“‘Painted Blue’ has always been a favorite of mine and Sundy Best songs are some of my favorites.” —Noah Thompson
“Vote for Noah!” —Kristofer Lee Bentley, Sundy Best
BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
LOS ANGELES — Louisa construction worker Noah Thompson is in the “American Idol” Top 5 after his virtual acoustic performances of “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac and “Painted Blue” by eastern Kentucky country/folk-rock duo Sundy Best.
Thompson will be competing for a spot in the finals live this Sunday, May 15 at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Thompson, along with fellow contestant Fritz Hager, was diagnosed with COVID-19 ahead of Sunday Night’s special Mother’s Day episode.
As a result of their positive diagnoses, neither contestant was able to perform live on the American Idol stage Sunday night. Hager opted to play pre-recorded rehearsal videos for his performances, while Thompson performed live from his hotel room where he is quarantining.
“Performing remotely was definitely different,” Thompson told the Mountain Citizen. “But in a way it felt more like … when I was back home singing with the guys at work or playing shows.”
The Lawrence County native, originally from Blaine, has been a breakout star on Season 20 of “American Idol” receiving praise from the show’s judges and viewers for his performances and humble demeanor.
As part of his soulfully stripped-down acoustic set, the first song Noah performed on Sunday night’s episode was “Painted Blue,” a heart-wrenching ballad by eastern Kentucky duo Sundy Best, made up of Nicholas Jamerson and Kristofer Lee Bentley of Prestonsburg.
Noah told the Mountain Citizen that Sundy Best is one of his “biggest inspirations.”
“I gotta go with [songs] I feel like I can have any type of connection with. ‘Painted Blue’ has always been a favorite of mine and Sundy Best songs are some of my favorites.”
Sundy Best was excited to see a fellow eastern Kentuckian doing so well in the competition and to have gotten such a shoutout from him on the show.
The official Sundy Best Facebook page posted: “Thanks Noah Thompson for sharing Painted Blue with the world last night on American Idol. To make it even more special, it was on a Sundy and it was Mother’s Day.”
Nicholas Jamerson of Sundy Best shared a video of the performance on Instagram and said that it was “humbling” that Noah “chose this song to push him into the Top 5.”
“My phone has blown up. What a blessed life these songs have had.”
Kristofer Lee Bentley told the Citizen that he received a call from his excited mother during the airing of Noah’s performance and she made him listen to Noah’s cover of “Painted Blue” in its entirety over the phone. Afterwards he described the performance as “killer.”
“Vote for Noah!” Bentley said.
Noah was raised by his grandma Karen, who he got the chance to spend the day with in California last week. Noah’s second song of the evening was one of her favorite songs “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac.
Viewers may vote by text, online at idolvote.abc.com, and on the American Idol app up to 10 times per voting method, allowing each viewer up to a total of 30 votes.
Of the remaining 7 contestants Sunday, viewers selected Thompson to be one of the Top 5 to continue in the competition.
Only two episodes remain for viewers to select the next American Idol, with the show concluding Sunday, May 22.
If Thompson makes it past the next round, ABC will be sending him home next week to shoot a hometown segment before the finale.
The Lawrence County Tourism Commission went live on Facebook on Monday, May 9 to announce plans for Thompson’s Homecoming celebration on May 17. Festivities will include a parade through Louisa at 7 p.m. followed by a concert at the LCHS football field featuring Noah Thompson and others.
“I’m hopeful I’ll be back next week on stage. I felt awful yesterday but had to push through. I’m feeling a lot better today and want to thank everyone for their prayers.”
Despite feeling “awful,” Noah wowed the judges and the voters at home with what many described on the show as his best performance yet.
