TV Watch
American Idol

Colton Dixon Regrets Fateful Song Choice on Idol

By Tim Nudd and Jessica Wedemeyer

04/20/2012 at 12:05 PM EDT

Colton Dixon

Michael Becker/FOX

For Colton Dixon, "Bad Romance" turned out to be a bad idea.

The American Idol singer, who was shockingly eliminated Thursday, admitted that his two song choices – and particularly the first one – were what let him down.

"I regret my first song last night," he said of the Lady Gaga tune, after he was sent packing. "My take on it was me, and I didn't veer stylistically from me at all. But I think I could have chosen a better song that I could connect with that had a better message for me and for my audience."

He added: "I think that's what turned a lot of people off last night."

But Dixon, 20, wasn't feeling sorry for himself. The Tennessee native and devout Christian has plenty to look forward to – including a possible return to Idol by his sister Schyler.

Asked what he's been telling her, Colton replied jokingly: "That she better try out next year and make it farther than I did … because I want that free car! … But, no, she needs to do it again … She's leaning toward it more and more. She's definitely got the talent, and she could blow the rest of the completion out of the water."

As for his own plans, Dixon's path has been preordained.

"I want to do Christian music. That's where my heart's at," he said. "I'm just excited to share a gift that God gave me, and it's all on his timing. I just gotta let go and trust that he's gonna do good things with me. I know he will."

And it sounds like he'll also have some help from one of the Idol judges.

"Randy [Jackson], who has worked with a couple of Christian acts, said, 'Dude, whatever you do, let me know and we'll make it happen,' " said Dixon. "I love that."