Posted on Thu, Jul. 19, 2007
Kellie Pickler: Welcome home
TV tribute airing tonight on WCNC
Kellie puts her ear piece in moments before taking the stage at a recent concert.
Albemarle’s sweetheart Kellie Pickler returns to the Carolinas this weekend to perform at Verizon Wireless with country music star Brad Paisley.
Tonight at 8:30 p.m. on WCNC watch Kellie Pickler: Welcome home, a half hour tribute to the ‘American Idol’ star.
Pickler was raised in Albemarle North Carolina. Her hometown has a population of just 15,000 people, but it’s now known around the country.
Mayor Whit Whitley said Pickler has created quite a buzz. “We've been very fortunate. She created an awful lot of excitement for us.”
“Albemarle is where I grew up,” Pickler said. “It’s where all my hometown friends are.”
She was born in 1986 at the Stanly Regional Medical Center. She graduated from North Stanly High School and eventually enrolled at Stanly Community College, in the School of Cosmetology. That’s a time in her life she jokes about.
“I was a beauty school dropout. Just like Grease,” she said.
One of her teacher’s remembers Pickler well.
“Very bubbly personality, an interesting person. What you saw on Idol is exactly what you got,” said David Smith. “I hate to say the ditzy blonde, but everybody has that impression of her. She was a good student overall.”
“There's rarely a week that goes by that someone doesn’t call and say I’m coming to Albemarle, where does Kellie Pickler live? Or how can I meet her? Or what do you have that I can purchase? They’re still wanting memorabilia items with Kellie,” said Albemarle’s Development Director Vicki Coggins.
Pickler’s cousin Lacey Gordon says it’s the people who make Albemarle home for Pickler.
“I think she misses not being able to be home and being with everybody. Because every time she comes she calls and tries to set something up, but it's such a busy schedule for everybody it's hard,” she said. “I think she just missed being home with her family.”
Pickler makes no bones about it - she loves Albemarle.
“I could not have asked to come form a more supportive hometown,” she said. “ They had a Kellie Pickler day! What more could you ask for?”
And Albemarle loves her.
“I think she sustains her strength from her roots and she's always been very proud of her community and her roots as we are of her,” said Coggins. “I think it renourishes her to come home and spend time with friend and family and go again.”
“They definitely fill a huge void in my life. Everyone back home does,” said Pickler
Coming up tonight at 8:30 p.m. on WCNC, Kellie Pickler like you’ve never seen her before. Bobby Sisk shows you Pickler’s life on the road with insight to what fans of her concert can expect. Colleen Odegaard visits her hometown to see the sites Pickler made famous. Plus, local radio personalities weigh in on her whirlwind year and see what happens when we go shoe shopping with Pickler. She may love shoes but saying so is a different story.
source:
Charlotte Observer | 07/19/2007 | Kellie Pickler: Welcome home
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