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Hometown fans honor Idol finalist
Hordes of dedicated listeners flock to Kris Allen’s homecoming
BY JENNIFER CHRISTMAN ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Friday was hardly American Idol finalist Kris Allen’s first time at Little Rock’s Riverfest Amphitheatre.
It was just the Conway singer’s first time arriving there in a hulking Ford Expedition limousine. And being surrounded by cameras and security staff.
And taking the stage instead of a seat.
And having his name screamed out and scrawled on handmade signs like, “We’re A Very Merry Kris-Mass” and “Kris Allen is Kick Awesome.”
The 23-year-old who just months ago left for Los Angeles as a church worship leader and University of Central Arkansas business major returned to Arkansas in rock-star style for a whirlwind “home visit” arranged by American Idol for its top three finalists. But the easygoing, softspoken Allen — wearing jeans, a T-shirt, a leather jacket, sneakers and bed-head hair — revealed no rock-star attitude in a full day of appearances in Little Rock and Conway.
“You guys are nuts,” the boyish Allen said, with his sideways smile to audiences at the packed amphitheater and UCA’s Reynold’s Performance Hall, as if everyone else has changed while he has stayed the same.
Like he’s still an average guy. One who got a parade. And an official day named in his honor. And enough keys to Arkansas cities to serve as the official state locksmith.
“You guys are awesome. You guys are amazing,” he continued, thanking his loyal legions for text-messaging and calling in the votes that have kept him participating in Fox’s prime-time singing competition, despite his surprise landing in the show’s bottom three for the first time two weeks ago.
His morning started at 7 a.m. with the singer — always surrounded by an entourage — posing for pictures with fans before making rounds of radio interviews at Citadel Broadcasting. And yawning from just three hours of sleep.
Other stops included the Governor’s Mansion and the Arkansas Queen riverboat.
He also made a visit to a wireless phone store in west Little Rock.
“How many kids are supposed to be in school today and are here?” the event announcer asked the parking lot crowd. A lot, according to the shriek soprano screaming.
Kyle Byers, 17, of Murfreesboro, missed not just any day of school for the occasion. He missed his last day of high school, which he communicated via a handmade sign, to attend Allen festivities with his friend Kendra Compton.
“We’re big fans of the show. He’s the first from Arkansas, and it was important for us to come out here to support him,” he said.
Enough to get in trouble?
“I hope not,” he said with a laugh.
Buffie Mayo of Sheridan said she closed her two clothing businesses to be there.
“We’ve got to support Kris,” Sheridan said, with her employee Katie Raymock adding, “And he’s my boyfriend.”
Meanwhile, another female across the parking lot held up a sign: “Kris is Hot Wife or Not.”
The excited crowd drowned out the announcement of a text message from Idol judges who revealed they have chosen One Republic’s “Apologize” for Allen to sing during Tuesday night’s show. The other song he’ll be performing in competition against Adam Lambert and Danny Gokey — his choice — he would not reveal.
But he did reveal what he missed about Arkansas when reporters were given the chance to ask a few questions inside the store: “The people ... the food. The barbecue in LA doesn’t match up.”
Thousands of fans at the amphitheater greeted Allen with chants of “We eat ice!” a jab at Idol judge Simon Cowell, who likened the singer’s recent rock night performance of the Beatles “Come Together” to being as satisfying as “eating ice for lunch.”
He paid back the favor with three acoustic guitar-backed songs he has performed on the show: “She Works Hard for the Money,” “Falling Slowly” and “Ain’t No Sunshine.”
Some students began forming a line for the ticket-only 3 p.m. performance at UCA as early as 6 a.m. As Allen arrived late and had to rush to the next gig, he said he was only going to get to play one song. But then he played two anyway.
Crowds lined Conway’s Oak Street for the small-town parade that featured a band, sorority, Allen’s New Life Church and Allen, accompanied by his wife and ended in confetti being fired from the roof of an investment business.
Next they swarmed into a stuffed Simon Park where Allen’s brother introduced him before he played another acoustic set, including Michael Jackson’s “Man In The Mirror.”
Conway Development Corp. officials and Conway Fire Department officials estimated that more than 20,000 turned out for the parade and the Simon Park performance.
Information for this article was contributed by Debra Hale-Shelton of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
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