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NAPPANEE - Who will be the next "American Idol"?
It may well be Nappanee's own Caleb Shaw, 19, a NorthWood High School graduate.
Shaw, a sophomore at Azusa University, 25 miles outside of Los Angeles, isn't allowed to talk about his "American Idol" experiences to the media while the competition is ongoing, because of a confidentiality contract. And his parents, Benita and Jim Shaw, Nappanee, are limited in what they can tell.
But so far, Caleb is doing well, they said.
Benita said her family always has been interested in the show as it's fun to watch. Two seasons ago, she said, Caleb auditioned for "American Idol" in Detroit. He didn't get past the first round. Last year, he just didn't have the time to audition.
After working last summer at Busch Gardens in West Virginia, Caleb decided to audition for the show again this season. Auditions were being held in Washington, D.C., in August, so he made his way there from Busch Gardens and spent four days "tangled up in the rounds," said Benita. In Washington, Caleb was up against approximately 21,000 others whom the judges listened to in one day. Caleb had arrived at the judging site at 4 a.m. but didn't have his own audition until 10 p.m.
In the first round, Caleb had to sing for a few seconds before the preliminary judges, Jim said, along with a few other competitors at the same time.
Of the 21,000, Caleb and 499 others from the D.C. site moved to the second round, where they had to sing for the show's producers. One hundred from the D.C. site advanced to the third round, the first round shown on television.
Caleb sang in front of the judges, including guest judge Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray. In November, all four judges, Benita said, liked Caleb and decided to send him on to the fourth round in Hollywood. Only 42 out of the 21,000 singers at the Washington, D.C., audition were moved on to compete against others from the six other sites. A total of 162 performers participate in the Hollywood round. Caleb currently lives so close to the studio where they film "American Idol," he drives there for the show.
Jim said the show already has been filmed up to the point where callers call in and decide who stays and who goes.
But the family has been excited about Caleb's progress ever since August.
"He's kind of a local celebrity anyhow since he was the local Star Search winner for Channel 22," said Benita.
Of the four "American Idol" episodes that have aired so far, Benita said Caleb was shown on one episode, but only in the background. There are approximately two more weeks before the Hollywood episodes begin running and the next chance for people to see Caleb on television.
"He has just loved the experience since August, even for us," said Benita. She said they get e-mail and faxes from people at "American Idol" often. "It's been fun."
Caleb has a dream of working in the music industry.
"He wants to be able to turn on the radio and hear himself singing one day," said Benita.
Jim said the judges talked to Caleb a little and made a big deal of Caleb singing judge Simon Cowell's favorite song, "Unchained Melody." If Caleb doesn't sing that song to Cowell's liking, Cowell is certain to let him know it. Judge Randy Jackson made a big deal of Caleb performing at Busch Gardens, while McGrath told Caleb that while Caleb couldn't dance, he certainly could sing.
Benita said Caleb often is compared to singer Josh Groban.
"He's really developed into that really rich sound," she said.
Caleb's auditioning photo is posted on the "American Idol" Web site at www.idolonfox.com/photosvideos
On the left side of the Web site, click on episodic, week 1, the 18th and Caleb is No. 32 on the slideshow.
