Ex-Idol star Josh Gracin loves politics – but is forbidden from discussing it

{mosads}“I’m very political, almost to where I get in trouble with my record label not to post anything [on Facebook],” the former American Idol finalist said.

Gracin’s handler quickly stepped in, nodding to the recording device in my hand and helpfully reminding him that he was on the record.

“I know, I know I am,” he said. “I do follow [politics] though. I read everything. I kind of stay away from the main news sources — I’ll go to them to hear about a topic or what’s the main thing, but then I’ll do a lot of my own research and my own stuff. I like to figure it out myself.”

So what outlets does Gracin read to keep up to speed?

“I’d rather not say because I might get in trouble from my team, my powers that be,” he said. “I’ve already gotten quite the talking to about stuff that I’ve posted on my Facebook.”

A cursory search of past Gracin Facebook posts reveals the singer to have a fierce socially conservative streak coupled with a healthy skepticism of politicians on both sides of the aisle.

But Thursday night wasn’t supposed to be about politics.

Gracin has been a regular at the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation’s annual Heroes Gala. He’s a former U.S. Marine and the nonprofit focuses on meeting the needs of military personnel and their families.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, Director of the Office of Servicemember Affairs Holly Petraeus, and a host of other military representatives were at the Ritz-Carlton to see him sing.

Gracin performed a song he created based on the stories of military families who wrote to him about their heroes.

“It was a lot of pressure, but it was a lot of fun, and it came out very, very well,” he said.