‘Idol’ Takes Spotlight To Middle Tennessee

American Idol season 14 is in full swing with plenty of Middle Tennessee residents onboard.

Clark Beckham, a 22-year-old White House, Tenn., native has remained in the Top 11 after a piano performance of “Takin’ It To The Streets.” Previous contestants in the Top 24 included 19-year-old Sarina-Joi Crowe, from Columbia, Tenn., and 18-year-old Riley Bria, a Spring Hill, Tenn., native. The program auditioned contestants in Nashville last year.

New this year is the addition of Big Machine Label Group Founder/CEO Scott Borchetta as mentor. He will sign the season winner to Big Machine/Universal. The mogul has begun coaching the contestants as if they were his own artists on song selection, performance and look. View clip 1. View clip 2.

Country superstar Keith Urban continues as judge on the program alongside Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr.

Kelly Clarkson, the first-ever winner of American Idol announced last night (March 12) her return to the program on Wednesday, April 1. The adopted Nashville resident will perform and act as a mentor for the contestants.

Idol will return to FOX next Wed./Thurs. to whittle the contestants even further. For those of you counting down the days, the 2015 finale date will span two nights, starting Tuesday, May 12 and Wednesday, May 13.