American Idol star Taylor Hicks dazzles fans on visit home, adds Gov. Riley to Soul Patrol
Saturday, May 13, 2006
By MIKE BRANTLEY
TV and Media Editor
MONTGOMERY -- There may not be anything unusual about a politician telling people to vote and who to vote for.

But Gov. Bob Riley's plea from the Governor's Mansion in Montgomery Friday afternoon to the people of Alabama, urging them to vote on Tuesday night, had nothing to do with politics.

"I want to encourage all citizens to support and watch Taylor Hicks on "American Idol" and vote for him after his performance," Riley said while standing next to Hicks.


Hicks, the 29-year-old singer from Birmingham, is among only three finalists left on "American Idol," the popular prime-time singing contest that airs two nights a week on the Fox television network.

The governor issued a proclamation that officially makes Tuesday -- when Hicks next performs on the TV show--Taylor Hicks Day in Alabama.

"I've got two new inductees to the Soul Patrol," said Hicks, the gray-haired vocalist who has charmed millions of fans with his singing and harmonica playing on "American Idol." He was referring to the governor and to First Lady Patsy Riley.

Hicks' supporters across the country refer to themselves as members of the Soul Patrol. They busy themselves after each Tuesday night's broadcast, dialing into "American Idol" to register their call-in votes for Hicks.

On Wednesday each week, the contestant who receives the fewest viewer votes is eliminated.

Still in the competition with Hicks are Katharine McPhee, 21, of Sherman Oaks, Calif., and Elliott Yamin, 27, of Richmond, Va.

Hicks told hundreds of fans gathered on the front lawn of the Governor's Mansion that, "I want to thank the people of Alabama for voting for me and watching the show each week. If it wasn't for you guys voting and watching, I wouldn't be standing here today. I truly appreciate that from the bottom of my heart."


Before speaking to the crowd, Hicks and family members gathered with the governor and an "American Idol" entourage inside the mansion. The public and press were kept away as Riley revealed to Hicks one of the three songs "American Idol" producers have picked for him to sing during Tuesday's broadcast.

"You will be happy with the song," Riley quietly told Hicks before they were sequestered away from the media.

"I will?" Hicks responded.
"Trust me," the governor told him.

The singer's grandmother, Gulf Shores resident Joni Hicks, said the "American Idol" producers want to keep the song selection a secret until the show next airs. She doesn't even know the songs, though she was among those who went inside the Governor's Mansion.

"I prefer to be in the dark," she said. "I said, 'Don't tell me. Don't even tell me what they are.' That way, I can't spill the beans."

There is no confirmation of it, but Taylor Hicks may have hinted at the song selection when he remarked to a crowd of supporters: "You know what? Stars do fall on Alabama."

Some members of the crowd speculated he may have been referring to the song, "Stars Fell On Alabama" by Frank Perkins, which has been recorded over the years by singers ranging from Frank Sinatra to Billie Holliday to Jimmy Buffett.

In the crowd, self-proclaimed Soul Patrol members from all over the state waved banners stating that "Taylor ain't no hick, he is a soul man!" and "We love our hicks."

Jackie Racine of Mobile said she admires Hicks and went to Montgomery Friday to support him.
"I love his moves," she said. "He is cute. He is darling. He has a great voice. He represents Alabama well."

Fellow Mobilian Cathy Vickers said Alabama singers have done so well on the show since its second season because of "natural born talent."

"It's a God-blessed state," she said.

Another vocalist from Birmingham, Ruben Studdard, won "American Idol's" second contest, in 2003. Birmingham-born Diana DeGarmo was runner-up in 2004, and Hunstville native Bo Bice was runner-up last year.

Taylor Hicks' grandmother said she believes "the whole state is behind Taylor."

"I am just so impressed that he has been able to convey this feeling of honesty and sincerity ... Taylor is real," she said.

"American Idol" cameras were trained on Hicks during his quick visit to Montgomery. The footage will be used on the show next week.

The "Idol" entourage flew to the state's capital by private plane after Hicks was honored with a parade in Birmingham Friday.

In Birmingham, Hicks said he wanted some southern cooking.

"You take grits for granted," Hicks said during an appearance at WBRC-TV, the Birmingham Fox affiliate. Afterward, he and his bandmates played a few songs on a patio atop Red Mountain overlooking Birmingham.

Thousands lined a downtown street and fanned out at a park for a ceremony where Hicks both performed and received a key to the city from Birmingham Mayor Bernard Kincaid. Workers hanging out of City Hall windows screamed and waved as Hicks arrived.

He also gave a public performance at the Riverchase Galleria shopping mall in Hoover, the Birmingham suburb where he grew up.

After leaving the Governor's Mansion, Hicks flew to Birmingham were he performed Friday night at the Art on the Rocks event at Birmingham Museum of Art.

His grandmother said he was then to fly by private jet back to Hollywood to rehearse for Tuesday's competition round on the "American Idol" stage.