Back at home
Kris Allen adjusts to life on the road, performs for sold out Little Rock crowd
Before emerging at the top of Fox’s “American Idol,” Conway’s Kris Allen was planning on “finishing college, getting a sensible job and having a normal life,” he said before his concert Saturday night.
That plan would seem to be a write-off.
Allen has been touring the country with nine other “American Idol” finalists as part of the American Idols Live Tour 2009. Whether he was crowned “American Idol” because more fans voted for him or because his fans just voted a little harder is up for debate, but there was no doubt that he was the star attraction for this particular show.
After more than a dozen shows since the tour started on July 5, he performed for a home crowd at Verizon Arena on Saturday night.
Tonight, the tour will have moved on to Memphis’ FedEx Forum, and he’s got two shows in Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday and more than 30 more to go before the tour ends in September.
Allen was “living out of a suitcase,” he said, and “spending a lot of time hanging out on buses and planes.” He’s still getting used to the “crazy fans,” many of whom were camped out on a street leading into Verizon Arena to get a glimpse of the “Idols” arriving.
“People just want to touch you,” he said. “It’s strange.”
He’s gotten the fame courtesy of “American Idol” and the people who voted for him. For the fortune, he’ll need to take advantage of the recording contract he got for winning the show, and he says he is.
“I’m making the album,” he said. “It’s going to come out in November, and I think it’s going really well. I think it’s going to sound really well.”
Expect “kind of a pop-rock feel with a little bit of something else,” he said.
When the album comes out, there will be another tour. He’s not had much time to spend with his wife, Katy, while on tour, he said.
“Not very much,” he said. “She’s been on a couple shows with me, but things are great with us. I couldn’t have a better wife.”
When he has a long enough break from touring, he said, he plans to settle back in Arkansas.
“There’s a lot of work to be done in L.A. and New York, but I think we’re going to make our home in Arkansas,” he said. “Arkansas’ a great place. It’s got great people and great food.”
Would he return to Conway?
“I like Conway,” he said. “I’ve lived there, like, seven years. You never know.”
(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached at 505-1238 or by E-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit.)
Comments (2)
Add commentI think the American Idol
I think the American Idol tour is proving that Kris does not have more fans than Adam Lambert except in Arkansas. As for the statement saying Adam's fans didn't vote hard enough, obviously you have not met any of Adam's fans. AT&T and Arkansas gave Kris the win. 38 million votes from a state that has 2 million people. Amazing what one can do with free phones and textmessaging
still...?
Can we please just let it go already? Yes, Adam has as many fans as Kris, yes he is just as good in his own style. Look at Chris Daughtry..if you really think Kris' winning takes any opportunities away from Adam, you haven't watched any Idol shows other than this season's. Just like many other Idol contestants who did not get the actual title, Adam has every chance in the world to have each and every single thing that Kris has an opportunity for. I guarantee he is working on an album now. So..dang...move on already.