By Brandon McGlone
sports@garrardcentralrecord.com

(Lancaster, KY - March 25, 2021) — Lancaster’s own, Alex Miller, was featured on two recent episodes of “American Idol” as the iconic show kicked off its Hollywood Week with a two-night, genre and duet challenge event. 

The country artist, who has an inclination toward the classics, continued to impress judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie as he advanced into the third and final pre-taped rounds. Miller will be featured on Sunday, March 25 at 8 p.m. on ABC for Idol’s “Showstoppers” challenge where he will perform with a live band.

“I want to be the next American Idol because I want to prove a smalltown boy can do just about anything,” Miller told the judges before his performance that aired on Sunday night.

In the genre round Miller stuck to his country and bluegrass roots by performing a rendition of Jimmy Martin’s “Freeborn Man.” The opening line of the song, “I was born in the Southland 20 some odd years ago,” was appropriately modified by Miller to, “... some 17 years ago,” which received a laugh from Perry.

“Country just arrived in my opinion,” Bryan opined after the song while all three judges gave Miller a standing ovation.

“He is a martian,” Richie added, complimenting the musician’s unique style.

On Monday night artists were paired up for duets. Partners were selected by Perry, Bryan and Richie.

Miller was matched with Emilie Sunshine Hamilton, professionally known as EmiSunshine, a 16-year-old contestant from Tennessee with similar southern charm. Though Bryan warned the couple that they should try to step out of their comfort zone, Miller and EmiSunshine decided to stick with their guns and performed Johnny Cash and June Carter’s “I Walk the Line.” Emi added her own twist at the end with a hint of yodeling. 

“What just happened?!” Richie exclaimed in amazement.

“I want to give you guys kudos,” Bryan told the pair. “You were getting pushback on ‘Walk the Line’ because American Idol wouldn’t do you any good if we don’t push you. You know, Alex, you had Johnny Cash knocked out of the park when you were eight years old I would imagine. I want to see what Alex Miller morphs into. So throw us a curveball. Pick a pop song. How you play this thing, you’re going to become a legitimate artist and not just the kid from Kentucky.”

Wanting to see more from Miller and Sunshine, Bryan informed them, “So with all that said country, little bumpkins, you’re going through to the next round.”

Miller shared some insights with the Garrard Central Record about his performances that aired last Sunday and Monday.

“I thought my first (performance) went a lot better than the second one,” he said. “The reason I say that is I don’t really think I was challenging myself like I should, like Luke Bryan suggested. I’ll try to consider it but it’s going to be tough where I’m an old country artist to try and flip and do something different.”

Miller is glad he kept the faith and performed Johnny Cash’s hit.

“The reason we stuck with ‘Walk the Line’ is we had already rehearsed, we already thought we sounded good, and we went and talked to some of the producers and they thought it sounded good too,” he shared. “So we went with our gut, we stuck to our guns, and we just knew that was something we could do really well. That was something we both connected with. That yodel on the end (by EmiSunshine) was really cool and I think it’s what set the song off.

The 17-year-old was also grateful to be assigned such a talented partner.

“She was awesome,” Miller praised. “Emi is a great singer and a great person. It was an honor to work with her. It was really nice to get to do a duet. Instead of me choosing it was nice to see who the judges thought would make a good pairing. I think me and Emi were a perfect match. We both love old country music and I think we can both sing it really, really well.”

While the competition takes place in Los Angeles’ amazing Doby Theater, there are many moments behind the scenes that are also captured by the “Idol” crew. One of those moments was featured on Sunday as Miller showed the world his wooing skills.

Camera crews captured an exchange between Miller and Cameron McGhar, 16, as he gave the Alabama musician a belt buckle with her name on it, similar to the one he sports. McGhar was thrilled with the gift, and when asked why he gave it to her Miller responded in his matter-of-fact way, “Because I like her.”

“We actually met out in San Diego when I auditioned out there,” Miller shared the background of his love interest story. “I started flirting with her then. What you saw on TV is really how things kind of went down. I asked her if she was single (in San Diego) and of course got a ‘no,’ but that didn’t stop ol’ Alex Miller. If they ain’t got a ring, it still might be a thing. I kept trying and trying and trying. She said something about my belt buckle one day and I went ahead and ordered that thing out in San Diego.”

Unfortunately, McGhar was sent home after the first round of Hollywood Week. She was given the news at the same time, on the same stage, as Miller was told he would be moving on.

Though McGhar and Miller may not be country music’s next Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood (yet), Miller is thankful they were able to get to know one another. 

“We’re still good friends -- still talking to this day -- so I think I made a good friend there,” he said. “Who knows where it might go? You can always hope and wish.”

In the next set of shows the judges will be narrowing the competition down to 24 contestants who will then perform in the live rounds and be advanced based on viewer votes.

Miller couldn’t speak much about his upcoming performance that will air on Sunday night, but the country crooner has taken Bryan’s advice into consideration without going completely off the rails.

“I’ll say this much -- I’m not going to do a pop song,” Miller laughed. “It’s definitely going to be entertaining though, let’s put it that way.”

Alex Miller’s official music can be followed on Facebook and YouTube by searching “Alex Miller Music”, @AlexMillerMusi1 on Twitter, and @Alex_Miller_Music on Instagram and Tik Tok.