Dublin Native Wins American Idol Platinum Ticket

DUBLIN, CA — One Dublin resident had quite the auspicious beginning to 2025. Filoptir “Filo” Ebid, 23, had performed so well on his audition for “American Idol” that he was called to Times Square in New York, where Ryan Seacrest and Carrie Underwood gave him one of three platinum tickets to the show’s 23rd season. This special privilege means he’ll get to skip the first round of Hollywood Week, advance to the next round, and select duet partners before the regular cast.

“Being in New York on New Year’s Eve was a dream come true! That experience alone was surreal, but receiving the Platinum Ticket was a complete shock for me,” Ebid said in an interview with the University of the Pacific, where he graduated from the school’s Conservatory of Music.
Ebid was born in Egypt, and moved with his family to Dublin when he was 13. In school, he turned to music to help fit in with his classmates. He fell in love with his siblings’ music, especially from powerhouse singers like Whitney Houston, Beyoncé Knowles, and John Legend, according to an interview he did with ABC10. He also gained experience singing in his church.

He attended the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music, where he starred in title roles in “The Threepenny Opera” and “Into the Woods.” After graduating, he spent a year getting his masters in contemporary performance at Berklee College of Music’s campus in Valencia, Spain. He then returned to the Bay Area to play gigs and audition, including one for American Idol that went exceedingly well.

“To me, this is just another opportunity that I wanted to give 100%,” Ebid told the University of the Pacific. “I told myself that it’s important to remember this is just one of many opportunities that I will have in my career. No matter the outcome, all I can do is trust in the process and try my best. But I have to stay, I am thrilled with the outcome!”

Ebid is not the only Tri-Valley resident to make it onto the blockbuster show. In 2015, Pleasanton native Maddy Hudson auditioned in San Francisco, and made it to Hollywood Week. In 2020, Danville native Grace Leer made it to the top 20 thanks to her soulful performances, and came just shy of making the top 10.

Ebid’s already off to a roaring start, so perhaps he’ll be the first Tri-Valley American Idol. The show’s 23rd season premiered Sunday, and airs Sunday nights at 8 p.m. PT on Fox. Episodes are available to stream the next day on Hulu.