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For Pickler, ‘Anything is Possible (thesnaponline.com)
Tuesday, March 7, 2006
By Jim Lisk, Staff Writer
Phillip Langenberg and Kellie Pickler starred in the 2002 show “Groovy.”
Just four years ago, the curtain went up on the Kerri Huffman and North Stanly Players’ annual spring musical.
That 2002 production was entitled, “Groovy,” and was a fun time for all, including a surfer dude named California Cowabunga and surfer girl named California Ivy
Huffman, now in her 21st year directing the Players, remembers well Phillip Langenberg, who played the surfer dude and is now a U.S. Marine serving in Iraq and Kuwait.
Very often, and especially lately, Huffman e-mails her surfer dude to keep him abreast of life back home and in particular with the success of his surfing buddy from “Groovy” - Kellie Pickler.
She had Pickler for the two semesters of her sophomore year and readily recalls the first time she asked her to sing.
“I don’t know if I can,” the then-15-year-old said.
But, with a little encouragement from Huffman, Pickler began the only way she knows how to sing - straight from the heart.
“I started the instrumental CD and Kellie belted out the song. We were all amazed,” Huffman said of the moment a star was born.
That first solo in the drama classroom was four and a half years ago. Then, as spring and “Groovy” rolled around, Kellie’s took center stage and her solo stole the show.
The name of that first solo was..... “Anything Is Possible.”
That sophomore year was Pickler’s only year in drama.
“She made everybody laugh in drama with her cute, funny stuff,” Huffman said. “Everybody in the class just loved her.
“Now, on American Idol, she’s just like she was in drama. Kellie is just who she is. There’s not a pretentious bone in her body.”
As a senior, Pickler had another of those unforgettable performances, singing “Broken Wing” in the school talent show.
“Her projection was so powerful that we had to shut-off the microphone,” Huffman said. “Not only was her singing powerful, but oh, so heartfelt.”
There’s another assignment from early in that fall drama class that defines Pickler for Huffman.
“The students had to pick a word that that they felt was their gift to the world,” Huffman said. “Kellie’s word was dedication.”
Living out that word has taken Kellie from the discovery that she really was blessed to sing, with the dedication to walk through every door of opportunity, the North Stanly High Idol has sung her way to the most-watched stage in America.
California Cowabunga - Phillip Langenberg - will be coming home from the Middle East in May as a war hero while his surfin’ buddy, California Ivy, will be coming home from Hollywood possibly wearing the title of American Idol.
“Wouldn’t that be some homecoming,” said America’s proudest drama teacher.
And why not, after all Pickler sang that message just four short years ago, “Anything Is Possible.”
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