Paul McDonald finished eighth on Idol, then built a festival

He toured with a band before American Idol

McDonald’s music career already involved a band, original songs, and a touring van. He fronted Hightide Blues from 2005; the group moved to Nashville in August 2010 and became the Grand Magnolias. His musical education included the gospel choir at Auburn University, which took him into small churches across the Southeast. By his account in August 2011, the previous year had meant touring the country in a 15-passenger van, loading equipment, opening for larger acts, and trying to get original songs onto local radio. That was the working life he brought to American Idol.

“Maggie May” became his Idol calling card

On American Idol’s 2011 season, McDonald sang Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May” in the Top 24 and Ryan Adams’ “Come Pick Me Up” in the Top 13. He told American Songwriter that producers had tried to steer his personal-idol choice toward Bob Dylan; he recorded the Adams song with Don Was. In the Top 8, he performed Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll” with a tambourine, a saxophone player, and a black suit with red and yellow details. Randy Jackson told him, “You are definitely an artist.” McDonald finished eighth. On that summer’s American Idol Live tour, he sang “Maggie May” again.

Duet records came before his solo album

His next recording partnership was with Nikki Reed. Their 2012 EP The Best Part paired their harmonies with acoustic guitar and brushed percussion. Ken Coomer produced the sessions in Nashville, and McDonald said Reed helped finish songs he had started. They released the album I’m Not Falling in July 2014. McDonald’s first solo album, Modern Hearts, arrived on June 1, 2018, with Jordan Lehning producing. He released it independently. The record became the starting point for another stretch of touring, including shows supporting Hanson, before the pandemic interrupted his plans for dates of his own.

A new van became a house-show circuit

The pandemic arrived after McDonald had bought a van for touring. With payments to meet, he asked fans on Instagram whether they would host house shows. The replies sent him across the country with his partner and their dog, playing backyard parties and visiting national parks. In his September 2021 American Songwriter interview, McDonald described what that slower pace had given him: “This time, we had more time to connect with the people.” During that period, the Scottish label Vacancy Records discovered Modern Hearts online and approached him about releasing it again. A deluxe reissue was scheduled for October 1, 2021.

A backyard brunch became One Big Love

In October 2022, McDonald started One Big Love with a gospel brunch and pig roast in the backyard of Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge in Madison, Tennessee. He founded and curated the event after years of playing clubs, dive bars, and festivals. The aim was to bring musicians together and raise funds for local nonprofit groups and charitable causes. In its first year, One Big Love welcomed more than 120 artists and bands. Its events combined performances with food, art, and vendors. The project gave McDonald a role in choosing the artists and creating a place where they could meet and play.

The Underdog gave his band room to develop

McDonald called his 2023 residency at the Underdog one of the most meaningful periods of his life. In a July 2025 interview with East of 8th, he described the musicians, bands, and friends it brought together, and the connection that fed One Big Love. He had spent the years between solo albums recording music he ultimately shelved. He also described waiting tables, washing dishes, and working construction while rebuilding his career. With the Mourning Doves, he played dive bars, burger joints, and juke halls. Producer Bobby Holland offered to record the band, and sessions began in late 2023.

His live band made So Long to the Dark Side

So Long to the Dark Side arrived on July 11, 2025, with ten songs on OBL Records. McDonald and the original Mourning Doves lineup tracked the album live on the studio floor, straight to tape, with Holland producing. They had been playing shows together and had developed a shared sound. McDonald told East of 8th that he had written the album across five years, through the pandemic, remarriage, and his mother’s cancer. He also spoke about losing his mother and grandmother in the preceding year. “This music brought me back to life,” he said of finding the songs and their sound.

One Big Love was scheduled to open Americanafest

For September 9, 2025, One Big Love was scheduled to open Americanafest at Acme Feed & Seed in downtown Nashville. The free, all-ages event had two stages, with McDonald and the Mourning Doves headlining a bill that included Rayland Baxter and Michigander. Its partnership with Songs for Kids directed donations and auction proceeds toward the organization, with its band given a performance slot. A further One Big Love event was scheduled at Acme for September 18, 2026, across three stages. Proceeds from the in-person event were designated for Songs for Kids Foundation, which brought music to children and young adults facing disability and illness.

The Mourning Doves released two singles in 2026

In 2026, McDonald and the Mourning Doves performed songs from So Long to the Dark Side on the headline stage at the 30A Songwriters Festival. They also played evening performances over the festival weekend. On September 11, 2026, McDonald and the band released “Alabama Getaway” through OBL Records. “Come On” followed on October 16, 2026. The band is scheduled to return to 30A for a Friday kickoff headline performance at the Seaside Amphitheater. That festival runs January 15–18, 2027, giving McDonald another announced engagement.

• Paul McDonald: career and music
• Listen to Paul McDonald on Spotify
• Listen to “Alabama Getaway” on Apple Music
• Listen to “Come On” on Apple Music