Jordan McCullough’s musical journey has taken him from a child on the choir stand to the stage of American Idol.

McCullough, a Murfreesboro native, is on season 24 of American Idol and has made it to the program’s Golden Room after making it through auditions and Hollywood week.

Thus far, McCullough sang covers of “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans and “Higher Ground” by Stevie Wonder, both performances earning him high praise from the panel of judges comprised of Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.

“Lionel said that it was now a ‘Jordan Wonder’ song,” McCullough said regarding his rendition of Stevie Wonder’s 1972 classic. “That was the biggest compliment I could have received.”

McCullough, like so many singers, got involved in music in church as a young child.

“I started in the church,” McCullough told the Murfreesboro Pulse. “From 4 years old all the way to now, I’ve been singing in the church.”

McCullough’s Christian faith has played a central role in his music career and his life outside of music.

“Faith is the foregoing thing in everything I do,” McCullough said.

McCullough is currently a part of Zeal Church in Nashville, where he serves as the worship leader. He has several singles on streaming services with Zeal Worship, including “Offering,” which has over 150,000 streams on Spotify.

Six years prior to his run on American Idol, McCullough appeared on The Voice. Despite not making it past the audition round, McCullough took some valuable lessons away from the experience.

“I think being on The Voice definitely shaped and helped me with what I needed to do preparing for American Idol,” McCullough said.

McCullough secured a spot in the Top 30 during part two of American Idol’s Hollywood Week, that aired on Monday, March 2.

He is now headed to the Hawaii rounds, where American Idol takes the Top 30 contestants to Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, airing Monday, March 9, where contestants will perform to determine who makes the Top 20.