'American Idol' Dream Ends For 2 LI Contestants

NORTH FORK, NY — Hearts were broken across the East End Monday night as North Fork favorite Jackson Gillies and Hampton Bays hometown hero Christiaan Padavan were in the group sent home after Hollywood week on "American Idol."

Gillies was seen in the room of contestants who would not be moving on to the next level of the competition as the group of hopefuls heads to Hawaii. And he's not the only one: Christiaan Padavan of Hampton Bays, who also sailed through his audition and advanced to the next round, did not advance beyond Hollywood week and was not seen on either Sunday or Monday night's shows.

"Sadly, I did not make it through to the Top 40. Our group was something out of 'Pitch Perfect', it’s a shame we’ll never be able to see it but, hey, that’s show business!" Padavan said. "These four people and I became family in such a short amount of time. Most kind and talented bunch. So blessed that I found them during such a stressful time. I’m so proud of each and every one of them and can’t wait to see what we all achieve in our lives. Like we said, next time we reconnect will be at The Grammys! The final #HollywoodWeek episode of @americanidol airs tonight at 8pm! Thank you everyone for believing in me and for all the support! Trust me when I say, this is not the end . . .just the beginning."

Padavan's mom Susan said, Monday night, "We are very, very proud."

While Gillies' Lines of 10 performance — he sang John Mayer's "Dreaming With A Broken Heart" — was not shown on air, he seemed optimistic on social media Monday when he posted a video on YouTube, and said, "Made it through the lines of 10!! With a standing ovation from the judges!"

Despite the outcome, Gillies' mom Connie is bursting with pride, explaining that her son has garnered 5.1 million views of his "American Idol" audition video on Facebook. And, perhaps even more moving, her son's story, she said, has resonated with others battling health challenges: "Jackson has connected with his audition and story to so many HS and Type 1 Diabetes warriors. It’s amazing. We never expected a response like this."

Last week, Jackson, 19, discussed, with the "Idol" judges, his battle with Type I Diabetes and HS, or Hidradenitis Suppurativa, which caused eight or nine abscesses on both of his legs when he was younger. "I had no idea what they were but I knew it wasn't diabetes. . . It's an autoimmune condition and there's no cure. It makes the diabetes kind of look like a joke and the scars are absolutely permanent," he said.

When he first got diagnosed, Jackson said, "I didn't walk for around two months. The abscesses on my legs were just too painful . The thing that really brought me through it was music. I learned how to play the guitar and it was an amazing physical thing that I had control over. I am simply not me without music. It's how I bring out all my pain and show people who I am. I sometimes have moments where I think, 'Why me?' but I don't let it stop me. I just become so much stronger through it.'"

His mother Connie said: "I am so proud of you for everything you've been through and never complained about it. Whatever happens, I'll never stop being proud of you."

Photo courtesy AMERICAN IDOL-Coverage. (ABC/Kelsey McNeal). JACKSON GILLIES. © 2019 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

The North Fork was abuzz with excitement as longtime friends cheered for Gillies, watching eagerly in front of their TVs as the teen, who'd they'd seen grow up on local stages, auditioned for the world on "American Idol."

Jackson, a talented vocalist who has seen a steady ascent to stardom despite daunting physical challenges, won the Santa Barbara Teen Star USA competition in 2016 – and recently debuted his single and music video, "Miss Me Too."

"I couldn't be more proud of Jackson," his mom said. "He doesn't let anything stop him and has overcome so many obstacles and a boatload of pain and keeps on working. He gives 150%, including his TEDx talk on HS," — Hidradenitis Suppurativa, which Jackson has — "which now has 75,000 views and has helped so many. Or his co-producing and co-musically directing the 'Teens Sing for Santa Barbara Unity Shoppe Disaster Services Concert,' which, with Kenny Loggins' guidance and vision, raised $70,000 for the Montecito mudslide and Thomas fire survivors last year."

Reflecting on her son, who is also diabetic, Gillies said: "We are constantly amazed by him. He wears an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor and just the care and maintenance of Type 1 diabetes is enough — and then to add HS, and five surgeries and not being able to ever grab a bite to eat at a restaurant or eat any prepared food, always having to plan ahead and cook at home and bring food . . . . It's a lot, but he does it. His goal is to be a pop star and we applaud and support his efforts in any way we can."

Not only does her son shine on stage, Gillies said, but he is a beacon of hope to others struggling with physical challenges. "He is inspiring the HS community of about 230 million people to come out of the shadows, if their comfort level permits, and go for their dreams — to let nothing stop them."

Reflecting on his new single, Gillies describes the song that already has North Fork friends raving on social media.

"I'm really, really happy with it," he said. "I started writing it sitting on my couch at home, thinking about my last relationship. I had broken up with this girl a few months ago, and it was a situation where there was no chance of getting back together. There were still some feelings there, so the song is sort of a question of 'Do you still miss me? I know we can't be together, but I want to know if the love is still there.'"

The song was recorded at Brotheryn Studio C in Ojai, CA, Gillies said, adding that his engineer, co-writer and co-producer was Jesse Siebenberg, and Ryan Slattery co-directed the video.
He and Siebenberg, he said, "met through mutual musician friends in Santa Barbara, and immediately hit it off. Jesse recently played Pedal Steel for a hefty number of tracks on the 'Star Is Born' soundtrack and co-wrote some of the songs with Bradley Cooper and Lukas Nelson. Needless to say, I'm a lucky guy to be working with him," he said. "Since this is my first single, it's my first indelible sonic footprint on the world of music," he said. "That footprint is relatively small now, but it will be interesting to look back at it in 10 years."

Despite his young age, Gillies has scaled many hurdles, battling a number of health challenges; he was diagnosed at three years old with Type 1 diabetes and lives with HS; HS is related to leaky gut, and toxins leaking out of the gut try to escape the body via lymph glands creating painful cysts, he said.

Nothing, however, has kept him from reaching for his own personal stars. "The mentality I keep when facing pain or struggle is that complaining won't do anything for me. We're all dealt with different hands and each one has its flaws; we have to power through if we can and reach for our goals. My advice is to remember it could always be worse, and always be thankful for the moment you're in," he said.

Gillies, who lives in Santa Barbara, CA and attends Santa Barbara City College, is fully immersed in music. "I'm currently writing as many songs as I can, and fueling my songs with experience. Honesty is the best tool you can use to reach other people. I'll be releasing songs and music videos regularly, and hopefully won't stop for a very long time," he said.

He strives to become a successful songwriter and performer and to share his gift with the world. "I want to make music until the day I die," he said.

In performing, Gillies has found the wings to soar above his physical challenges. "It is freeing to be able to perform and not feel constrained by my conditions. My physical struggles are put aside once I step on the stage," he said.

Photo: AMERICAN IDOL - Coverage. (ABC/Nicole Rivelli), CHRISTIAAN PADAVAN, © 2019 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Hampton Bays contestant makes hometown proud

Hampton Bays residents were also cheering along with their TVs last week as a hometown boy took the the stage on "American Idol" and won the golden ticket.

Padavan, 20, is a 2017 graduate of Hampton Bays High School. And ever since he was a child, music has been what he's been called to do.

When the judges greeted him, Christiaan said, "I feel like I'm in a dream. I'm from Hampton Bays, Long Island, NY."

Padavan brought his parents and his girlfriend; the judges also brought her out for a duet. "She's going to kill me," Padavan said, explaining that his girlfriend, while very talented, is shy.

Padavan performed "Vienna" by Billy Joel to "represent Long Island."

Christiaan's mom said she and his dad "and I are so proud and excited for him. We have always known his talent. When he was only seven years old I worked on Shelter Island and he would go to summer camp on the island. Every day during our commute from Hampton Bays we listened and sang the entire score of 'The Phantom of the Opera' together. In fact my profile picture is us all in front of the marquee of the show from that year! And years before that it was the theme song from 'Titanic.' Big songs for a little kid." She laughed.

She added, after the audition: "I had always told him to share his God-given talent and he has, over the years, volunteered and sang at our church, hospitals, adult centers, festivals, etc. Last night he shared his talents with the biggest audience yet and I couldn't be prouder of my son."

A crowd gathered at the Knights of Columbus in Hampton Bays to watch the show air. "It was a wonderful evening of about 50 close friends and family who have all touched his life — and to have everyone cheer, applaud and share in his moment will never be forgotten," she said.
Today, she said, Christiaan is writing songs and "making money doing something he loves, singing locally at restaurants in the area including One North Steakhouse, Cowfish, Rumba, Rhum, and Dune Deck."

"I've been interested in music ever since I can remember," Padavan told Patch. "My parents used to check on me in the backseat of the car before I could talk and I'd respond to them by humming. I learned how to sing 'Born to be Wild' when I was like, 3 years old. I went to a Catholic school where every Christmas, every student was required to be in the show. I was handed my first solo, the crowd went wild and I've been hooked ever since — performing in junior theater shows, taking vocal lessons, and auditioning for any show I could. "

Some of his greatest musical influences, Padavan said, come from Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, The Beach Boys, The Beatles and many more.

One of Padavan's greatest accomplishments so far has been winning Dunkin' and iHeartRadio's 2018 "Cold Brew Jams" contest, "where a couple buds and I won $10,000 studio time. Another accomplishment was playing a private VIP party for Dunkin's promotion with NY Giant Saquon Barkley."

In the future, Padavan said he plans to work for iHeartRadio or a record label as he continues making his own music and performing in shows.

"Hopefully someone will catch notice of the name 'Christiaan Padavan,'" he said.

But no how far from the East End his talent takes him, Padavan said he will always thank Hampton Bays High School for his beginning.

"Hampton Bays High School gave me a strong foundation for pursuing my dreams because they were always supportive of my gift," he said. "From singing in show choir to winning a Teeny Award for 'Best Actor in a Musical' my senior year — they always pushed me to be the best I could be."

Reflecting on the "Idol" experience, Padavan said: "Meeting the judges didn't feel real the entire time. I was a little nervous going in but once you go in, you truly see that they're regular people just like you and I," he said.

Of the hometown support, he said, "My entire town has been so supportive of me and I can't be thankful enough."

And despite the fact that his "American Idol" journey ended in Hollywood, Hampton Bays is still forever proud of Padavan's success.