Local Singer To Compete On American Idol

Olivia Schueller sat down with American Idol contestant Kari Erickson to hear how life has changed since she got the golden ticket.

New at 5 -- hartselle high school student kari erickson was a normal high school student until a few weeks ago.

Now she's a hometown star!

Kari is appearing on this season of american idol.

Waay 31's olivia schueller sat down with the singer to hear how life has changed.

Hartselle high school junior...kari erickson was a normal studnet until a few weeks ago.

Erickson is now a hometown star...appearing on this season of american idol.

Waay31s olivia schueller sat down with the singer to hear how life has changed.

It's stages like this one, that kari erickson grew up performing on.

The hartselle native is onto bigger stages, leaving her small town for big dreams. kari erickson, american idol contestant i think i came out of the womb singing and dancing.

Erickson began performing at just two years old.

Her mom owns a local dance studio in decatur.

Her dad, erickson said was always big on singing.

She's performed all her life, leading up to her american idol audition.

Erickson it was kind of....that moment where your eyes go big and you're standing there for a second because they look like waxed figures, they're just so perfect.

I just walked in and was like oh my god.

Erickson said she didnt walk into her audition, but danced in.

The excitement of it all overwhelmed her and then, she got that golden ticket.

Erickson when i flew in, i was like where's the hollywood sign.

It was the first thing i wanted to see.

Hartselle high school english teacher... kelly ciminoe calls erickson a tripple threat.

Kelly cimione, hartselle hs teacher she's my go to because she can memorize lines at the drop of a hat.

She can switch roles and doesn't mind at all.

Like i'm here to make the best of the whole situation, she's really great about that erickson said the support from her community has inspired her.

Erickson it's alabama, it's the south, if alabama has your back then you are set for life.

I think once everyone in my area found out, and then people from other areas of the south found out.

It was like a crazy oh my god we got a girl from alabama.

Cimione she's got it all, she's the total package that one.

In hartselle, olivia schueller waay31 news.

You can watch kari erickson tonight at 7 p-m on a-b-c.

She will be battling it out in the duet