Wilson: Will new ‘Idol’ judges be kind to country?

You all probably know by now that I’m an “American Idol” junkie.

My friend, Sally, got me hooked on the show back in the summer of 2002, when it came down to Kelly and Justin — and Ryan Seacrest had frosted tips in his hair and a partner named Dunkleman.

The judges — Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell — were respectively adorable, perplexing, and kinda hot, but mean with a killer English accent. OK, that’s more than one word, but the show morphed into a polished machine, and you knew what you were going to get.

For the next several seasons, it was all about the singers for me: Clay Aiken’s makeover (Season 2), Fantasia Barrino’s a single mom (Season 3), Carrie Underwood’s amazing (Season 4); Soul Patrol (Season 5).

After Taylor Hicks took the crown in Season 5, my devotion to the show was up and down. Season 6 was dull. But Season 7’s “Battle of the Davids” turned me into a “Cougar for Cook.” Season 8 should have gone to Adam Lambert (I blame the addition of Kara Dioguardi for that one). Who won Season 9? Oh yeah, not Paula Abdul, who left the show. And certainly not new judge Ellen DeGeneres, who as judge, reminded me of her “Nemo” character “Dory.”

Now it’s Season 10, and Simon is gone. The one last reason I thought to watch “American Idol.” He was the voice of reason; the only one who offered any constructive criticism (when he could get it in over the booing crowd and Ryan “look at me” Seacrest).

The only downfall to Simon Cowell in my opinion (botox and shaved chest aside) was that he openly disliked country music and always found a way to mock anyone who had a twang. In addition to Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood, “Idol” has given us Kellie Pickler, Bucky Covington, Josh Gracin and Danny Gokey.

Now we have new judges in Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith joining Jackson. No more Simon to diss country music — a fact the 62-year-old rocker Tyler recently pointed out on “Fox and Friends.”

“That’s the one thing that turned me off about the show was Simon passed on this kid because he goes, ‘Besides which, I hate country. Not my cup of tea.’ If I’m judging music, you don’t judge the genre. Sorry.”

Don’t be sorry about that Steve! So far, the judges (and I) are smitten with a Josh Turner sound-alike in 16-year-old Scotty McCreery, who made the cut in Milwaukee. Thursday night’s auditions were in the home of country music, Nashville. I think I’m back in the saddle again.

Contact Nancy Wilson, a Clark County native and morning-radio personality at WHKO-FM (K99.1), by e-mail through the website at k99online.com.

About the Author