Louisa construction worker is a breakout star
“Go after your dreams, do it scared and trust the process.” –Noah Thompson
BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
LOS ANGELES — Louisa construction worker Noah Thompson is in the “American Idol” Top 7 after his performance of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” a song he dedicated to his friend Arthur Johnson.
Thompson will be competing for a Top 5 spot live this Sunday at 8 p.m.
The Lawrence County native, originally from Blaine, has been a breakout star on Season 20 of “American Idol” receiving praise from judges and fans alike for his talent and humility.
As a 19-year-old construction worker and father, he was nominated and “forced” by Johnson to compete on the show, something he says he would never have done on his own or without the support of friends and family.
Thompson has been away from home for the duration of the competition, much of which has taken place in California. He even celebrated his 20th birthday away from home.
What he misses most about eastern Kentucky is “really the people.”
“Even before this show, everyone was so nice and friendly,” Thompson said. “I miss that, and obviously, I miss my family and friends. I’ve never been away from them for this long of a time, and it’s been an adjustment, but I’m doing this for them.
“I honestly can’t wait to get home and perform for the people there. Wherever that is, I’ll be just as excited as if it were the biggest venue on earth. The people back home have been so supportive of me on this journey, and I don’t know if I can ever thank them enough.”
Last week, Thompson received enough votes to secure a spot in the Top 10 contestants.
As part of “Disney Night” on Sunday, Thompson performed “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from the movie “Toy Story.” That live episode received over 5.8 million viewers and over 20 million viewer votes.
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 10 contestants Sunday, viewers selected Thompson to be one of the Top 7 to continue in the competition.
Monday night’s episode saw no eliminations and marked the end of the two-episodes-per-week portion of the show.
Only three episodes remain for viewers to select the next American Idol, with the show concluding Sunday, May 22.
When the Mountain Citizen asked Thompson what fans could expect from him in the next rounds, he gave insight into what he focuses on to succeed in the competition.
“I’m just trying to continue to grow and show the judges and America what I can do,” said Thompson. “They’ve been challenging me every week with different songs, and I want to keep pushing myself to come out of my comfort zone and showcase what they want to see.”
Thompson’s advice for young musicians is simply, “Go after your dreams, do it scared and trust the process.”