Idol Chatter & Voice Views

If experience means anything, you have to like Janelle Arthur’s chances during Season 12 of American Idol.

And I’m not just talking about the fact that she earned a golden ticket to Hollywood for the third straight year.

Janelle, 22, of Oliver Springs, Tenn., has been singing for paying crowds since the tender age of 8.

That’s when she was cast as a young Dolly Parton in a show at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

She appeared there for three years before moving on to a show called Country Tonite, where she was a featured vocalist from age 15 to 19.

She eventually moved to Nashville and, between Idol appearances, has performed with a show called Music City on Stage.

Oh, and she also participated in Icons on Tour, traveling abroad with other Idol castoffs, including Brett Lowenstern and Jen Hirsh, during the summer of 2012.

Like I said, she has experience on her side.

Plus considerable talent judging from her Idol audition in Charlotte, where she sang a medley of “Where the Blacktop Ends” and “Take a Little Walk in the Country with Me.”

She got rave reviews from all four judges. Nicki Minaj said she “already seems like a star.” Mariah Carey complimented her on a “really pretty” voice and demeanor.

Janelle figures she was destined to sing country music. She recalls being obsessed with Vince Gill “as a baby” and in a Music City on Stage promo video says his song, “When I Call Your Name,” was the only thing that could put her to sleep or make her stop crying.

My favorite Janelle comment came from last year’s Road to Hollywood video, when she pointed to her southern accent as one of the things that makes her unique.

“Some people love it. Some people hate it,” she said with a smile. “But I don’t think I can fix it.”

Here are three videos of Janelle performing.

“Woodstock”

“Great is Thy Faithfulness”

“American Soldier” with fellow contestant Nick Boddington