Alabama ‘American Idol’ star’s town readies for semifinal performance: ‘it’s bigger, because of him’

The town of McIntosh, Ala., about 40 miles north of Mobile, has rallied to support Triston Harper, 15, as he competes to make the top three on “American Idol,” airing on ABC.

“We’re on pins and needles right now, hoping he’ll make the top three,” Mary Byrd, Harper’s great-aunt who works at a grocery store in McIntosh, said.

Harper is a native of McIntosh and a member of the MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians. He’s had a celebrated run on “American Idol” and, this Sunday, will compete for a spot in the final three. If he makes it, there will be local celebrations, including a parade in McIntosh and a performance at The Grounds in Mobile, all filmed by the show.

There are currently five remaining contestants on “American Idol.” He’s got his work cut out for him, as the youngest contestant remaining. However, McIntosh residents think he’s going to win.

“I think he’s going to be our ‘American Idol’,” Byrd says.

Town residents—including some of his relatives—remember his fondness and talent for music, which they say started early, as well as his Christian faith.

“We went to elementary together, and used to play the guitar for us when we were in P.E.,” Kevonte Diamond, a sophomore at McIntosh High School, said. “He used to preach to us, get the Word out.”

What the viewers have seen on television is how he is in real life, Erin Cooper, Indian Education Coordinator for Washington County Public Schools, says. Cooper has worked with Harper for most of his childhood. He’s always been funny, engaging, kind, helpful and respectful to his teachers.

“He just has that light around him, where even on your worst day, if you’re around Triston, it just automatically makes your day better,” Cooper says. “He’s just got that kind of personality.”

Beyond his own aspirations, McIntosh residents say Harper is an inspiration to the town’s children. Though he currently attends Leroy High School outside of Jackson, Harper attended McIntosh Elementary School and McIntosh High School for a few years before transferring to Leroy.

On Tuesday, Harper called Cooper at McIntosh Elementary and gave a speech that she played over the school’s intercom system. In the speech, Harper looked back on his time at the school fondly and encouraged current students to stay out of trouble.

“You know that you can make dreams come true, like I’m doing right now,” Harper said from Disney World. “I promise that, as quick as I get back to McIntosh, Alabama, I’m coming to see y’all, and I’ll give you the biggest hug and I’m going to give y’all all the autographs and posters and clothes that y’all want.”

Harper’s run on “Idol” has brought the already tight-knit community even closer. Brittnay Davis, Harper’s cousin and a member of the MOWA Choctaw, says that there have been watch parties for every episode. Everyone’s just so happy for him and eager to share in his success, she says.

“It’s been great because it’s brought our people closer,” Davis says. “Everybody’s coming in together, everybody’s doing everything they can do to be supportive for each other. We’re always here for each other, but it’s bigger, because of him.”

Cooper says that it goes beyond the MOWA band and the town of McIntosh: really, the whole county has rallied behind him, she argues.

And his tenure on the show has brought some positive attention to McIntosh, which residents say the town needs. It’s home to nine chemical plants, two of which have been designated as superfund sites.

Most people don’t know that the town exists. But now, residents say, people will know it as Triston Harper’s hometown.

“He’s given the town some good publicity,” Cindy Dunagan, a resident of the area, said. “He’s like the town’s goodwill ambassador.”