'Idol' in Idaho airs March 3
DEVIN WEEKS/Press file Hopefuls sing and share stories during interviews on a Lake Coeur d’Alene cruise boat at the Hagadone Event Center in October. The second season of “American Idol” features auditions in Coeur d’Alene and will air March 3.
TV star and "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest saunters down a Hagadone Event Center dock when auditions were held in Coeur d'Alene in October. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press File)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
The Lake City is hitting the small screen in a big way when season two of "American Idol" premieres next month.
Auditions for the second round of "Idol" were held at the Hagadone Event Center in October, giving contestants and celebrities alike an up-close-and-personal North Idaho experience.
"We have treasured the opportunity to share our beautiful lakeside town with the 'American Idol' crew, and cannot wait to share it with the viewers, too," Jamie Cornell, director of sales for The Coeur d'Alene Resort, said Thursday. "We are excited to have our viewers see just how extraordinary Idaho is, and, hopefully, they will come experience it for themselves one day."
During the auditions, Coeur d'Alene was visited by performers from around the country as well as show judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan and show host Ryan Seacrest.
This international exposure is sure to be one more thing to put Coeur d'Alene on the map.
"It’s great to be recognized as a beautiful place to visit. It certainly will be a boost to our tourism trade," said Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer. "I was a big fan of American Idol in the Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson days. My wife and I along with our twin daughters enjoyed two of their top 10 concerts."
Resort President Bill Reagan said with more than 8.7 million viewers, "the exposure on this family-friendly TV show is an important and extraordinary opportunity for our lakeside city."
"Not only are we receiving the prime opportunity to exhibit the beauty of our region on an international scale, but we truly look forward to sharing the uniqueness of our special city to potential new tourists," Reagan said.
Two contestants, Kate Plaisted and Kaylee Goins, are from the Inland Northwest: Eagle, Idaho, and Spokane, respectively.
"American Idol" first debuted on Fox in 2002 and ran for 15 seasons before moving to ABC.
The teaser for "Idol" in Idaho features footage of Coeur d'Alene, the Long Ear, the Coeur d'Alene High School Marching Band and several lake scenes. It was published on YouTube on Wednesday: https://youtu.be/chYunO_Nxnw
Season two airs March 3 on ABC at 8 p.m.