Ellen Petersen performs with Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban after getting her golden ticket on American Idol. (FOX Photo)
Ellen, 22, of Branson, Mo., walked into the Idol audition room carrying a banjo that looked pretty darn traditional.
Then she launched into a rendition of “I Wanna Be a Cowboy Sweetheart,” displaying perhaps the best voice we heard during the Kansas City audition episode.
Heck, she even yodeled a little.
Ellen doesn’t typically perform alone. She’s part of The Petersens — or the Petersen Family Band — a bluegrass, gospel group.
And according to the band’s website, Ellen drives the band “with her one-of-a-kind hot pink Hopkins banjo.”
She also sings. Very well, it turns out.
The band got its start in 2007 when Ellen’s dad Jon retired from the Air Force and the family moved to Branson. The band also includes mom Karen and Ellen’s siblings — Katie, Matt and youngest sister Julianne.
And, according to the group’s Facebook bio, they’ve performed at bluegrass festivals, churches, theaters, benefits and competitions entertaining throughout the South and Midwest.
On Twitter, Ellen describes herself as “just your typical banjo player in love with road trips, coffee shops, my family, and Jesus.”
And Carrie Underwood. “I watched every episode (of Season 4), voted so many times,” Ellen says in an Idol video. It never crossed my mind that I might be able to be on American Idol one day.”
Not only was she on it, she drew high praise from the Idol judges.
“You’re a pro,” Keith Urban said. Added Jennifer Lopez: “I liked everything you did. I love the sound of your voice. You’re 22 years old. You’re just about to bloom, I think.”
And after she got her unanimous golden ticket to Hollywood, Ellen even got to play the Beverly Hillbillies theme, with Harry and Keith singing along.
Oh, and don’t assume Ellen will be limited in what she can do on the show. She told her hometown newspaper that she loves all kinds of music, including jazz and pop.
Performing alone? That led to “a lot of nerves,” she admitted, even though her family accompanied her to the audition.
“We have been playing together my whole life,” she told the newspaper. “We know each other so well, we can play off of each other. If someone messes up, it’s fine. We can go with it.”
Here are some Ellen links, followed by a couple samples of her performing with her family”
Website
Facebook
Twitter: @ellenapetersen
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