SixSeeds at the American Idol Finale

American Idol Up Close:  A report from the Red Carpet to the Rooftop, and everything in between!

When I received an invitation to attend the American Idol finale in Los Angeles, I redeemed my frequent flyer miles for an airline ticket and headed west.  Unaccustomed to the Hollywood glamour, I’m much more comfortable attending a policy conference in D.C. than a pop culture fest in L.A…  but this was an opportunity I felt I couldn’t refuse.

 Would I eventually regret this decision?

 I’ve always been a fan of American Idol (I remember cheering on Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini back in 2002 when the show was called, “American Idol: The Search for a Superstar”), though in recent years I have not followed it as closely. When my brother and I landed in L.A. early Tuesday morning, it felt like the entire city was buzzing with Idol excitement. 

Pre-Show

The day started out with AT&T's "Idol Celebration," where about 15 former “Idol” contestants performed outside L.A. Live's Nokia Theatre and signed autographs, explaining to the crowd the various twists and turns their careers had taken since the show.  They all seemed to appreciate the platform American Idol gave them to launch their musical careers, but it was evident some were still riding their Idol wave while others were struggling to stay relevant. 

I caught up with Diana DeGarmo, Season 3 runner-up who was 16 years old when she was beat out by Fantasia Barrino from North Carolina in 2004. A native Georgian, DeGarmo said she was cheering on Lauren Alaina (whose full name is Lauren Alaina Suddeth) and could identify with many aspects of her Idol experience.  “When you’re so young, there is added pressure to perform well while keeping up with school work,” she said. “I hope Lauren gets a chance to have fun and enjoy this moment.” DeGarmo said she admired both Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery and appreciated the way they seemed to support each other, a sentiment echoed by many Idol alumni.  “It’s Georgia vs. North Carolina all over again,” she said. 

 Most of the American Idol alumni favored Scotty as the winner going into Tuesday night, though they emphasized the importance of the final performances.  “There are always surprises in the final weeks, and a lot can happen at the finale,” said Season Six runner-up Blake Lewis, who was popular for his beatboxer style and came up short against Jordin Sparks who delivered a stellar performance of “This Is My Now” in the 2007 finale. “One song can change everything.” 

Final Performances

After plenty of pre-show excitement, my brother and I settled into our (surprisingly good!) seats for the actual performances on Tuesday evening at L.A. Live’s Nokia Theatre. The 7100-seat venue felt unusually intimate, which made it hard to believe millions of people would be tuning in as well. 

Tons of glittery homemade signs waved throughout the audience, most of them held by tween and teen girls expressing their admiration for Lauren and their adoration for Scotty.  From the time the show started, the entire place was going wild and at times it was even hard to hear what was being said on stage because of all the screaming fans.  The eternally unflappable Idol host Ryan Seacrest managed to maintain a steady composure (with a lot of help from the teleprompter) amidst what felt like chaotic excitement in the house. 

So who would perform first?

The week before the finale, Seacrest tossed a coin to determine who’d choose whether to perform first or second in the final performance show.  Scotty won the coin toss, but graciously offered Lauren the option of choosing.  Lauren chose to sing second, the spot usually preferred as singing last is considered an advantage with the voters, causing MTV’s Gil Kaufman to proclaim,  “Scotty McCreery proved that chivalry is not dead. The country crooner showed off his good Southern boy roots and deferred to Alaina.”

That meant Scotty sang first and Lauren sang second throughout all three of the rounds. Lauren’s final song, "Like My Mother Does," brought virtually the entire audience to their feet. When Lauren came down the stage and sang to her own mother, it was a magical moment many, including myself, identified with. Her performance was both sweet and powerful, and it was then that many, including the judges, thought she might have just won the competition. 

Red Carpet

For years I’ve watched the “Red Carpet” coverage on TV before major events like the Oscars and Grammys, so I was excited to see the stars arrive up close before the show. And arrive in style they did.  Season 9’s Didi Benami and Season 6’s Brandon Rogers hosted this portion of the program, interviewing everyone from Adam Lambert to Tim McGraw.  I was struck by the “cast of characters” that American Idol had once again managed to bring together, as established celebrity artists blended in with new talent still finding their place in the music industry. 

The celebrities, judges, and Idol alumni all seemed very approachable, a characteristic that was emphasized by someone who has been involved with American Idol for over six years.  There was a sense that this was a celebration of collective talent, a feeling of community and family more so than competition… another quality that is often rare in Hollywood circles. “This year the contestants all bonded very tightly, and some of them even created their own band in the house,” she said.  “It’ll be great to see them on tour where they will be doing more group numbers." 

Results Show

Producers packed in tons of highlights during the star-studded two-hour results show Wednesday. 

Perhaps the only thing that truly disturbed me during my Idol experience was the apparent disconnect between the family-friendly nature of the contestants’ performances and those of the guest artists who appeared in the finale.  Wednesday night’s line-up included numbers by Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Lady Gaga.  While their talent was impressive, their dance moves and lyrics were very suggestive.  Were they not aware that kids across America would see them shaking what their momma gave them?  Did Beyonce really want the kids in the audience to hear her repeated petition to "make love to me?"

A person involved with the production explained to me that most of these artists are guests and are not being paid to perform, so they have flexibility about how they present themselves on stage.  However, considering the rather restrictive contracts American Idol doles out of the winner, I don’t buy that they can’t control the overt sexuality and immodesty of the guest performers. I kept thinking, "Is this what the Idol contestants are supposed to aspire to? I hope not!" 

According to Nielsen ratings, 29.3 million people tuned in to night 2 of the season finale, up from 24.2 last year when Lee DeWyze took the top spot over Crystal Bowersox. 

After-Party

The official After-Party was hosted by FOX on the rooftop of the L.A. Live arena, where celebrities and Idol alumni mingled with fans in a relaxed environment.  You could feel a sense of relief now that the competition was over, and everyone seemed pleased at another successful season.  Idol contestants, celebrities, and corporate executives chatted with guests in what seemed like a never-ending celebration.

The newly crowned Scotty McCreery made an appearance with more security than the President, and he seemed genuinely overwhelmed at all the attention.  One of the first people Scotty wanted to see was Meredith Clayton, his choral teacher at Garner Magnet High School. “I couldn’t be prouder of our Scotty,” said Clayton, who was honored during the finale and presented with keys for a 2012 Ford Focus. 

Post-Idol Appearances

Thursday was filled with TV and radio appearances for both the finalists.  I got to see Scotty perform on the set of Access Hollywood (his voice never sounded as big as it did in that NBC studio!), and I saw Lauren perform on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (the poor girl had almost lost her voice by then).  It was evident that American Idol had just changed Scotty’s and Lauren’s lives.  Just a few months ago, Scotty was bagging groceries at Lowe's Foods and Lauren was making pizzas at Cici's Pizza, and today they were the most sought-after celebrities in Hollywood. 

Lauren and Scotty both seemed to maintain a sweet humility and they are very strong in their faith, qualities that were displayed throughout the show, both on and off the stage.  On AT&T’s phone text chat, a fan asked Lauren Alaina, “Everyone knows that American Idol has ultimately changed your life forever, but what are your plans to help you stay true to yourself?” Lauren answered, “I feel like as long as I put God first I will always stay true to who I am. God is the reason I am here and blessed with this talent, and I think about that every day.”  When asked what his favorite quote was, Scotty (who wears an "I Am Second" bracelet) answered, “Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

It’s rare to see such public professions of faith on TV or in Hollywood, and it was a refreshing juxtaposition to the guest celebrities’ disregard for the values of the American Idol “fly-over” audience.

May the new celebrities – Scotty and Lauren – stay true to their own moral compass, as we all look forward to their second act in the world of entertainment!