Day of celebration draws thousands

BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

LOUISA – Noah Thompson, breakout “American Idol” star, returned home to Louisa to celebrate earning a spot in the singing competition’s Top 3 finalists. He was welcomed home by tens of thousands of Louisa natives, fellow eastern Kentuckians and fans who traveled long distances to participate in the festivities.

Thompson and his team took an “American Idol” camera crew on a tour of Lawrence County that included a short concert for Lawrence County High School seniors at the school, unveiling a “Home of Country Music’s Noah Thompson” sign on U.S. 23, a parade through Louisa and a concert featuring Thompson and other artists at the LCHS football field, among many other stops.

Mitch Castle, Director of Engagement at ARC, has been heading up Thompson’s hometown team and coordinating directly with Thompson and “American Idol” throughout the competition.

According to Castle, Thompson’s hometown team collaborated with the city of Louisa and local businesses to organize and fund all of the day’s festivities including the parade and concert.

Thompson traveled in style Tuesday, riding around with the American Idol caravan in a cream-colored Chrysler limousine SUV when he wasn’t in the parade.

The day concluded at the LCHS football field with a concert featuring Thompson and several other artists.

Thompson was joined by his best friend Arthur Johnson, who signed him up for “Idol” for his first song of the evening, “Blue Side of the Mountain.”

Kameron Marlowe joined Thompson for a duet rendition of Marlowe’s song “Giving You Up,” which was the first song Noah played on American Idol.

Harold Slone, the mayor of Louisa, presented Thompson with the Gem of the Big Sandy, Louisa’s version of a key to the city. Slone noted more than 75,000 people were in Louisa.

A series of prerecorded messages were played for Noah during the concert from friends, politicians and local celebrities, including Gov. Andy Beshear, Congressman Hal Rogers, Nicholas Jamerson of Sundy Best, UK quarterback Will Levis, Ricky Skaggs, Larry Cordle and WVU coach and Louisa-native Dontae Wright to name a few.

Kristofer Lee Bentley took the stage to close out the show with Thompson performing “Painted Blue,” which Thompson performed May 8 on “American Idol.”

Thompson will be competing in the “American Idol” finale live this Sunday, May 22 at 8 p.m. on ABC. Video clips from Tuesday’s visit to Louisa will be included in a segment during the live finale.