[doug from upland]

Ping

[kingu]

I'm so envious of you! Darn it, why won't my Vast Right Wing Conspiracy card get me into these places!

[Gorobei]

A shame he didn't win, he looks and sounds like a real guy, as opposed to that Taylor clown.

[freedumb2003]

Greensboro is a BEAUTIFUL place. I want to spend some time there someday.

Good for you for tossing a few bucks away for a whim that will always be a great memory for you and the Mrs. -- Chris D or any other reason!

[Txsleuth]

WOW...thanks for that wonderful story.

I am so glad you guys got to see him...he was always my favorite!!

I saw on Sunday on Fox News that he decided NOT to sign with Fuel...but, at that time didn't know what he was going to do.

I HOPE he stays as a solo (with his own band behind him)...he is good enough to be a solo.

I can't wait to get a CD of his.

The American Idol tour is coming here in September, which is my birthday month...but, alas, I don't have anyone that will go with me...sniff, sniff.

Maybe by September I can talk someone into it...but, I REALLY would rather see a show with just Chris.

[Feiny]

I'd hit it.

[merry10]

You are amazing! My mouth dropped open as I read this. Flying to NC for this??? This is as good as hearing you on Sean Hannity as I'm driving 3000 miles away from CA and realizing, hey, I've MET Doug from Upland!

That being said, I also married a guy who adopted my kids and that is a LOT to take on. Chris is special. Thanks for posting this. I like all the tidbits you provided.

[peggybac]

What a nice husband you are to surprise your wife like that. I'm glad you two had a good time. Actually, as much as I think Chris should have won, I'm kinda glad he didn't so he doesn't have to be completely tied to Idol for so long in the future. Did you tell him we all loved him at FreeRepublic??? LOL

[doug from upland]

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

[doug from upland]

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.

[doug from upland]

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.

[b9]

God bless you, Doug.

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

Mrs. DFU ~ lucky lady.

[doug from upland]

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

[doug from upland]

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.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

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! :)

[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

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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.

[Clint N. Suhks]

http://photobucket.com/ is your friend. ;-)

[Shelayne]

Chris is my favorite, too. I think he is just such a decent guy, and his love for his family is very evident. **Sigh** I just love a strong family man. It goes without saying that he has a fantastic voice.

Thanks for sharing your experience. And what a treat! Mrs. DFU must be very happy! :^) How cool

[Fawn]

Please post your articles!

[AnnaZ]

I can't you believe you didn't ping me to this!!

You're a good man, dfu! And your wife is one lucky woman.

I've stomped around the Piedmont Triad before... have a lot of friends from there... I hope while in Greensboro you had a Krispy Kreme at the original store ("People stop by here right off the plane before they see their mama!")

I'm only just a little jealous.

Ping me to the article when it's done!

xo!