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East Tennessee has a new "American Idol" hopeful to root for.

Jackie Lee Midkiff, a student at Alcoa High School, auditioned in Louisville, Ky., months ago and got the judges' nod to progress to the Hollywood rounds. "Idol" aired its Louisville open auditions on Wednesday night. At those open auditions, thousands tried out.

The Hollywood rounds will start airing next month. A source close to "Idol" said two weeks ago that an East Tennessee performer was allowed to go onto the Hollywood rounds, but the source could not reveal the name or the hometown of the singer.

Midkiff is 17 years old and a high school junior. He was 16 at the time of his audition.

Midkiff played football for Alcoa in 2007, but dropped from the team this past season when he auditioned for "Idol."

For the judges, he did a cover of the country music hit "Bless The Broken Road," originally done by Rascal Flatts.

His father is also named Jackie Midkiff. He is the pastor of High Praises church in Maryville, located off East Broadway.

The younger Midkiff is described as a budding country music singer. In its eight seasons, "Idol" has not produced a male winner whose roots are in country music.

Carrie Underwood is "Idol's" biggest success story in that genre, having earned platinum albums and multiple awards since her rise from the show more than two seasons ago.

Other "Idol" finalists - such as Bucky Covington and Kristy Lee Cook - have found some success in the country music field.

Dozens of East Tennessee singers have auditioned for "Idol," but fewer than a half dozen have gone to the Top 50 like Midkiff has.

Exposure on "Idol" - even if it's only being in the top 50 semifinalists - can boost a fledgling career.

Just ask Josiah Leming, a Morristown, Tenn., teenager whose British rock sound was favored by the judges and fans. A year after he was on "Idol," Leming snared a Warner Bros. contract.

Leming's debut CD, which was made in London, is set to be released in March. He is now living in Los Angeles.

The 2007 "Idol" season also produced another East Tennessee singer in the top 50. Mary Catherine Flynn, a student at Catholic High School, also went to the Hollywood rounds then, but she was eliminated before Leming.

Attempts to reach Midkiff were unsuccessful before deadline on Wednesday.

Terry Morrow may be reached at morrowt@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6445. His blog can be found at blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/. He contributes to "Style" on WBIR, Channel 10, and "The Marc & Kim & Frank Show" on WWST-FM, 102.1.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel
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