American Idol airs its Hollywood round episode this week. Mason Picks is a contestant this season on the reality singing competition. While you may not have seen his audition on TV, he managed to get a coveted golden ticket. If you’re curious to learn more about him, we’ve got five facts below. So, keep reading for all that info.
What is Mason’s real name?
Mason goes by “Mason Picks” as his stage name but his real name is Mason Via.
Where is Mason Picks from?
Mason is from the south which is probably why he has a love for bluegrass music, he lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
How old is Mason Picks?
He is currently 23 years old and was born in 1998.
He already has a number of accolades to his name performing his bluegrass music in and around North Carolina. Some of the most recent were when he was named the 2019 Floydfest OTR competition runner-up. He also won the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival.
The story of how Mason became involved with American Idol had a funny beginning..
According to bluegrasstoday.com he said, “I was initially contacted about American Idol through Instagram. I thought it was a scam.” He then performed in a Zoom audition in front of the three judges, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie. On his audition: “It is really larger than life. You’re out there in front of really bright lights. The judges are miked so they’re really loud, they’re all in make-up, and they talk to you like they know you. My voice dried up like a cotton ball.”
More About Mason
1) While he was trying out for Idol, he made friends. He became fast friends with fellow contestants James Perdue, Chayce Beckham, and Anthony Guzman.
2) Recently, he posted a new original song called “Georgia.” You can see the full IGTV video below.
3) Currently, he’s dating fellow musician Waverly Leonard. The couple has even performed together. Other activities they do include: writing music, exploring the city of Nashville, and of course, date nights.
4) He’s is influenced by country and bluegrass music. His style is obviously more up-to-date. “The Flood” is one example. That is his latest single, which is available on all streaming platforms.
5) He goes by Mason Picks on social media. Although, it looks like he’s done events with his full name Mason Via. According to this local news article, the former is his stage name.
To see him in action, tune in to American Idol on March 21 at 8 PM ET, only on ABC.
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