Idol Chatter & Voice Views

American Idol’s season five champ, Taylor Hicks, is helping kick off opening weekend at Hersheypark.

Hicks will perform shows at 4 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7, in the Hersheypark Amphitheatre.

Shows at the Hersheypark Amphitheatre are free with park admission, and seats are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Thanks to support from fans dubbed The Soul Patrol, Hicks prevailed in season five of Idol over the likes of Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler.

He’s released two albums since, a self-titled debut album in December 2006 and “The Distance” on his own label in January 2009.

He has also toured the country in the role  of Teen Angel in “Grease.”

Hersheyparks’ hours on opening weekend are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.