Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The fans who showed up early Sunday evening for a meet-and-greet with Lauren Alaina before her show at the Toyota Center said it wasn’t only her voice that made them followers of the American Idol runner-up.

There was that bubbly personality that was front and center during the early episodes of Season 10, but seemed to fade a little as the pressure of the show mounted.

Judging from their comments, Lauren Alaina is back to being herself.

“She’s hysterical,” said 20-year-old Elyse Shawver of Mount Gretna.

“She’s in there making everyone laugh,” added Kim Capuano, 45, of Boiling Springs. “She’s adorable. You can’t help but like her.”

“She’s really cool,” said Kim’s daughter Amelia, 18. “It felt like I was talking to a sister.”

Of course, it’s the voice that initially impressed the American Idol judges.

And it’s the voice that has helped the 17-year-old’s debut album, “Wildflower,” hold down a spot among the top 15 on Billboard’s country albums charts every week since it was released about two months ago.

Laura Mellott, 26, of Dillsburg, said “Dirt Road Prayer” is her favorite song off that album. She treated sister-in-law Sarah Weir, 20, of Wellsville, to the concert as a Christmas gift.

But she couldn’t help talking about the personality behind that voice either.

“She seemed down-to-earth on the show, and she was down-to-earth to talk to,” Laura said after the meet-and-greet. “She’s very personable.”

Another plus in Amelia Capuano’s book: “She’s a bargain shopper. She had these great shoes on. She said she got them for $15.”

Speaking of bargains, WGTY Great Country 107.7 of Gettysburg and the York Fair treated country music fans to one Sunday night, bringing Laura Bell Bundy and Lauren to the Toyota Center and selling tickets for just $12.

Hundreds of fans turned out, and it’s unlikely they went home disappointed.

Laura Bell Bundy took the stage first, cavorting around the stage like an energizer bunny while performing several of the up-tempo songs off her 2010 “Achin’ and Shakin'” album, including “I’m No Good (for Ya Baby),” “Rebound,” “Everybody” and, of course “Giddy on Up.”

She also treated fans to two songs off an upcoming album, a ballad called “That’s What Angels Do” that she said would be her next single and another fun upbeat number, “Let’s Pretend We’re Married.”

Then there was an adorable version of “The Chocolate Song,” performed after a fan presented her with a gift basket of chocolates.

Lauren Alaina did a little less dancing, but managed to fit eight of the songs off her “Wildflower” album into her 11-song set. One pleasant surprise: A wonderful rendition of Miranda Lambert’s hit song, “The House That Built Me.”

Lauren dedicated “Like My Mother Does” to her mom, who was on hand for the show, watching from off to the side of the stage. And Lauren joked about her luck with guys, or lack of it, before launching into “Funny Thing About Love,” the one track on her album she co-wrote.

And, since the show was billed as the Jingle Bell Jam, both singers graced the audience with a couple of holiday tunes — “Jingle Bells” and “Merry Little Christmas” from Laura Bell Bundy; “Santa Baby” and a “Blue Christmas/Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” medley from Lauren Alaina.

Oh, and you’ll likely have another chance to catch Lauren in 2012. She got one of her biggest ovations Sunday evening when she announced that she has joined the Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan tour. It kicks off Jan. 20 in Greenville, S.C., and runs through March 24 in not-too-distant East Rutherford, N.J.

Here’s Lauren’s set list, and more photos from the show.

1. Georgia Peaches; 2. Tupelo; 3. The House That Built Me; 4. The Middle; 5. Wildflower; 6. Like My Mother Does; 7. Blue Christmas/Rocking Around the Christmas Tree; 8. Funny Thing About Love; 9. Dirt Road Prayer; 10. One of Those Boys; 11. Santa Baby.