Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Pia Toscano will be singing the national anthem in the Stanley Cup finals again this year in support of the Los Angeles Kings.

But have no fear, Kings fans, Pia Toscano hasn’t abandoned the team.

In fact, according to a Tweet she sent out Tuesday, she’ll be back singing the anthem Saturday when the Kings take on the New York Rangers in game two of the finals.

To recap: Pia, a Season 10 standout on American Idol, started singing the anthem for the Kings last year. The team did so well when she sang that she became the official anthem singer for home playoff games.

Guess what? The Kings, the final seed from their own division, wound up winning their first Stanley Cup in 19 years.

“The Kings are the underdog, and I feel like an underdog, too, so I feel like we’re the perfect fit,” Pia, now 25, said at the time. After all, she finished ninth on Idol in Season 10 despite displaying one of the best voices on the show.

This season, Pia was under contract to sing the anthem at 20 home games. And she’d probably be singing the anthem when the Stanley Cup series opens Wednesday night except for one little problem.

She’ll be on tour with Jennifer Lopez. And Jennifer has a show in the Bronx that night.

You’ll recall that Pia was one of three or four Idol finalists singing backup for Jennifer when she performed “I Luh Ya Papi” on Idol earlier this season.

Well, she’s now singing backup for Jennifer on six shows, a gig that started last weekend at Summer Jam 2014, in Mansfield, Mass., according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Jennifer is really loyal and welcoming and such a good mentor,” Pia told The Hollywood Reporter. “I feel like she has almost taken me under her wing a little bit and has given me an incredible opportunity where I can now watch her work and see what it takes.”

For Pia fans still eagerly awaiting her own music, she’s still working on an album with singer-songwriter Jared Lee.

And she hasn’t forgotten her Kings.

“My apologies to the @LAKings Fans,” she wrote today. “Unfortunately I am unable to perform at game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals as I will be performing with Jennifer Lopez in the Bronx. However, I will be back for game 2. I’m honored and excited for the opportunity to sing the anthem for the best fans in hockey as the Kings play for another Stanley Cup! GO KINGS!”

Go, Pia!