By Jim Lisk, Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 18, 2006 — When the votes were finalized for April 11, Kellie Pickler was the hands-down winner, garnering more than nine million votes compared to second-place finisher Taylor Hicks with seven million votes.
Summer Miller was with Kellie in Hollywood after her performance and has seen a continual maturation in Pickler since she has been in Hollywood.
“Kellie’s now feeling like she is at home there and truly belongs,” Summer said. “She’s feeling very comfortable on stage. I thought I knew her, but now when I see her perform, I just go ‘wow.’ Did she really do that?”
This past Tuesday night while Albemarle and Stanly County fans were keeping the phones busy, an eight-year old boy that lives near Chattanooga, Tenn., may have been the most excited young man in America.
Having been devastated by the death of his two-year old sister, Emily, in February from cancer, Jon Pat Ransom has become withdrawn and non-verbal, only enjoying watching American Idol and the woman that makes his heart race, Kellie Pickler.
As Kellie and Summer shared a little downtime after the show last Tuesday night, Summer shared the Ransom family story with Kellie, who immediately said, “let’s call Jon Pat.”
Following Summer’s call to prepare Jon Pat’s mother for a call, Kellie dialed up one of her most dedicated fans.
When the unsuspecting Jon Pat was handed the phone, he was greeted by his new friend.
“Jon Pat, do you know who this is? Well, I’m blonde, from North Carolina, I sing, and I’m on American Idol,” Kellie said to her young fan.
As any 8-year-old would have been, Jon Pat was totally thrilled to hear the voice of his heroine.
“Jon Pat, I understand you’ve had a tough time lately, but I want you to know that I’ve been praying for you and that everything is going to be okay,” came Kellie’s re-assuring words.
The next day, Jon Pat was at school wearing his “Pick Pickler” hat and sharing “the call” with his school chums when his mother arrived with more wonderful Kellie News.
“Jon Pat, Kellie wants to meet you and has sent us two tickets to fly to Hollywood to see her perform Tuesday night,” said the overwhelmed mother.
It seems Kellie had shared the Ransom family story with American Idol producers and requested that Jon Pat and his mom be in the audience both nights this week.
And that they will be.
Just another in the growing saga of Kellie’s maturation process from unknown to full-blown star that’s occurring right before our eyes weekly.
And as she grows, she’s not only impacting all of Stanly County in a positive way, Kellie is using her new found and well deserved celebrity in its purest form.....by reaching out and positively touching the lives of people all across America.
Just watch for Jon Pat Ransom in the audience Tuesday night for complete verification of that reality.
This week the remaining seven finalists will be singing songs of Rod Stewart.
Locals in the audience will be Grandpa Clyde Pickler and Kellie’s cheerleading friend from North Stanly High School, Summer Townsend, and her mother, Donna.
