American Idol season 2 alum, Josh Gracin, alarmed friends and fans when he left an apparent suicide note on his Facebook page. It was eventually deleted. But in the meantime, law enforcement was called to investigate. Typically, TMZ is right on it.
‘American Idol’ Season 2 finalist Josh Gracin had neighbors and police racing to his door … after posting what looked like a suicide note in the wake of marital problems.
We’re told cops responded to the former Marine’s home in Spring Hill, TN — where he lives with his wife and 4 kids — for a welfare check after a family member saw an ominous Facebook post:
Cops rushed to his house — his wife was there but he wasn’t. Law enforcement sources tell us police got in touch with him by phone, put him on with his wife, and he told her he was coming home.
Cops are staying at the home until Josh arrives.
Josh was Season 2’s singing Marine, eventually leaving the show in 4th place. His military commitments kept him from the summer tour, but he did eventually sign a record deal with Lyric Street. His self titled debut went gold and produced 3 Top 5 country hits. But unfortunately, the law of diminishing Idol returns set in. He was eventually dropped from Lyric and has since struggled to maintain an independent career.
There is no such thing as over reacting to a person using language that indicates he could take his own life. Hopefully Josh is getting the help that he needs to work through his marital issues. The struggle to earn a living through music–a really tough business–can’t be making whatever he’s going through any easier.
UPDATE FROM JOSH’S MANAGER:
This is Josh’s manager, Amy. Thank you everyone for your prayers & concern. Josh is safe & with his family now. I promise to update soon.
— Josh Gracin (@joshgracin) August 14, 2014
UPDATE: This just popped up in my alerts. It’s a recent interview with Josh via the WV Gazette. He talks about missing out on the tour pay day, the challenges of releasing music as an independent artist and more. He’s getting ready to release an EP called Worth This Love.
As an EP, the new release will have only four or five songs, as opposed to a full-length album, which typically has 12 or more.
“Albums aren’t selling,” he said. “Why spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on one record when you can release an EP every couple of months and do pretty much the same thing?”
To him, it’s all about keeping new, fresh music flowing to listeners.
Gracin said the EP could be out in a couple of months. A video for the title track is scheduled to be shot in September.
Maybe because he’s an independent artist, Gracin is deeply involved. The video will be based on a story he has and his ideas for direction.
“So, if it fails, it’s 100 percent my fault,” Gracin laughed.
UPDATE Via TMZ:
Cops tell us Gracin is being held on a 5150 psychiatric hold. We’re told he drove himself to a hospital, with a police escort, after they pulled him over. He’s been cooperative, has spoken to his family … and is being evaluated by doctors now.
When a person is deemed a danger to himself–threatening or having tried to commit suicide is an example–he can be held involuntarily for a psychiatric evaluation.
