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Apple Valley s Chayce Beckham wins American Idol crown
Victorville Daily Press
Fireworks lit up the Apple Valley sky on Sunday night as hometown favorite Chayce Beckham was crowned the newest “American Idol.”
Meanwhile, on the “Idol” stage, pyrotechnics and confetti shot across large illuminated letters that spelled out “Chayce” as Beckham and runner up Willie Spence, 21, shared an embrace before Beckham closed out the show with his hit song, “23.”
Voters nationwide pushed the 24-year-old raspy-voiced Beckham across the “Idol” finish line with a first-place win during the three-hour Season 19 grand finale on ABC.
After the show, Beckham’s mother, Windie Petersen of Apple Valley, spoke to the Daily Press. “We are so excited for Chayce’s future and we can’t wait to get him home, Petersen said. I know he can’t wait to say thank you in person to everyone in the High Desert for all their support.”
Apple Valley s Chayce Beckham rides Dumbo into Top 7 on American Idol
Country singer performs reimagined version of Baby Mine to advance during show s Disney Night episode
And then there were seven.
Apple Valley s Chayce Beckham on Sunday didn’t need Dumbo the Flying Elephant s magic feather to soar into the “American Idol” Top 7 on Sunday night.
Instead, the raspy-voiced singer moved another step closer to the “Idol” crown via his reimagined version of the song Baby Mine from Walt Disney s 1941 animated film, Dumbo,” which he sang during the show s Disney Night episode.
Beckham didn’t have to wait long to learn if he made the cut either. Idol host Ryan Seacrest announced the High Desert native as the first contestant to advance during the themed episode.
I m here and I m doing this : An interview with American Idol hopeful Chayce Beckham
High Desert native talks music, family and what s next
Victorville Daily Press
“American Idol” singer and High Desert native Chayce Beckham recalls being a young boy when he first laid eyes on an old guitar at his grandmother’s home.
“I was 3 years old when I started messing with it, so that was my earliest memory of music,” said Beckham, who’s currently vying to win season 19 of ABC s singing competition. “I’ve been playing guitar ever since.”
Beckham, 24, has become a favorite among the show s fans and country singer Luke Bryan, one of its three judges. The gritty-voiced singer took time this past week to speak with the Daily Press about music, life’s challenges, desert sunsets and life beyond “Idol.”