Isaac Cole

EMLENTON — An Emlenton teen’s time on the final season of FOX’s “American Idol” has come to an end, but this is not the last of his music career, he said.

Isaac Cole, a 15-year-old inspirational country music singer, advanced to the show’s Top 51 round, which aired on Wednesday night, but Cole did not make the final cut for the show’s Top 24.

The Top 24 contestants, who were announced Thursday night on the show, continue on to the live shows, when the public can vote weekly for their favorite contestants.

Cole’s mother, Cheryl McNany, said that Cole accepted the news in a mature way.

“He was very gracious,” she said Thursday night. “He handled it well, and he was humble.”

Despite not making it onto the live shows, Cole said the experience was the best of his life. Not only was he exposed to the entertainment industry, he said the experience helped him develop as a professional and to learn how to handle difficult situations.

Cole still keeps in touch with numerous contestants who he met during the audition process from his first performance in Philadelphia in August 2015, he said.

“I feel like this is just a stop along the way. I’m not going to stop (making music),” Cole said. “This isn’t the last of Isaac Cole.”

In fact, Cole hopes to travel to Nashville, Tenn., by the end of February to work on his third album. Cole also has been receiving more inquiries about booking performances, McNany said.