Local News
‘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
- Local News
-
- Additional warrants issued in home invasion
-
Rahall mulls health care vote
With a decision looming Sunday, U.S. Reps. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., and Rick Boucher, D-Va., said they both are still undecided on the $940 billion health care overhaul bill.
-
Local woman, doctor weigh in on the need for health care
It was a mere month ago that Deborah Cox was working as a nurse in fairly good health.
Today, the 51-year-old says her life is upside down because of a leukemia diagno - What's Happening — March 20, 2010
-
Big Sandy looking for charities, nonprofits
All Big Sandy locations will donate to charities that sign up beforehand if customers mention that charity when making a purchase of $499 or more on March 25.
-
SCHOOL CLOSINGS and DELAYS
Click HERE to go to the West Virginia Department of Education with up-to-date school closings and delays by county.
-
Improvements under way to make Bluestone Dam safer
Improvements and repairs planned at Bluestone Dam over the next 10 years will make the structure safer, but new operating procedures could lead to increased flooding in some areas downstream from the dam, officials said Thursday at a public meeting in Hinton.
-
DOH to relocate cemeteries for expressway
West Virginia Division of Highways officials will begin relocating cemeteries next week to make room for the next phase of the Coalfields Expressway.
-
GVEDC board gets training
Jeff Finkle, president and CEO of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), spent several hours with local development officials Thursday, giving pointers and leading a discussion on economic strategies.
-
Mix-up leads to W.Va. couple on wrong ballot
Stan and Janet Norman are running for office whether they like it or not.
- More Local News Headlines
