Published: February 18, 2008 10:23 pm      

‘American Idol’ contestant has family ties in Beckley

When Robbie Carrico takes the stage tonight as one of the 24 “American Idol” finalists, the 26-year-old will more than likely be introduced as one of the show’s three Florida finalists.

But during this afternoon’s announcements at Hollywood Elementary School, students will be reminded to watch one of their own attempt to take the Idol crown.

Born in Raleigh General Hospital in 1981, Carrico, son of Mullens High School graduates Rob and Dianne Carrico, resided in Beckley until the early 1990s. He attended grade school at Hollywood.

Although the Melbourne, Fla., resident has been gone for several years, much of his family remains in the area.

Among those family members are his uncle and aunt, Tim and Karen Carrico, teachers at Shady Spring Middle School and Woodrow Wilson High School respectively, and their son Timmy, an eighth-grader at Beckley-Stratton Middle School; aunt and uncle Alicia and Randy Price and their daughter Ashleigh of Princeton; aunt and uncle Sandy and David Kirby and their daughters Katie and Kandace of Teays Valley; grandparents Bob and Betty Carrico of Lake Shawnee in Mercer County; and grandmother Beulah Whitt of Mullens.

Because of confidentiality agreements, representatives from Fox say Carrico’s family is not permitted to discuss the show until he is either eliminated or wins the competition.

Vickey Gravely, a former neighbor whose mother baby-sat for the Carricos, however, is not bound to those restrictions and is quick to voice her support for the hometown boy.

“I’m just overwhelmed and very proud of him,” Gravely said. “He’s worked very hard to do this.”

This isn’t Carrico’s first brush with stardom. As a member of the pop group Boys and Girls United, he opened for pop sensations Britney Spears, 98 Degrees and *NSYNC.

The success he’s had doesn’t surprise Gravely, who says she remembers moving the furniture in her mother’s house to make room for Carrico’s older sister Samara to show off her dance skills — moves, she says, Robbie was quick to mimic.

“He’s just very outgoing and he’s never been afraid to do anything,” she said. “I’m just glad they’re giving him the opportunity to be able to perform for the world.”

The winner of American Idol, who will receive a record contract, is decided by viewers’ votes.

Tonight’s competition, which features the 12 male finalists, begins at 8 p.m. Following the show, viewers are asked to call and vote for their favorite contestants. After the competition is paired down to six men and six women, the show will move to a larger venue with one person being voted off every week.

The last person standing will be crowned American Idol.

Hollywood Elementary gym teacher Katherine Daniels, who had Carrico in school, says if her students have anything to do with it, Carrico will take the top prize.

“I’ll make an announcement at school tomorrow and I can guarantee all of Hollywood Elementary will be watching and voting.”

— E-mail: mjames@register-herald.com