Garrard County's Alex Miller, 17, got to sing with Luke Bryan on American Idol. (ABC Photo/John Fleenor)
Alex Miller says he feels a little bit like he has been in the former NBC sitcom “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” because his “life has been turned upside down” by his success on American Idol.
“Life is just a little crazy,” said the 17-year-old resident of Garrard County. “I am trying to figure out Twitter. I was not a tweeter but I am now. I have been hearing from so many people across all (social media) platforms. It’s nice hearing encouraging words and I can’t thank everyone enough.”
American Idol judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry have had plenty of words of encouragement as he has joined Boyle County’s Alyssa Wray as two of the final 60 contestants. Both will be on Sunday’s show on ABC-TV this week.
“So far the highlight for me has been my audition. I had no idea it would go that well. I thought they would probably tell me to go back to Lancaster and keep feeding cattle,” Miller laughed and said. “Hollywood Week was awesome, too. But that audition was more flipping the switch and turning it on.”
He performed a song he wrote — “I’m Over You, So Get Over Me”— but when he finished Bryan came on stage to join him singing Merle Haggard’s “Big City” and totally surprised Miller.
“It was completely unrehearsed and was the thrill of my life,” Miller said. “Thank God he picked on I knew.”
He made a national splash for a different reason his week when he came to Hollywood week with a custom-made belt buckle for 16-year-old Cameron McGhar. She told him she liked his belt buckle during the auditions in San Diego and he brought one to her “because I like her” but admits he never expected it to make national headlines.
“I was just trying to be nice, be friendly, and flirt. I did not think it would become such a big story,” Miller said.
He performed Johnny Cash’s “Walk the Line” during Monday’s show with EmiSunshine, who has released six albums, even though Bryan encouraged them to do another song and they nailed it.
Miller grew up singing in the church but admits nothing has prepared him for the last few weeks. He’s been a popular interview nationwide because of his talent and small-town charm. He told Lauren Kenyon, his American Idol publicist, to work him all she could — and she has.
“I was thrown into it (interviews) like somebody learning how to swim. I had no preparation at all,” Miller said. “American Idol cannot prepare you for this. You just have to jump in the fire and hope you don’t get burned.
“Having Lauren to help me is awesome. I told her anybody that calls, and I didn’t care how big or small, fit them in with me. She has worked me like a dog but that’s the only way to get my name out there. Any publicity anywhere is good. I appreciate all the stories and interviews. They are all helping me.”
He wants music to be his career. Once he graduates from Garrard County High School, he doesn’t plan to attend college. He was actually having a conversation with his mother about what he would do after high school that led to him being on American Idol.
“I told my mom that music was my calling and she said I should consider school (college),” he said. “I told her I hate school now and don’t want to do four more years. She suggested maybe going to a music college but then she scrolled through Facebook and saw the American Idol open audition information. She signed me up and about a week later I did my audition and they asked me to come to San Diego and perform. So it worked out great.”
Miller says not to be fooled completely by how calm he has looked on national TV.
“It bothers me more after I finish than when I am performing because I start thinking about all the things I could have done better,” Miller said. “Nerves never really get to me and just try to do the best I can.
“It is truly an honor to represent this state and this region. Hopefully, I am representing well. The last thing we need is for somebody to make us look like hicks. So when I perform, I just do my best and figure you either like me or you won’t and just hope for the best.”
