Kris Allen debut album hits stores today

Kris Allen’s debut album, which is the fruit of his victory on “American Idol,” goes on sale Tuesday.

Walmart on Skyline Drive held a release party late last night with music and refreshments, according to assistant store manager Todd Pollet.

The Hastings store a few blocks away on Old Morrilton Highway also held a midnight release party — for a new Star Trek film, according to store manager Winter White — but the store was open at midnight nonetheless, when the Kris Allen album went on sale.

The album was also on sale at Conway’s other Walmart at midnight, though without the festivities according to assistant store manager Shelley Curtis.

The album is also available today at Target and Best Buy.

Allen, who was attending the University of Central Arkansas in Conway when he was selected to compete in the show, won a recording contract with 19 Recordings/Jive Records after he was declared last season’s “American Idol” by a phone-in viewer voting process. Allen has writing credit on nine of his self-titled debut album’s 13 tracks.

(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.)