Palmetto ‘Idols’: As reality series announces final season, where are SC singers now?
Long-running singing competition series “American Idol” will go off the air after a 2016 farewell season, Fox announced yesterday. With 168 finalists and 13 winners (so far), the series has boosted the careers of many aspiring musicians, including three with South Carolina ties.
Chris Sligh was the first Palmetto State resident to advance to the top 12. Born in Tennessee, Sligh moved to South Carolina to attend Bob Jones University and later North Greenville University, although he never graduated.
Pudgy and bespectacled with a mop of curly brown hair, Sligh first surprised audiences with an electrifying performance of Mute Math’s “Typical” in the Top 24. He was eliminated after his performance of The Police’s “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic” in the Top 10.
Since “Idol,” Sligh has found success in contemporary Christian music as a solo performer and a member of the now-defunct band Half Past Forever.
Elise Testone, originally from New Jersey, earned a degree in music from Coastal Carolina University in Conway before relocating to Charleston to pursue her career as a singer. She made the cut for “Idol’s” 11th season at a North Charleston audition.
Testone utilized her raspy voice and command of vocal runs to perform soulful renditions of everything from Adele’s “One and Only” to Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On.” She made it to the Top 6 before being eliminated after singing Queen’s “I Want it All” and “Bold as Love” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Testone is still active in the Charleston music scene. She released an album, “In This Life,” in 2014 and has opened for artists including Snoop Dogg and Seven Mary Three.
Candice Glover is the most successful “Idol” alum from South Carolina, winning the show’s 12th season. The St. Helena Island native auditioned for the show three times before making even the semi-finals, which she reached during the 12th season.
Glover earned a minute-long standing ovation from the studio audience and a handful of glitter from judge Mariah Carey for her performance of The Cure’s “Love Song,” which judge Randy Jackson called “one of the greatest performances in the history of 12 years of ‘American Idol.’” Her commanding performance of Ben E. King’s “I (Who Have Nothing)” was reprised for the final competition, alongside Adele’s “Chasing Pavements” and “I Am Beautiful,” which became Glover’s first single after she won the competition.
Gov. Nikki Haley declared a Candice Glover Day in South Carolina on May 4, 2013, and later recognized Glover in her 2014 State of the State address. Glover also sang the national anthem at Haley’s inauguration in January. Glover’s debut album “Music Speaks” saw success, reaching No. 14 on U.S. sales charts and No. 3 on R&B charts. She is currently working on her second album.
This story was originally published May 11, 2015 at 3:56 PM with the headline "Palmetto ‘Idols’: As reality series announces final season, where are SC singers now?."