Joshua Mario Gracin (/ˈɡreɪsɪn/; born October 18, 1980) is an American country music singer.

While serving in the US Marine Corps, he first gained public attention as the fourth-place finalist on the second season of American Idol.

He grew up listening to Elvis, the Beatles and to vintage rock and pop on a favorite local station.

When he was 11 the station changed its format to country, and he was introduced to artists such as Garth Brooks, Joe Diffie, George Strait and Randy Travis.

His first public appearance was at an eighth grade talent competition where he sang Brooks' 1993 hit "Standing Outside the Fire" and easily won over an audience full of more traditional dance music-loving cohorts.

At 16, he performed on stage at the Grand Ole Opry in a national talent show [4] and recorded a demo CD in Nashville, Tennessee.

Upon graduation from John Glenn High School in Westland, he attended Western Michigan University before he joined the United States Marine Corps.

[4] After basic training, he returned to marry his wife and was assigned to Camp Pendleton as a supply clerk.

Gracin's true transition from reality show finalist to recording star began when he sang Rascal Flatts' "I'm Movin' On" on one episode of American Idol.

As Rascal Flatts watched that episode on their tour bus, bass player Jay DeMarcus was impressed with Gracin's talent and reached out to him.

He connected Gracin with Marty Williams, who had co-produced both of Rascal Flatts' breakthrough album and its successful follow-up.

[3] In 2005, Gracin also contributed the song "Working for the Weekend" to the Herbie: Fully Loaded soundtrack, and he also sang on "When I See an Elephant Fly" on the Jim Brickman album The Disney Songbook.

[10] After his Idol stint and his discharge from the Marine Corps, he moved to Tennessee in pursuit of his singing career.