'Idol' Marine Could Face Wartime Call

By Rachel F. Elson

Wednesday March 26, 2003 04:46 PM EST

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Two roads diverge before "American Idol" contestant Joshua Gracin. One leads to pop stardom and a recording contract. The other leads to war in Iraq.

Gracin, a 22-year-old U.S. Marine with a wife and young child, is one of 10 finalists on this season's FOX show. He donned a cowboy hat to perform Garth Brooks's hit "Ain't Goin' Down 'Til The Sun Comes Up" on Tuesday night's episode, and now faces a viewer vote on Wednesday to remain in the contest.

But there are larger issues at stake for Gracin. The camouflage crooner is on 24-hour notice to leave the show and report to Camp Pendleton if his unit is deployed for active duty in the Persian Gulf conflict, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Even if he progresses to the next round of the contest, a call-up would force him to give up his spot among the "American Idol" hopefuls. Producers, however, say Gracin has been up front all along about his possible departure, and they have promised him a free pass to the round of 10 in next season's "Idol" if he is forced to leave.

The paper notes that Gracin has a good shot at staying put -- at least as far as his military career is concerned. Marine officials said Gracin belongs to a part of the Marines' 1st Service Support Group, which might not be deployed. "Within each unit is a section that might not be called up, and Joshua belongs to one of those sections," Staff Sgt. Chad McMeen, of the Marine Corps television and film liaison office, tells the Times.