Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Before Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina, Aaron Kelly was the teen country singing sensation on American Idol.

And the fifth-place finisher from season nine will be performing in Harrisburg Sunday afternoon.

The occasion is the 14th annual Celebration of Children event at the Forum in Harrisburg. Aaron will be on hand to receive the Arpeggio Award, presented each year to a well-known person who is influential in getting youngsters involved in the arts.

Prior to Idol, Aaron had been performing for years, hoping to make a career out of music. That determination makes him “definitely a good role model” for other youngsters pursuing the arts “and he’s humble in the process,” said Shirley Nolt, producer of the Celebration of Children and founder of PECAN Inc., which is putting on the event.

Aaron will be on hand at intermission of the 3 p.m. show to meet fans and sign autographs, Nolt said. During the second portion of the show, he’ll take the stage to sing two original songs, she added.

Children 18 and under from the midstate area will also be performing at the event, showcasing their talent in music, dancing, public speaking, gymnastics and other types of
art.

The Forum is located at the intersection of Fifth and Walnut streets in Harrisburg. Tickets for the show are $12 for adults, $10 for children and free for those under age 4.

For those who don’t remember, Aaron has Pennsylvania roots. He grew up in Sonestown (think west of Wilkes-Barre, east of Williamsport) and played and fair circuit in that area prior to his time on Idol.

Fact is, anyone who wants to catch him in concert this summer without leaving Pennsylvania will have plenty of opportunities to do so, because he’s playing several fairs.

Those include the Hughesville Fair on July 19, the Troy Fair on July 27, the Harford Fair on Aug. 25, the Forksville Fair on Sept. 4 and the Bloomsburg Fair on Oct. 1.

He’ll be opening for Little Big Town in Troy and for Rodney Atkins in Bloomsburg and co-headlining with the Jane Deere Girls in Harford.

No word yet on when we can expect a debut album from Aaron. He’s been working and writing for that record since the Season 9 Idol summer tour ended.