ORANGE PARK – There were no regrets when Chad Eagan heard judges announce Aeriyal Robinson as the winner of the Jax Idol competition Saturday night.

The stylist at Bleach Please Salon on Wells Road didn’t second-guess any of his three songs in the championship round at the Moose Lodge on Collins Road. He didn’t second-guess his effort or question the final outcome.

“I left everything I had on the stage, so I’m very pleased,” he said. “I literally gave it my all. I performed like my life depended on it.”

Eagan was one of 68 contestants in a four-month competition. He survived early elimination rounds with an initial goal of finishing in the upper half. But the longer he survived, the more ambitious he got.

Along with Princess Nealey, the final three each sang three songs – one from a previous performance, one selected by the judges, and one he selected.

Eagan’s personal choice was “At Last” by Etta James.

Until the finals, he said he didn’t grasp the level of talent – and the mindset – it takes to succeed in a talent competition. Now that he understands, he said he plans to return next year.

And win.

“I was not in my head. I wasn’t nervous. I was performing,” he said. “I’m winning it next year. I know exactly what to do.”

Eagan’s other songs were “Creep” by Radiohead and CeeLo Green’s “Crazy.”

Eagan performed at Jax Idol eight years ago, and he finished eighth. The competition took six years off – partially because of the pandemic – and returned with a record number of entries this April.

Jax Idol has been a fixture at Lillian’s Sports Grill on Roosevelt Boulevard for nearly 20 years. The competition had become so popular the finals had to be moved to a larger venue on the Clay/Duval county line.