NSA grad’s Idol journey ends

Published 6:35 pm Tuesday, April 26, 2022

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Chesapeake resident and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy graduate Dan Marshall’s American Idol journey came to an end on Sunday as he did not continue to the top 11.

During the episode, Dan performed “She’s Got It All” by Kenny Chesney and got positive feedback from judge Luke Bryan, who said, “Your song choices the last three rounds have been spot on, and this was another perfect song choice for you.”

Judge Lionel Richie added: “That’s how you do it! That’s how you do it, man! What I am loving is ownership. You actually walked out on the stage, and you owned Kenny Chesney’s song.”

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But when the fan votes came in, he was one of the three eliminated contestants.

Marshall made it to the top 14 after impressing judges and fans with his performance of Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places” on Sunday, April 17.

He graduated from Nansemond-Suffolk Academy in 2016 after transferring there for his senior year from Western Branch High School. Marshall was a standout football player and recorded 56 tackles and eight sacks in six games his senior year, which was plagued by injuries. He signed as a preferred walk-on at Virginia Tech, where he played football for all four years of college as a linebacker.

He is currently a resident of Chesapeake, where he works as a land surveyor.

On Sunday night, Marshall posted on social media, “Thank you to all of my supporters back home, and all over America for your undying support. If you love sweet country music, keep following me on my journey cause it’s just heating up.”