Maddie Belle, a Glasgow native, auditions before “American Idol” judges during season five auditions of “American Idol,” which premieres this Sunday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.
(ABC/Eric McCandless)
GLASGOW — “American Idol” returns for its twentieth season this Sunday, and a Barren County native will appear on the national television show.
Maddie Belle grew up in Glasgow and graduated from Barren County High in 2020. She’s spent most of her life singing and writing music. She also spent a great deal of time in her high school’s choir, she said.
The nursing student said she’s always dreamed of joining the ranks of singers who’ve found success on the show. One of those artists is Carrie Underwood, a famed country music artist and Grand Ole Opry member.
“I replay her audition in my head like 24/7, and it was one that I studied really hard before going on to the show because she was my main person that I always wanted to be,” Belle said.
Belle developed a unique sense of individuality at an early age. She said her grandmother not only taught her “how to have a heart not like most people” but “how to use it.”
Year after year she watched and dreamed of appearing on the show. And the opportunity came in the last several months.
The search for the next “idol” treks through Nashville, Tenn., Austin, Texas, and Los Angeles, Calif. during season 20. Judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie will return, according to information from ABC.
Music and art are often a challenging endeavor because many people lose hope and shift their energy away from their dreams at the slightest sight of defeat, Belle said. But she’s trying to shift the mindset away from yielding to defeat.
“I wanted to bring so much back like hope and faith-wise because I believe as a person that you can bring that back into your community and be the best that you can be,” Belle said. “And it can help so many people.”
Alongside her music career aspirations, Belle studies nursing and works at TriStar Greenview Hospital in Bowling Green. She also writes often.
“I write every once and awhile. It helps express my feelings, of course, and it’s what you’re going through in life,” Belle said. “But it definitely tells my story a little bit more.”
Viewers can catch episodes of “American Idol” on ABC Sunday and Monday nights at 7 p.m. CT. This season’s first episode is Sunday. The show is also available on streaming services like Hulu, fuboTV or YouTube TV for subscribers.
