Posted Monday, May 14, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Often, garnering votes on ABC's "American Idol" or any similar show is as much about personality as it is about singing.
Caleb Lee Hutchinson of Paulding County is clearly a strong country singer with a deep Josh Turner-esque voice. But he certainly didn't hurt himself with his self-deprecating humor and aw-shucks humility in the pre-taped sections before each performance.
On Sunday night, for instance, the 19 year old from Dallas read a letter to his mom Piper thanking her for her dedication to him and helping him believe in himself. Then he joked, "It's good to know if this music thing doesn't work out, I can live in the basement until I die."
Not long after performing a heartfelt cover of "Stars in Alabama" by Jamey Johnson, he cruised into the finals of the show, facing off against Iowa singer-songwriter Maddie Poppe and Pittsburgh country/soul singer Gabby Barrett on Monday, May 21 for the crown. (The final three performance show is set for Sunday. The results will air Monday.)
"In two years, when you're 21, I'd like to drink a beer with you," said a rapturous judge Katy Perry, who praised him for his pure relatability.
By making the final three, he gets a special hometown visit, filmed for the show this Sunday. According to the show, Hutchinson on Tuesday will be visiting Atlanta media in the morning, followed by a pep rally where he graduated in 2017 - South Paulding High School - and a visit to his home. Later at 6 p.m., the city of Dallas will host a parade on Main Street ending in a concert in a parking lot across from Sal's Pizza, according to the Dallas Facebook page.
Hutchinson came in a bit heavyset during auditions last summer but at the time he decided to make a concerted effort to lose weight. By the time ABC was airing live shows a month ago, he had shed 80 pounds.
His stage presence has been tentative at times and he looks far more comfortable with a guitar than without. But his likability and authenticity are unquestioned.
M.J. Santilli, who has run an "Idol" fan site called MJ's Big Blog for more than a decade, didn't think he had a shot to win going into the top 10 but now is far more optimistic.
"Caleb carved out a nice little growth arc for himself," she wrote in her column Monday, noting how he has gained confidence on stage.
But she thinks Barrett is the one to beat.
"She's versatile, consistent, an A+ vocalist," Santilli wrote. " Her biggest drawback: she hasn't really established an artistic identity. Is she a country singer? A soul singer? When she covers artists, her renditions can verge on the karaoke. Yet, she's popular. There's no denying her vocal talent and confidence - a potent combo."
(I predicted Hutchinson would be the winner once the top 10 was called but I can see why Barrett has been a favorite as well. My readers would like to see Poppe win, based on the poll I posted in yesterday's item.)
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