(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The 19th season of “American Idol” features a singer originally from Chicago’s northwest suburbs.
Lakewood’s Grace Kinstler, 20, is a Crystal Lake Central High School graduate who most recently covered Coldplay’s “Fix You” and, in a Mother’s Day tribute, Adele’s “When We Were Young.” She has survived to be a Top 5 contestant.
“When you go off to audition for a show like this, you don’t really have any expectations as to how far you’re going to make it. So, to be now in the top 5 is really crazy,” she told WBBM Newsradio on Monday.
Crystal Lake plans to hold a hometown parade in her honor later this month.
To Michelle Hackman, who has been Grace’s voice coach since her freshman year, the singer's ascent on “Idol” is not so surprising, given her talent. But she’s excited that other people get to see for themselves.
"There is no way you can miss a talent like that. I was blown away by her talent, her innate musicality and her love for what she was doing, even at such a young age,” Hackman said.
Kinstler is studying songwriting at Berklee College of Music.
Related
