Photo: Facebook/John Wayne Schulz “Official” Fan Page
His first audition for “American Idol” earned him a Hollywood trip, but they cut him from the show shortly after he got there. As often is the case, however, it was a blessing in disguise, since Schulz was then able to spend more time with his mother, who had been diagnosed with cancer and passed away shortly thereafter. In 2016, he chose to give it another try and auditioned for Harry Connick Jr., Keith Urban, and Jennifer Lopez, singing “The Dance” by Garth Brooks. Once again, he visited Hollywood, but once more, was cut from the show. In the process, however, he learned some lessons. “The producers on the show wanted me to change the music I was singing and they wanted to change my dress — the way I looked. And I grew up in Texas a cowboy. I always wear a nice button-up shirt tucked in with a nice pair of pants, and my cowboy hat and my boots,” he explained. “They wanted (me) to be a little more pop country … put a t-shirt on, do your hair, have a chain hanging out of your pockets — and that wasn’t me.” Despite the lack of success through this avenue, he said, “I think the biggest takeaway that I learned was you need to hold yourself to your standard and not let off of that, even if it means fame and fortune. And so that was a tough one, but I’m very happy. I was very happy to get on that airplane and go home and know that I didn’t change who I was.”
