Clarksville woman earns golden ticket on ‘Idol’

Press Staff Report

A Clarksville woman has advanced to the next round on the reincarnation of the “American Idol” singing competition.

Maddie Poppe, 20, was one of the first singers featured on the show Sunday night, and earned three “Yes” votes from the judges to advance to the next round to be held in Hollywood.

She performed “The Rainbow Connection” while accompanying herself on guitar.

“American Idol,” which ran on the FOX network from 2002 to 2016, made its ABC debut Sunday with three new judges: Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Ryan Seacrest returned as the master of ceremonies.

“You have a storytelling voice,” Richie told Poppe after her audition. “Storytelling is the best thing in the world — I have a career based on it. We need you in this show.”

Perry said, “You definitely have your own distinctive quality in your voice. I think that’s pretty dope.”

Bryan didn’t comment on Poppe’s performance, but said he agreed she should go to the next round and handed her the “golden ticket” that signifies she is advancing.

Poppe told KCRG television, the Cedar Rapids ABC affiliate, that it was surreal to watch herself on television Sunday night.

Initial auditions are held around the country and are taped in advance. Poppe said her audition in front of the judges was in October in New York, and she had to keep the results a secret until the show was broadcast Sunday evening.

“American Idol” was one of the biggest hits of the year when it debuted in 2002. It spawned many other television singing competitions and launched the careers of such artists as Kelly Clarkson (currently a judge on the competing singing competition “The Voice” on NBC), Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson (a past judge on “The Voice.”)

According to Billboard magazine, “American Idol” was responsible for almost 350 chart-topping singles in its first 10 years.

According to TV Guide, the show was No. 1 in the television ratings from 2003 to 2011.