Idol Chatter & Voice Views

American Idol’s final three returned home to adoring crowds Friday.

As promised, here are links to coverage of their visits to Toledo and northwest Ohio (Crystal Bowersox), Chicago and Mount Prospect, Ill. (Lee
DeWyze) and Forth Worth, Texas (Casey James).

At present, I’m a little short on Casey links. If I find more tomorrow morning, be assured, I’ll post them.

Meanwhile, if you missed the homecoming photo gallery, head here.

Crystal Bowersox

Let’s start off this blog with a great video clip of Crystal performing two original songs — “Holy Toledo” and “Gray-Haired Rock Star” at FOX Toledo, followed by all the promised links.

[youtube]6KX5tUpz420[/youtube]

* The Toledo Blade covers Crystal’s return home, complete with a 38 photos of her return to the city.

* The minor league Toledo Mud Hens set a single-game attendance record on Friday. The reason: American Idol contestant Crystal Bowersox was on hand to sing the national anthem. The turnout: 13,200.

* The Toledo Free Press covers Crystal’s return home, with a photo of her performing at what was dubbed Bowerstock.

* FOX Toledo provides video coverage of Crystal’s return home, including her outdoor concert for 10,000 fans, her parade and of her being presented the keys to the city.

Lee DeWyze

* The Chicago Tribune covers his trip home. Lee was supposed to perform three songs in a performance at Arlington Park. He wound up performing 10 and called it “the best day of my life.”

* Chicago Sun Times covers his visit. Lee calls his Idol journey a whirlwind, noting that it wasn’t long ago he was working at Mount Prospect Paints as a part-time employee and struggling musician.

* The Daily Herald covers Lee’s return, with a short video clip of his performance at an AT&T store.

* My FOX Chicago’s video coverage of Lee’s return from American Idol.

Casey James

<

* The Fort-Worth Star Telegram covers Casey’s return home, which was a little wet. In fact, the threat of lightning forced the cancellation of a pre-show
parade at the Fort Worth Stockyards Back Forty pavilion, but the show went on.

* The Dallas Morning News covers Casey’s visit to Texas and asks him about that strange audition that started it all. With photos.

* My FOX Dallas-Fort orth provides coverage of Casey’s return, including video of his performance at Keys Lounge and from other portions of the celebration.