Matt Giraud (born May 11, 1985) is a dueling piano player and a finalist on the eighth season[1] of the reality television series American Idol from Kalamazoo, Michigan He was born and raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan and graduated Lincoln High School in 2003. He plays at clubs out in Kalamazoo[2], where he also graduated from Western Michigan University. He released an album called “Perspective” in 2003 and another in 2006 called “Mind Body and Soul”.[3]

American Idol
Giraud auditioned for the eighth season of American Idol in Louisville, Kentucky. He was considered a Judges favorite in Hollywood with Randy Jackson naming him among his “top 5” early favorites. He did not make the finals initially, but was brought back for the Wild Card show, where he became part of the Top 13.

Performances/Results
Week # Theme Song choice Original artist Order # Result
Audition N/A “I Don’t Want to Be” Gavin DeGraw N/A Advanced
Hollywood First Solo [not aired] - N/A Advanced
Hollywood Group Performance “I Want You Back” The Jackson 5 N/A Advanced
Hollywood Second Solo “Georgia on My Mind” Hoagy Carmichael N/A Advanced
Top 36/Semi-Final 2 Billboard Hot 100 Hits to Date “Viva la Vida” Coldplay 2 Eliminated1
Wild Card N/A “Who’s Lovin’ You” The Miracles 2 Selected
Top 13 Michael Jackson “Human Nature” Michael Jackson 12 Safe
Top 11 Grand Ole Opry TBA TBA TBA TBA



Note 1: Giraud was initially eliminated, as he did not receive enough votes to advance immediately into the Finals. However, on the March 4 results show, Kara DioGuardi selected him as one of the 8 Wild Card contenders.