Colin Stough, a standout from Season 21 of American Idol, is facing legal trouble after being arrested for DUI, underage drinking, and failing to exercise due care.
According to TMZ, the 20-year-old musician was taken into custody on Friday, February 28, after a single-vehicle crash on the I-840 freeway in Tennessee’s Williamson County, just south of Nashville. Highway patrol officers responded to the scene, where they found Stough and transported him to a hospital before booking him into police custody. He was later released on bail.
Neither Stough’s representatives nor the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office have commented on the incident.
On the same day as his arrest, Stough took to Instagram, sharing a video of himself singing while walking through a forest. He wrote over the clip, “I’m not perfect and will never claim to be. But I will admit when I’m wrong and that’s a fact.” In the caption, he added, “Never let anyone hold you down for not being a certain way.” He later reshared the video on his Instagram Stories and also posted about getting a haircut.
Stough gained national recognition on American Idol for his raw country sound, impressing judges with his performance of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man.” He made it to the season finale, finishing in third place behind runner-up Megan Danielle and winner Iam Tongi. Judge Katy Perry once called him “the Brad Pitt of country music” and praised his song choices and vocal ability.
Despite the legal troubles, Stough’s music career is still moving forward. His website lists an upcoming performance in Saratoga Springs, New York, on Thursday, March 6, followed by shows in Vermont and Rhode Island. He was also recently announced as a headliner for the 2025 Mississippi Makers Fest, according to Supertalk Mississippi.