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AMERICAN IDOL: My adventure at the homecoming of Chris Daughtry in McLeansville, North Carolina
DFU roadtrip | 6-5-06 | Doug from Upland

Posted on 06/05/2006 5:31:40 PM PDT by doug from upland

Mrs. DFU is a big fan of American Idol and of the guy who should have won, Chris Daughtry.

Here is Chris playing for the audience at the McLeansville shopping center.

Years ago I ripped out my cable. I watch two things -- FOX NEWS SUNDAY and AMERICAN IDOL with Mrs. DFU.

Through a connection to Ford, I was able to take her to see the final performance show of Hicks v. McPhee. They should have both been voted off.

Last Wednesday I got the brilliant idea of taking a roadtrip to North Carolina to see the Chris Daughtry homecoming in McLeansville. At the last minute, I was able to get a pretty good deal on a package deal, I called her at work and told her to take two days off, and we were on the plane at 6:00 AM the next morning. Hey, once in a while it is okay to spend some money foolishly.

We had to fly into Charlotte, spent a night there, and headed to Greensboro on Friday morning.

Before the trip, I tried to set up some contacts to make sure we would be able to get into the concert because they were expecting an overflow crowd. There was even talk of people wanting to camp out the night before.

It went even better than Mrs. DFU could have imagined. Since I am hoping to write a few articles for publication, I am not going to include any more of the photos.

Proceeds of the concert went to the Children's Home Society of North Carolina. I spent an hour with them gathering information. They were ecstatic when they found out they would be the beneiciary of the concert.

I managed to score media passes for both of us, and we attended the press conference on Saturday morning. Yep, I got to ask a few questions from our front row seat and then a few more when we got a photo op with him. We were a few feet from the stage at both events. In the front rows of the concert at Jamieson Stadium were adoptive parents and children.

In case you wonder, Chris Daughtry is the real deal. I spoke to many people about him. He is a good father, husband, and role model. He gave kids the message of working hard for your dream. Chris was active in the PTA and in his kids' lives. He sang at the church. He married Deanna when she was a single mother and raising two small children. She is seven years older than him.

A week ago he flew to NY to see Pearl Jam in concert but could not tell us with whom he met and why. There is no doubt a big contract in the words. I believe he will become the biggest star who has ever appeared on American Idol.

God gave him some incredible talent, and it looks like this young man is going to use it the right way.


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Business/Economy; Miscellaneous; Music/Entertainment; Society
KEYWORDS: americanidol; daughtry; dfuluckylady; doug1hubby; dougnumber1hubby
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To: silent_jonny

but but but - I'm still glad that my Tay Tay won....


21 posted on 06/05/2006 6:38:41 PM PDT by BamaDi (Taylor Hicks - AMERICAN IDOL!!!!)
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To: peggybac

This was a totally non-political trip. I even listened to music in the rental car instead of talk radio. That is something for me. I haven't listened to FM in two decades.


22 posted on 06/05/2006 6:41:16 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: BamaDi

me too. WHOO!


23 posted on 06/05/2006 6:41:57 PM PDT by I'm ALL Right!
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To: merry10

June 11 - Meet Chris Daughtry

Posted By: travis @ Today, 04:00 PM
His grandfather has a place in Lasker, NC called the "Grand Ole
Opry". Chris will be performing outdoors in Lasker, NC on June 11th for his
real hometown folks. I think the performance will be mid afternoon and will
include his band. This will be a flat bed tractor trailer stage type event
with lawn chairs.

Daughtry's grandmother, Barbara Jean Daughtry, confirmed her now-famous grandson will start meeting people at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 11 in the family's backyard area, already well known as the home of the Lasker Grand Ole Opry

Barbara Jean couldn't estimate how long Chris would be able to stay, but noted he does leave first thing the next morning to fly back to Hollywood..

Fans should bring lawn chairs and umbrellas, since he'll be there rain or shine, Barbara Jean said. She also said Chris plans to play a few songs on guitar.


24 posted on 06/05/2006 6:42:15 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: doug from upland
I'm throwing away some more. Daughter of DFU is flying down from Washington to join Mrs. DFU at the Idol concert in Anaheim.

If I could go back and recoup the number of times where I decided not to "throw away money" I would do so in a NY minute.

Money comes and goes -- Family and memories are forever. I will tell you I convinced Mrs. FD2003's Mom and Dad to sell a property they were keeping for Mrs. FD2003 (as a legacy) to spend some vacations with us. I convinced them that the time we spend together was worth much, much more than any stupid money in a few years. They did and I was right. I will treasure those memories forever. More importantly, she will even more so.

My parents are both gone. Someday will we all be. So we need to give those memories (and for us in our dotage ;) )

25 posted on 06/05/2006 6:44:22 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Bipartisanship is when the Stupid Party and the Evil Party agree to do something that is both stupid)
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To: doug from upland

For all his performance videos --- http://www.mrdaughtry.com/index.php?autocom=custom&page=videoidol


26 posted on 06/05/2006 6:46:42 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: freedumb2003

Great comments.


27 posted on 06/05/2006 6:47:44 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: BamaDi
I'm still glad that my Tay Tay won....

So am I :) But Chris is pretty good too, IMO.

28 posted on 06/05/2006 6:49:31 PM PDT by silent_jonny ("the good and honest souls here will prevail" -- MOgirl)
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To: All
On the Monday before the event, a storefront was opened at the shopping center to sell Chris t-shirts. A bunch of proud grandma volunteers were there working. Here is a photo of their wall. I was meeting the Friends of Chris Daughtry there for a run through of the next day's event, when a truck full of shirts arrived. Well, I rolled up my sleeves and helped unload them. Mrs. DFU sat with another woman and made yellow bows.

Image hosted by TinyPic.com

29 posted on 06/05/2006 6:51:58 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: doug from upland

Pretty awesome, Doug. Wish I could have seen it. Can't wait to see the rest of your pics. Make sure you post the article after publication! Congrats to Mrs. DFU for scoring a thoughtful (and connected - did you say front row?) hubby! ;-)


30 posted on 06/05/2006 6:52:49 PM PDT by no more apples
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To: All

As some on you know, I've been on a great deal of talk radio. This morning was the first time I was on an FM station -- 98.7. I met one of their employees there and he wanted me to talk about the adventure on his show this morning. At 6:00 AM.


31 posted on 06/05/2006 6:55:38 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: no more apples

I have had some preliminary interest but there is no guarantee that anything will get published. That's okay, the long weekend was worth it.


32 posted on 06/05/2006 6:56:44 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: doug from upland

God bless you, Doug.

You think Daughtry's the real deal because it takes one to know one. ";^)

Mrs. DFU ~ lucky lady.


33 posted on 06/05/2006 6:58:22 PM PDT by b9 ("the [evil Marxist liberal socialist Democrat Party] alternative is unthinkable" ~ Jim Robinson)
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To: All

What am I bid for my media pass? Just kidding.


34 posted on 06/05/2006 7:00:14 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: doodlelady

You are too kind, doodle.


35 posted on 06/05/2006 7:00:53 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: no more apples

It was a small press conference, and we got there very early. She was a little shy about getting in the front row but followed my lead and was glad she did.


36 posted on 06/05/2006 7:08:05 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: All

Davis Harley Davidson, the largest dealer in the country for the last two years, presented him with a Fat Boy. He doesn't know how to ride yet.


37 posted on 06/05/2006 7:11:13 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: doug from upland

Please, ask Mrs. DFU if she will adopt me prior to any more Chris surprises.

When the Marine Corps calls, dh drops everything and off he goes. I would love to do it just once in my life -- "Honey, Mrs. DFU just called. I need to meet her in North Carolina at O-dark thirty to get my Daughtry security clearance. I can't tell you anything right now, but perhaps I'll be able to in 2 days when I return. Love you!"

You and Mrs. DFU must be smiling like newlyweds these days! :)


38 posted on 06/05/2006 8:37:41 PM PDT by getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL ( **Hunter-Tancredo-Weldon-Hayworth 4 President** I get it, Glenn.)
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To: Txsleuth

Are your tickets to the Nokia?


39 posted on 06/05/2006 8:42:03 PM PDT by getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL ( **Hunter-Tancredo-Weldon-Hayworth 4 President** I get it, Glenn.)
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To: doug from upland

http://www.dailyprogress.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CDP%2FMGArticle%2FCDP_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137834184616&path=!news

Fluvanna alumnus makes it on 'Idol'


By Megan Rowe / Daily Progress Staff Writer
February 18, 2006





-----



A former Fluvanna County boy has made it past cruel "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell - so far.
Chris Daughtry, who graduated from Fluvanna County High School in 1998, has successfully landed into the show's final 24.

Daughtry, 26, lives in McLeansville, N.C., with his wife and her two children from a previous marriage. He showed little interest in music until high school, said his mother, Sandra Daughtry.

He was more interested in drawing and artwork "up until maybe about a couple of years before he graduated," she said.

Ultimately, however, he and a few buddies formed a band in high school. The act split up after he got married and moved to North Carolina, where his family had lived previously, in 2000.

He then joined the alternative rock band Absent Element and wrote music and lyrics. But after the "American Idol" auditions, he had to quit the band. "Legally, you can't be involved in anything else," Sandra Daughtry said.

Her son performed Joe Cocker's "The Letter" at his audition and later on the show sang "The First Cut is the Deepest," originally recorded by Cat Stevens.

On Fox's "American Idol" Web site, Daughtry says if he wins, he would first thank God. Also on the site, he notes one of his proudest moments: "Teaching my son to ride a bike." And he mentions his most embarrassing experience: "Taking photos with my first band, and my leather pants ripped and my butt was showing. It was great."

Being away from his wife and son has been hard, Daughtry's mom said. "His wife was with him when he went to Denver [for the auditions]. They were fortunate where she could be with him there. But I think that was the hardest thing, was having to leave his family behind."

She couldn't talk about where her son is now. "Legally, we can't say anything that hasn't already been seen on TV," she said.

Daughtry will next perform on "American Idol" Wednesday with the other 11 men semifinalists. Two will be eliminated Thursday, along with two female semifinalists.


40 posted on 06/05/2006 8:42:35 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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