Jay Copeland made quite a splash on TV’s “American Idol” Monday evening.

Dressed in a resplendent pink suit and white button-down shirt, the 23-year-old Salisbury native was among contestants chosen to be in the Top 10, sparking a round of congratulations on Facebook and among locals who know Copeland as a polite, respectful young man with a ready smile and passion for song.

After Copeland – a former star of James M. Bennett High School’s annual “Rock & Roll Revival” – sang the melancholy “Lilac Wine,” American Idol judge Lionel Richie pronounced it “one of the greatest performances I have ever seen in my life.”

“Absolute control,” Richie gushed as a beaming Copeland smiled and said, “Thank you.”

“It was like Nat King Cole reborn in front of my eyes. It was so classy, classical, beautiful. I mean, we don’t have enough time for me to tell you how good it was,” fellow judge Luke Bryan said, as the third judge, Katy Perry, said it was Copeland’s best yet.

“It was controlled. It was so beautiful. You could hear a pin drop. … everyone was so zoned into you, Jay. You did it,” Perry said.

Made popular in the early 1990s by the late musician Jeff Buckley, “Lilac Wine” has sadly thoughtful lyrics including, “I lost myself on a cool, damp night; I gave myself in that misty light; was hypnotized by a strange delight; under a lilac tree.”

As the show ended, host Ryan Seacrest announced 19 million live votes had been received and that Copeland was among artists who would continue competing, along with Noah Thompson, Christian Guardino, Fritz Hager, Nicolina Bozzo, HunterGirl, Emyrson Flora, Leah Marlene, Lady K and Mike Parker.  Not chosen was  Tristen Gressett.

Facebooks posts, replete with happy face emojis, multiple exclamation points and bright red hearts, all for Copeland, were plentiful.

“Keep it going brotha!” Andrew Cooper encouraged.

“You were born for this, baby! Keep it up” Omariah Estrada cheered.

“Jeremiah, Jeremiah! Absolutely amazing! There’s nothing left to do but to bring it home!” Cara Moales wrote.

Supporters of the James M. Bennett High School and Salisbury University alumnus have been plentiful since Copeland’s audition on March 22, when he sang the Stevie Wonder hit “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” while wearing  distressed jeans, a burgundy pullover shirt and colorful athletic shoes, bringing looks of delight to judges’ faces and prompting  Perry to stand and dance.

Words of admiration began before the TV show started, with Micah Nicholson posting he taught Copeland in his middle school chorus class and remembering him as “kind, respectful, always smiling and loved to sing.”

“His voice was beautiful then and it’s incredible now. Love that you are following your dreams and giving God all the glory. Praying and rooting for you,” he wrote.

City of Salisbury Secretary of Kindness Grace Foxwell Murdock commented, “So, Jay Copeland, I just worked a crowd at my grandson’s lacrosse game in Dundalk, Md. More votes coming your way! On way to another sporting event. I’m going to request a megaphone.”

“I love y’all so much, Salisbury!” Copeland posted on his Facebook page, responding to fans.

“You all are really pushing for me and I see you and I love y’all so much! Thank you Salisbury University, thank you James M. Bennett and thank you, Maryland. Love y’all.”