Following up with Jessica Furney
February 11, 2009

Some of you had expressed your disappointment last week that Jessica Furney -- the 19-year-old from Wamego, Kansas, who cares for her grandmother and auditioned with Garnet Mimms/Janis Joplin's Cry Baby -- had been eliminated so early during the Hollywood rounds. Jessica and I have been exchanging emails over the past few days, so I thought I'd catch you up with what's she's been doing and what happened in Hollywood... Read More

American Idol: Wamego has Talent!
January 15, 2009

Last year, in Season 7 of American Idol, the winner was David Cook form the Kansas City area.  So American Idol decided to return to the Kansas City to see if there was any more talent in the area like Cook.

One of the contestants that impressed the Judges was a native of Wamego, Jessica Furney.  She did a great job, had a huge voice, and got approval from all 4 of the Judges.  Including an overwhelming approval from the always-hard-to-please Simon.   Simon said she was a "standout", called her a "natural", and said she was "a small town girl with big dreams." ... Read More

Been there, back again
December 7, 2009

This year's "American Idol" might give you a serious case of déjà vu.

Ninth season "Idol" auditioners will look a lot like those from last year's tryouts -- according to a poster on idolforums.com working off a tip from a "reliable source" -- because several of them made it as far as Hollywood Week last year.

Among the repeat auditioners to keep an eye out for when "Idol" returns on Jan. 12:

* Jessica Furney, the glasses-wearing Kansas girl who lives with her elderly grandmother and sang a cover of Janis Joplin's cover of "Cry Baby" ... Read More