American Idol

America won't get the chance to vote for a local “American Idol.” Christian Lopez, 16, of Martinsburg, W.Va., was ousted during Wednesday night's airing of the reality show's infamous “Hollywood Week.” Christian, who won his trip to Hollywood during the Pittsburgh auditions, was paired with other contestants for group round. The Martinsburg High School junior's group, Those Girls and That Guy, sang “Stuck Like Glue.” He failed to advance to the solo round.

After every episode of "American Idol," I would always imagine what it would be like to sing onstage in front of thousands of people. The contestants on the show could do it, so why couldn't I? I already had plenty of practice strutting my stuff in front of my bedroom mirror while singing along into my hairbrush to Demi Lovato. I told myself that if the opportunity ever arose for me to have my shot at "American Idol" stardom, I would take it. What did I have to lose? This summer my family took a vacation to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. One of the newer attractions at Disney's Hollywood Studios is The American Idol Experience, and I was determined to audition for it. I wasn't expecting to get a record deal and superstardom out of it, but it was the next best thing to auditioning for the television show.

Elliott Yamin, second runner-up in the 2006 "American Idol" competition, will perform in November in Hagerstown. The concert is scheduled for Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre. Ticket prices are $30 and $50. Tickets go on sale today at 8 a.m. at the theater's box office. Beginning Monday, tickets will be available by phone or online at the theater's Web site, www.marylandtheatre.org . Yamin was second runner-up in the 2006 "American Idol" competition that eventually was won by Taylor Hicks, who performed in July at The Maryland Theatre.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com SHENANDOAH JUNCTION, W.VA. - Simon Cowell, the famously notorious judge on "American Idol," had good news and bad news for local contestant Rod Snyder back in November. The bad news was that Snyder was not named one of the 24 semifinalists on the popular Fox television show. And the good news, Cowell said, was that Snyder can now return to politics. Snyder, 24, of Shenandoah Junction, was not shown singing on Tuesday night's episode, but he was shown in the beginning trying to convince his roommate to leave their shared bathroom.

"American Idol" isn't the only cultural phenomenon Taylor Hicks has been a part of. His self-titled album, his first since winning "American Idol" in 2006, was released last December, reached as high as No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and went platinum (more than 1 million copies sold) in January. Hicks' first single - "Do I Make You Proud?" - hit No. 1 on Billboard's Pop 100 Hot 100 charts. The song has raised more than $100,000 so far for the American Red Cross to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies, according to an e-mail from Julie Thurmond Whitmer, director of celebrity and entertainment outreach for the Red Cross.

Taylor Hicks was named the latest 'American Idol' on Wednesday night. Read the full story in Thursday's Herald-Mail newspapers.

Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks will compete for the title of "American Idol" after Melinda Doolittle was sent home Wednesday night. Read the full story in Thursday's Herald-Mail newspapers.

America voted, and Jordin Sparks was chosen as the newest American Idol, defeating Blake Lewis on Wednesday night. Read more in Thursday's Herald-Mail newspapers.

FSU's Cultural Events o Sara Evans on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m. Main Arena, Cordts PE Center. Tickets cost $15 to $38. o Fan favorites from "American Idol" perform, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Alice R. Manicur Assembly Hall, Lane University Center. Tickets are $10 to $65. Frostburg State University, Frostburg, Md. For tickets, call 866-849-9237.

Fantasia's debut album "Free Yourself" was never going to beat new releases by U2 or Gwen Stefani and it probably never could have topped strong-selling recordings by the likes of Eminem or Shania Twain. Expectations weren't that high. Still, the third "American Idol" winner became the first victor from the Fox talent show not to take the top spot on the Billboard sales list, moving fewer units than any of the show's previous champs. "Free Yourself" sold around 240,000 copies for the week ending Nov. 28, taking the No. 8 position on the Billboard chart.

There's something to be said for not wasting a second chance. Christian Lopez of Martinsburg, W.Va., knows that all too well as he basked in the glory of making it to the next phase of “American Idol” during the infamous Hollywood Week, which aired Wednesday and Thursday nights. But Christian's journey ended this week when he was cut from the Thursday night elimination round. “I have absolutely no regrets,” Christian, 17, said during a telephone interview from his home.

The odds are against receiving a “golden ticket” to Hollywood for most who audition for “American Idol.” Christian Lopez, 17, of Martinsburg, W.Va., has not only heard those words “You're going to Hollywood” once - but twice. Christian auditioned last year in Pittsburgh for season 11 of the Fox singing competition. At that time, he had to perform for then-judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler - and won a pass to the mass auditions in Hollywood. But because of the flu combined with a poor group performance, Christian was sent packing.

America won't get the chance to vote for a local “American Idol.” Christian Lopez, 16, of Martinsburg, W.Va., was ousted during Wednesday night's airing of the reality show's infamous “Hollywood Week.” Christian, who won his trip to Hollywood during the Pittsburgh auditions, was paired with other contestants for group round. The Martinsburg High School junior's group, Those Girls and That Guy, sang “Stuck Like Glue.” He failed to advance to the solo round.

It's nicknamed “the golden ticket” - that yellow slip of paper that promises aspiring singers a trip to Hollywood and the chance to be the next “American Idol.” In its 11 seasons, hundreds of thousands of aspiring singers have vied for the chance to hold the coveted piece of paper in their hands, but only a select number can ever say they were the chosen few. That makes Christian Lopez of Martinsburg one of the lucky ones....

After every episode of "American Idol," I would always imagine what it would be like to sing onstage in front of thousands of people. The contestants on the show could do it, so why couldn't I? I already had plenty of practice strutting my stuff in front of my bedroom mirror while singing along into my hairbrush to Demi Lovato. I told myself that if the opportunity ever arose for me to have my shot at "American Idol" stardom, I would take it. What did I have to lose? This summer my family took a vacation to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. One of the newer attractions at Disney's Hollywood Studios is The American Idol Experience, and I was determined to audition for it. I wasn't expecting to get a record deal and superstardom out of it, but it was the next best thing to auditioning for the television show.

FSU's Cultural Events o Sara Evans on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m. Main Arena, Cordts PE Center. Tickets cost $15 to $38. o Fan favorites from "American Idol" perform, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Alice R. Manicur Assembly Hall, Lane University Center. Tickets are $10 to $65. Frostburg State University, Frostburg, Md. For tickets, call 866-849-9237.

HAGERSTOWN - Before the umpire shouts "Play ball!' and before fans of the Hagerstown Suns root for the home team, someone has to handle the toughest call of the game - singing "The Star-Spangled Banner. " Saturday afternoon, about 100 people applied for the job. Auditions to sing or play the national anthem during the local minor league baseball team's 2008 season were held Saturday afternoon at Wolf Furniture at Prime Outlets at Hagerstown. The event, which has become a Suns tradition, was an opportunity for people to show off their musical talents - or lack thereof.

Elliott Yamin, second runner-up in the 2006 "American Idol" competition, will perform in November in Hagerstown. The concert is scheduled for Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre. Ticket prices are $30 and $50. Tickets go on sale today at 8 a.m. at the theater's box office. Beginning Monday, tickets will be available by phone or online at the theater's Web site, www.marylandtheatre.org . Yamin was second runner-up in the 2006 "American Idol" competition that eventually was won by Taylor Hicks, who performed in July at The Maryland Theatre.

"American Idol" isn't the only cultural phenomenon Taylor Hicks has been a part of. His self-titled album, his first since winning "American Idol" in 2006, was released last December, reached as high as No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and went platinum (more than 1 million copies sold) in January. Hicks' first single - "Do I Make You Proud?" - hit No. 1 on Billboard's Pop 100 Hot 100 charts. The song has raised more than $100,000 so far for the American Red Cross to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies, according to an e-mail from Julie Thurmond Whitmer, director of celebrity and entertainment outreach for the Red Cross.

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