‘Kellie’ mania reaches new level as local singer makes ‘Idol’ cut
Sunday, March 5, 2006
By Jim Lisk, Staff Writer
Dawn Allen, left, and Janet Daniels, right,
attempt to sway Tonia Diggs to vote for their favorite ‘Idol’ candidate.
Tuesday night downtown Albemarle will be taken over by “Kellie-Mania” as Albemarle’s darling takes to the stage of American Idol, live from Hollywood.
Pending approval of Albemarle City Council Monday night, the block of First Street from West Main to West North will be closed from 6:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. at the request of Judy Holcomb of the city council.
With First Street blocked, J.D. Shuckers will host a Kellie Block Party and will be bringing in large screen TVs for outside viewing.
“It’s supposed to be pretty nice weather and we’re looking for a great crowd,” said Shucker’s Dusty Mason.
Shuckers will be introducing a special hors d’oeurve for the occasion - fried “Pick Pickler Pickles” - and will have a special Pickler drink as well.
On the other end of Main Street, David Morgan’s Pontiac Pointe will be holding a Pickler party as well and will have a special hors d'oeurve on his menu as well - “Kellie’s Calamari.”
In town for all the excitement will be film crews from Access Hollywood, Extra, all Charlotte TV stations, and possibly other stations from across the state.
Other “Kellie-Mania” events were a Saturday noon “Pick Pickler” flyover at Albemarle Stanly County Airport, sponsored by the Bank of Stanly.
“Kellie-Mania” was alive Friday morning, three ladies of Group Homes for the Autistic shared their love for the favorites in American Idol.
Dawn Allen was singing the praises of Pickler while Rockingham resident, Janet Daniels, proudly showed her “borrowed” Bucky Covington sign.
Caught in this intense struggle was Rockingham native and Albemarle resident, Tonia Diggs.
“This is great fun,” said Allen of the county rivalry that may only grow in intensity in the coming weeks.
With Pickler’s making it to the Final 16, she will be on stage live Tuesday night, singing her heart out while Stanly County and America tunes in.
Unlike every other Pickler performance, Carolyn Holt and Summer Miller will not be glued to their TV sets, rather the mother-daughter team will be sitting in the audience of American Idol, cheering on their girl and sharing the best wishes of all of Stanly County.
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