‘American Idol’ star Gagnon to perform at Maine Red Hot Dog Festival
By Ethan Andrews, Bangor Daily News Staff
DEXTER — Julia Gagnon, the Cumberland singer who made it to the top seven on “American Idol” last year, is scheduled to perform at the upcoming Maine Red Hot Dog Festival in Dexter in August.
Gagnon, who will be performing under the stage name, JULIA with co-musician and writer Nate Haven, was memorable from her first appearance on “American Idol” when she shared her story of trying to make both her birth mother in Guatemala and adoptive mother in Cumberland proud.
Through the run of the show, Gagnon received praise for her powerful, soulful vocals from the judges, guest mentors including Gene Simmons and Meghan Trainor and people in Maine, including Gov. Janet Mills who once tweeted her support.
MUSICAL PERFORMER – Julia Gagnon, who almost cracked the top five on “American Idol” in 2024, is slated to perform at this year’s Maine Red Hot Dog Festival in Dexter on Aug. 9.
In a season of the long-running singing competition dominated by contemporary pop singers, Gagnon’s old-school vocals stood out but weren’t enough to capture the top honors.
After singing “Roam” by the B-52s and “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele, she was eliminated just shy of the top five.
Since appearing on the show, Gagnon has sung the National Anthem for the Portland Sea Dogs, and given numerous performances in Maine, including at the Union Fair/Maine’s Wild Blueberry Festival, the Yarmouth Clam Festival and the Claws and Country Music Festival in Brunswick.
“The Bear,” a single from her upcoming album “Wildflowers” was released on March 14.
The Maine Red Hot Dog Festival will be held Aug. 9 in Dexter. The event is a fundraiser for the Dexter Development Association and aims to “attract a large number of people to the town where they will see all that Dexter has to offer, and to simply have fun!”