''[[Red Riding Hood (2011 film)|Red Riding Hood]]'' in March 2011. The moment they met was broadcast on an ''American Idol'' episode as part of a segment that showed McDonald and his fellow contestants attending the premiere.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20480648,00.html|title=Nikki Reed Dating American Idol's Paul McDonald?|work=People|date=March 8, 2011|access-date=June 6, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411045231/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20480648,00.html|archive-date=April 11, 2011}}</ref> McDonald and Reed soon began dating<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20482572,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905210957/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20482572,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 5, 2012|title= Paul McDonald: Nikki Reed Is 'Pumped' About American Idol Elimination|work=People |date=April 15, 2011 |access-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> and moved in together shortly after that.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20489980,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907053040/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20489980,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 7, 2012|title= Nikki Reed on Paul McDonald: 'I Love Him'|work=People |date=May 18, 2011 |access-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> Their engagement was confirmed in June 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ca.eonline.com/uberblog/marc_malkin/b245565_twilights_nikki_reed_engaged_hes_one.html|title= Twilight's Nikki Reed Engaged: "He's the One!"|date=June 5, 2011 |access-date=June 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20504007,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624125547/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20504007,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2011|title= Paul McDonald Is 'Pumped Up' About Marrying Nikki Reed |date=June 21, 2011|access-date=August 7, 2011}}</ref> and they married on October 16, 2011, in [[Malibu, California]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/news/nikki-reed-paul-mcdonald-get-married-20111610|title= Nikki Reed and Paul McDonald Married|access-date=October 16, 2011}}</ref> In March 2014, McDonald and Reed announced that they had separated.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2014/03/31/nikki-reed-paul-mcdonald-split/7107719/|title=Nikki Reed, Paul McDonald split|newspaper=USA Today}}</ref> Reed filed for divorce on May 16, 2014, citing irreconcilable differences.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/celebrity/nikki-reed-files-for-divorce-from-paul-mcdonald/|title=Nikki Reed Files for Divorce from Paul McDonald|access-date=August 23, 2014|date=May 21, 2014|first1=Dahvi|last1=Shira|work=People}}</ref> The divorce was finalized in January 2015.

McDonald married Nashville country music artist Leah Blevins in 2020.


<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6429342/nikki-reed-and-paul-mcdonald-finalize-divorce|title=Nikki Reed and 'American Idol' Alum Paul McDonald Finalize Divorce|access-date=January 2, 2015|date=January 2, 2015|first1=Richard|last1=Smirke|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

==Discography==

===Albums===
'''As part of Hightide Blues'''
*2007: ''Hightide Blues'' (EP)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hightide-blues-ep/id264057518 |title=iTunes Music – Hightide Blues – EP by Hightide Blues |publisher=iTunes Store |date=March 14, 2007 |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref>
**Track list of ''Hightide Blues'' EP:
#"I Can't" (4:09)
#"4:15" (3:24)
#"Will She" (3:02)
#"Tired of Leavin'" (5:16)
#"Jennifer" (4:54)

*2008: ''Love Come Easy'' <ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/love-come-easy/id282491965 |title=iTunes Music – Love Come Easy by Hightide Blues |publisher=iTunes Store |date=June 6, 2008 |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref>
**Track list of ''Love Come Easy'' album:
#"Katie, Can You Hear Me?" (3:10)
#"Far from Home" (4:59)
#"Dreamin' Alone" (3:52)
#"Let It Roll" (3:13)
#"Giving Up On You" (3:57)
#"Merle's Last Stand" (2:05)
#"Black Crows" (4:30)
#"Dancing with the Angels (Meg's Song)" (4:29)

'''As part of The Grand Magnolias'''
*2010: ''The Grand Magnolias'' <ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-grand-magnolias/id401745466 |title=iTunes Music – The Grand Magnolias by The Grand Magnolias |publisher=iTunes Store |date=November 1, 2010 |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref>
**Track list of ''The Grand Magnolias'' album:
#"Sing Out" (4:07)
#"American Dreams" (3:46)
#"Fly Me to the Moon" (3:27)
#"I Can't Remember" (3:14)
#"No More One More Nights" (3:51)
#"Heartbreak" (5:01)
#"Four Fifteen" (5:06)
#"Whoa" (4:22)
#"Top of the World" (3:11)
#"Please Believe Me" (4:08)

'''Paul McDonald and Nikki Reed'''
*2012: ''The Best Part-EP'' <ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-best-part-ep/id574725251 |title=iTunes Music – The Best Part – EP by Paul McDonald & Nikki Reed |publisher=iTunes Store |date=October 29, 2012 |access-date=May 7, 2014}}</ref>
**Track list of ''The Best Part-EP'' Album:
#"Bouquet of Lies (Ghost in Apt. 8)"
#"All I'm Asking"
#"The Best Part"
#"Now That I've Found You (Version 2)"
#"Goodbye"
*2014: ''I'm Not Falling''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/im-not-falling/id891313993 |title=iTunes – Music – I'm Not Falling |publisher=[[iTunes Store]] |date=July 8, 2014 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album details
!| Peak
! rowspan="2"| [[Music recording sales certification|Certifications]]<br /><small>([[List of best selling music artists|sales threshold]])</small>
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:40px;"| [[Top Heatseekers|US<br />Heat]]
|-
| 2011
| style="text-align:left;"| '''''The Grand Magnolias'''''
* Released: 2011
* Label: Independent
* Format: CD, [[self released]]
| 12
| style="text-align:left;"|
* US: 9,000<ref name="Idol Chatter 04-27-2011"/>
|-
| colspan="6" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart
|}

===Extended plays===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! style="width:18em;"| Title
! style="width:15em;"| Details
!style="width:10em;"| Sales
|-
! scope="row" | ''The Best Part'' (feat. Nikki Reed)
|
*Released: October 29, 2012
*Label: Enzo and Ira Records
*Formats: Digital downloads
|
* US: 3,000<ref name="Idol Chatter 12-05-2012">{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/idolchatter/2012/12/05/american-idol-album-sales-phillip-phillips/1748275/ |title='Idol' album sales: Phillip Phillips stays in the Top 5 |first=Brian |last=Mansfield |work=Idol Chatter |date=December 5, 2012 |access-date= December 5, 2012 }}</ref>
|}
'''Appearances'''
* "All I've Ever Needed" (with Nikki Reed) — ''[[The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (soundtrack)|The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 soundtrack]]'' (2012)

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season_10/paul_mcdonald/ Paul McDonald] on ''[[American Idol]]''
*[http://www.thepaulmcdonald.com Paul McDonald Official website]
*[http://www.thegrandmagnolias.com The Grand Magnolias Official website]

{{American Idol 10}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McDonald, Paul}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American Idol participants]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American rock singers]]
[[Category:American rock songwriters]]
[[Category:Musicians from Nashville, Tennessee]]
[[Category:People from Auburn, Alabama]]
[[Category:Musicians from Huntsville, Alabama]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Tennessee]]
[[Category:21st-century American male singers]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Alabama]]

Latest revision as of 01:35, 18 December 2024

Paul McDonald
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Paul McDonald
BornAuburn, Alabama, U.S.
OriginHuntsville, Alabama
Nashville, Tennessee
GenresRock
Occupations
  • Artist
  • singer-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitars
  • piano
  • tambourine
Years active2005–present
Websitethepaulmcdonald.com

Paul McDonald (born William Paul McDonald) is an American singer-songwriter from Huntsville, Alabama, who as of 2011 resides in Nashville. McDonald placed 8th on the tenth season of American Idol and since 2005, he has been the lead singer of the band Hightide Blues which was renamed The Grand Magnolias in 2010.

Early life

[edit]

McDonald was born to Susan and David McDonald, in Auburn/Opelika. McDonald was raised in Huntsville, Alabama.[citation needed]

Career

[edit]

The Grand Magnolias

[edit]

In August 2010, McDonald and his band members moved to Nashville and launched a campaign to let their fans choose a new name for the band. The group's first album under its new name, entitled The Grand Magnolias, was released in 2011. The songs were written by McDonald and band member Jonathan Pears and produced by Dan Hannon and Ken Coomer. The album has seen a boost in sales since Paul McDonald's appearance on American Idol,[1] and it reached number twelve on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and had sold 9,000 copies by April 27, 2011.[2] iTunes pulled the album from its store, without explanation, and the sales dropped off 60% from the previous week. A week later the album returned, again without explanation.[3]

When the band learned that McDonald had made it through to the Hollywood round they put together a content release campaign to maximize the exposure from the show.[4]

American Idol

[edit]

On January 27, 2011, McDonald received a golden ticket to compete in Hollywood from judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson, and made it into the Top 24[5] by singing an original song, "American Dreams." He was one of ten candidates chosen as a finalist based on public voting.[6] Thirteen competed in the finals.

Since entering the competition, McDonald has made use of the social networking site Twitter to communicate with his fans and promote his band, The Grand Magnolias. The album also debuted on the Billboard Heatseekers chart before McDonald even sang in the show's semi-final round.[7] He was the first 2011 Idol hopeful to reach 50,000 followers on his newly created official American Idol Twitter account. McDonald continues to be one of the most popular American Idol Season 10 competitors on the social networking site.[8][9]

McDonald was eliminated from the show on April 14, 2011, finishing in eighth place.[10]

Performances and results

[edit]
Episode Theme Song choice Original artist Order # Result
Audition Auditioner's Choice
[11] 		"Tutti Frutti" Little Richard N/A Advanced
"Maggie May" Rod Stewart
Hollywood Round, Part 1 First Solo N/A Grace Potter and the Nocturnals N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round, Part 2 Group Performance "Carry On Wayward Son" Kansas N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round, Part 3 Second Solo "Landslide" Fleetwood Mac N/A Advanced
Las Vegas Round Songs of The Beatles Group Performance "Blackbird" The Beatles N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round Final Final Solo "American Dreams" The Grand Magnolias N/A Advanced
Top 24 (12 Men) Personal Choice "Maggie May" Rod Stewart 10 Advanced
Top 13 Your Personal Idol "Come Pick Me Up" Ryan Adams 4 Safe
Top 12 Year You Were Born "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" Elton John 2 Safe
Top 11 Motown "The Tracks of My Tears" The Miracles 9 Safe
Top 111 Elton John "Rocket Man" Elton John 3 Bottom 32
Top 9 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame "Folsom Prison Blues" Johnny Cash 9 Safe
Top 8 Songs from the Movies "Old Time Rock and Roll" — Risky Business Bob Seger 1 Eliminated
  • ^Note 1 Due to the judges using their one save to save Casey Abrams, the Top 11 remained intact for another week, when two contestants were eliminated.
  • ^Note 2 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results in the particular night, McDonald was in the bottom three, but was the only contestant declared safe as both Naima Adedapo and Thia Megia were eliminated.

Post-Idol

[edit]

McDonald was one of the 11 performers in the 2011 American Idols Live Tour, which began in West Valley City, Utah, on July 6, 2011, and ended in Rochester, New York, on September 10, 2011. On May 25, 2011, he appeared on Rachael Ray along with Stefano Langone and Pia Toscano.[12] McDonald even recorded a song, "Now That I've Found You", with his wife Nikki Reed, which debuted on Ryan Seacrest's radio show on November 15, 2011.[13] The couple released their first EP together, The Best Part, on October 29, 2012.[14]

In September 2012, McDonald appeared in a Parenthood episode as a musician who used Crosby and Adam's recording space, The Luncheonette, and sang a new song, "Counting Stars."

McDonald and his wife, Nikki Reed, starred in Hanson's 2013 music video for "Get the Girl Back".[15] The video was filmed in January 2013, and released in April 2013. Other famous faces in the video include Kat Dennings, Drake Bell, Drew Seeley, Amy Paffrath, and Alex Beh. On July 8, 2014, McDonald and Reed released an album titled I'm Not Falling.[citation needed]

In 2014, McDonald launched his solo career by releasing a single, "Bright Lights," on October 7, 2014,[16] and a video released on November 3, 2014.[17]

Personal life

[edit]

McDonald met actress Nikki Reed on the red carpet at the premiere of Red Riding Hood in March 2011. The moment they met was broadcast on an American Idol episode as part of a segment that showed McDonald and his fellow contestants attending the premiere.[18] McDonald and Reed soon began dating[19] and moved in together shortly after that.[20] Their engagement was confirmed in June 2011,[21][22] and they married on October 16, 2011, in Malibu, California.[23] In March 2014, McDonald and Reed announced that they had separated.[24] Reed filed for divorce on May 16, 2014, citing irreconcilable differences.[25] The divorce was finalized in January 2015.

McDonald married Nashville country music artist Leah Blevins in 2020.


[26]

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]

As part of Hightide Blues

  • 2007: Hightide Blues (EP)[27]
    • Track list of Hightide Blues EP:
  1. "I Can't" (4:09)
  2. "4:15" (3:24)
  3. "Will She" (3:02)
  4. "Tired of Leavin'" (5:16)
  5. "Jennifer" (4:54)
  • 2008: Love Come Easy [28]
    • Track list of Love Come Easy album:
  1. "Katie, Can You Hear Me?" (3:10)
  2. "Far from Home" (4:59)
  3. "Dreamin' Alone" (3:52)
  4. "Let It Roll" (3:13)
  5. "Giving Up On You" (3:57)
  6. "Merle's Last Stand" (2:05)
  7. "Black Crows" (4:30)
  8. "Dancing with the Angels (Meg's Song)" (4:29)

As part of The Grand Magnolias

  • 2010: The Grand Magnolias [29]
    • Track list of The Grand Magnolias album:
  1. "Sing Out" (4:07)
  2. "American Dreams" (3:46)
  3. "Fly Me to the Moon" (3:27)
  4. "I Can't Remember" (3:14)
  5. "No More One More Nights" (3:51)
  6. "Heartbreak" (5:01)
  7. "Four Fifteen" (5:06)
  8. "Whoa" (4:22)
  9. "Top of the World" (3:11)
  10. "Please Believe Me" (4:08)

Paul McDonald and Nikki Reed

  • 2012: The Best Part-EP [30]
    • Track list of The Best Part-EP Album:
  1. "Bouquet of Lies (Ghost in Apt. 8)"
  2. "All I'm Asking"
  3. "The Best Part"
  4. "Now That I've Found You (Version 2)"
  5. "Goodbye"
  • 2014: I'm Not Falling[31]
Year Album details Peak Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
Heat
2011 The Grand Magnolias 12
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Details Sales
The Best Part (feat. Nikki Reed)
  • Released: October 29, 2012
  • Label: Enzo and Ira Records
  • Formats: Digital downloads

Appearances

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Paul McDonald's Grand Magnolias reaping 'Idol' benefits". USA Today. March 9, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Chatter 04-27-2011". USA Today. April 27, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  3. ^ "The Grand Magnolias return to iTunes". USA Today. March 17, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  4. ^ "The Nashville Business Journal". The Business Journals. March 18, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  5. ^ "American Idol Top 24 Contestant Paul McDonald This Season's New Heartthrob?". OK!. February 24, 2011. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  6. ^ Bell, Carrie (March 6, 2011). "Entertainment Weekly: 'American Idol' – Q&As With the Top 13!". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 6, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  7. ^ "'Idol' album sales: Crystal Bowersox, Fantasia and more". USA Today. March 2, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Will new Twitter and Facebook accounts predict the next American Idol winner?". Dailynewsbeat.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Paul McDonald Most Popular American Idol on Twitter". 2snaps.tv. Archived from the original on March 7, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "Did 'American Idol' finally send a guy home?". USA Today. April 15, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  11. ^ Chris Welch, The Huntsville Times (March 4, 2011). "Chris Welch, The Huntsville Times: Paul McDonald's journey to 'American Idol' Top 13". Blog.al.com. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  12. ^ ""American Idol" Judges Save Contestant; Fantasia to Perform on Next Results Show - Playbill.com". Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  13. ^ "Nikki Reed, husband Paul McDonald duet on new song 'Now That I Found You' – NY Daily News". Daily News. New York.
  14. ^ Garibaldi, Christina (November 5, 2012). "Nikki Reed, Paul McDonald Give It Their Best On New EP". MTV. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  15. ^ "Taylor Hanson shares a story and a clip of HANSON's new music video for Get The Girl Back. by Hanson". MTV. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  16. ^ Payne, Chris (October 9, 2014). "Exclusive: 'American Idol' Alum Paul McDonald Premieres New Song 'Bright Lights'". Billboard.
  17. ^ Curran, Aimee (November 3, 2014). "Premiere: Paul McDonald 'Bright LightS'". Baeble Music.
  18. ^ "Nikki Reed Dating American Idol's Paul McDonald?". People. March 8, 2011. Archived from the original on April 11, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  19. ^ "Paul McDonald: Nikki Reed Is 'Pumped' About American Idol Elimination". People. April 15, 2011. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  20. ^ "Nikki Reed on Paul McDonald: 'I Love Him'". People. May 18, 2011. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  21. ^ "Twilight's Nikki Reed Engaged: "He's the One!"". June 5, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  22. ^ "Paul McDonald Is 'Pumped Up' About Marrying Nikki Reed". June 21, 2011. Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  23. ^ "Nikki Reed and Paul McDonald Married". Retrieved October 16, 2011.
  24. ^ "Nikki Reed, Paul McDonald split". USA Today.
  25. ^ Shira, Dahvi (May 21, 2014). "Nikki Reed Files for Divorce from Paul McDonald". People. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  26. ^ Smirke, Richard (January 2, 2015). "Nikki Reed and 'American Idol' Alum Paul McDonald Finalize Divorce". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  27. ^ "iTunes Music – Hightide Blues – EP by Hightide Blues". iTunes Store. March 14, 2007. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  28. ^ "iTunes Music – Love Come Easy by Hightide Blues". iTunes Store. June 6, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  29. ^ "iTunes Music – The Grand Magnolias by The Grand Magnolias". iTunes Store. November 1, 2010. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  30. ^ "iTunes Music – The Best Part – EP by Paul McDonald & Nikki Reed". iTunes Store. October 29, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  31. ^ "iTunes – Music – I'm Not Falling". iTunes Store. July 8, 2014.
  32. ^ Mansfield, Brian (December 5, 2012). "'Idol' album sales: Phillip Phillips stays in the Top 5". Idol Chatter. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
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