'American Idol' contestant Cecil Ray arrested for burglary days after elimination
Former "American Idol" contestant Cecil Ray was arrested Friday and charged with burglary of habitation in Texas.
Sarah Pence, an officer with the Rockdale Police Department in Texas, also confirmed to USA TODAY that Ray was held in Milam County jail following his arrest. She did not share if he has since been released.
USA TODAY has reached out to reps for "Idol" for comment.
Ray's arrest came less than a week after he was eliminated on April 11 from the ABC singing competition, after not earning enough fan votes to land him in the top 16. He made the top 24.
During his audition, Ray and judge Katy Perry bonded over being parents to young children. The 20-year-old machine operator from Cameron, Texas opened up about growing up in government housing and losing his friend, brother and uncle to suicide.
"Music's always been a light," he said. "There were times where I just felt like giving up, but the only light in the dark was music."
Ray sang Morgan Wallen's "Talkin' Tennessee" for his audition, earning praise from the judges. Luke Bryan called him "absolute perfection," and Perry said he reminded her "of a country Justin Bieber."
All three judges decided to send Ray to the Hollywood Week phase of the competition, where he dedicated a performance to his daughter.
In the top 24, Ray showed off his country skills with "Paint Me A Birmingham" by Tracy Lawrence, and later with a duet with Jimmie Allen on the Allen and Brad Paisley song "Freedom Was a Highway."
"You're the underdog here," Perry said after the performance. "Everyone wants to root for you, but you got to root for yourself."
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'American Idol' contestant Cecil Ray arrested on burglary charge