Kalan Wolfe, a Port Townsend musician, has earned a Gold Ticket to Hollywood on “American Idol.”

“Out of all the people who auditioned in person and online for this season, only 190 people made it to Hollywood week,” Wolfe said. “So, whatever happens, I feel pretty good about that accomplishment.”

Wolfe’s wife, Keely Parson, is proud of her husband for earning the Gold Ticket on the ABC television show.

“If you are unfamiliar with the show, it is a pretty big deal,” she said. “But really, I am not surprised at all how far he has made it. I have worried more about what it will mean if he makes it further in ‘American Idol,’ than I have about him getting eliminated.”

One way or another, Parson said, she has to prepare for a change in their lifestyle.

“It is not a matter of if, but when he makes it big,” she said. “He is extremely talented, but not only that, his original music touches on current issues, and I feel like people are really ready for a change in perspective.”

Wolfe said he first auditioned for the show the show in August. He was one of about 60,000 musicians who auditioned for a chance to compete on the show for the 2019 season, he said.  

“The first audition happened in Seattle,” Wolfe said. “I had hopes, but didn’t have a lot of expectations of making it through because there are just so many talented people out there.”

From the 1,000 or so people who auditioned in Seattle, 12 moved forward, Wolfe said.

“There was another audition a couple of weeks later with the producers via Skype, and I was told I would hear back shortly,” he said.

Several months passed by without a word from the series’ producers, so Wolfe said he figured he did not make the cut.

“I didn’t realize at the time, but the reason I didn’t attend them was because they were skipping me past some of the other phases,” he said. “When I found out I was going to the LA auditions in front of the celebrity judges, I was pretty floored. And, when they gave me a Gold Ticket to Hollywood, it was great and all, but hearing words of praise coming from Lionel Richie was what it was all about.”

Although American Idol airs on national television in front of millions of viewers, Wolfe said that doesn’t make him nervous.

“In fact, it is really exciting,” he said. “The goal is to be seen, in hopes of really kicking off my music career.”

Wolfe was careful about choosing which songs he would sing for the auditions he made, he said. He chose “House of the Rising Sun,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You,” “Hallelujah,” “Wake Me Up,” “The Story,” “Tennessee Whiskey,” “Stubborn Love,” and “The Fiddle and the Drum.”

“In hindsight, I wish that I had focused a little more on originals and displaying more dynamics in my vocals,” Wolfe said. “One of the big reasons I got excited about ‘American Idol’ is that I thought it would give me a chance to have Medicine Music highlighted in our pop culture. Medicine Music is what my originals are, meaning music that inspires change and is thought provoking.”

Professional busker

Wolfe busks whenever and wherever he can, often with his wife and her jewelry venture, Crow Ka Jewelry, which can be found on the website Etsy.

“I have been singing my whole life,” Wolfe said. “I grew up in a very musical family, and even today incorporate my family into my live performances and my albums. I have been a full time musician now for three years, and it feels great to be making a living off of doing what I love.”

Wolfe is not a professionally trained singer, and was told by Katy Perry, a judge on American Idol,’ that his voice was “raw and untrained.”

Parson said that unlike her husband, she is nervous in front of a camera.

“He is so good at being put on the spot and has such a great stage presence,” she said. “The work he does suits him very well. I am naturally very awkward, so it’s been a little more nerve racking for me anytime that I got interviewed during the ‘American Idol’ experience.”

But all in all, the experience has been fun, Parson said.

“I kind of expected the people working for ‘American Idol’ to be the stereotypical LA snobs, but all along they have been amazing,” she said. “I was completely surprised by how professional and efficient the whole operation is (and) that the people are really kind and pleasant to work with.”

Wolfe and Parson have seven children, ages 18, 14, 9, 6, 5, 3 and 11 months.

“We homeschool the young kids and spend a lot of our time together with them singing, mushroom hunting, fishing and making movies that are written and directed by the kids,” Parson said.

Kalan performs with his dad, Karl, sister Olivia, Parson and occasionally his 9-year-old daughter, Ember.

The next episode of American Idol airs at 8 p.m. March 24 on ABC.