It’s time for me to stop holding back. It’s time to write the American Idol column. I have a Google alert set so that I get links to dozens of stories daily on the subject. But 99% of those stories, whether they’re from a newspaper or TV station or some other source, originate outside of Arkansas. It happens that this year, we’ve got a contestant that originates inside Arkansas.

Yes, we’ve had an Arkansas contestant on American Idol before. I remember eagerly awaiting the next episode in season 6 to see if Sean Michel of Bryant had made it to the next round. A big fuss was made over him, by the show’s judges, because of his talent, but also because he had a very different look. A lot of contestants have long hair, but he had long hair and a long face full of beard. Or a long beard full of face. You heard what I meant. Sean got his golden ticket to Hollywood, but was eliminated before he got to the top ten. Oh well, free trip to Hollywood.

We had another Arkansas contestant in season 5 who was from Gravette, Patrick Hall, got a little further than Sean Michel, but not as far as the top ten.

Fast forward to Season 8 and we have Kris Allen from Conway. Or Jacksonville, depending on what years we’re talking about. The two cities may end up fighting over him . They've each already given him a key to the city, the Jacksonville representative telling him Kris that it doesn't open anything - except their hearts. No pressure.

But when you're in the top three, you get to got home and have the American Idol cameras follow you. Then, it's not just hanging out with family and friends. It's public appearances, interviews and performances seemingly non-stop. Kris exited his plane in Little Rock on a Thursday night and it was reported that about a thousand fans were there to greet him. It wasn't reported whether any of them helped him with his luggage. In the footage on KLRT Fox 16, it showed Kris flanked with guards in a crowd so tight, you couldn't fit an autograph pen in his shirt pocket.

The next day, Kris has his local radio interviews in the morning. He also toured the governor's mansion and performed at the Riverfest Amphitheatre for a sea of fans in the thousands. At that pace, I'd want a nap if I were him, but the adrenaline - and the fact that he was being carted around in a fat black limo - had to be helping him stay psyched.

Next, it was to Conway, where folks reported to me through Facebook and Twitter that not only was traffic busy around town, but Interstate 40 was backed up enough to make the ten-mile trip to Mayflower last an hour.

Kris had at least two performances that I heard reported - both to crowds of thousands again. I wonder if his time in Arkansas wasn't more hectic than his Hollywood schedule. Somewhere during the day, amidst fans and media following him around, including Fox 16's hourly updates on what Kris is doing now, he was able to visit his family and have some time for them to acknowledge how very proud they were of him.

I know you're thinking of the crowds and traffic and general hubbub as a nuisance, but have you considered the local economic impact? At a time when UCA has gotten financial help from the State to the tune of $6 million just to make it through to the end of the month, the city of Conway has just been showcased to American Idol's tens of millions of viewers.

Of all the people who flocked to see Kris sing in various places, many stopped for food, gas and an autograph pad and pen. Maybe camera batteries too. Some folks I read from online updates drove from the Little Rock performance to see the Conway one as well.

Why are you saying this, Shelli? Glad you asked. I'm officially imploring all Saline County and City leaders, choir teachers, people who listen to their friends sing in the car (or shower) and other makeshift talent scouts: Find those people with the talent and get them to the next American Idol auditions! I say let's scout a few weeks until the audition dates are released and then pack a school bus or two with our best prospects. To get just one contestant and their place of residence mentioned on this juggernaut show may be the number one way to increase tourism in these parts! Not only that, but we just may be encouraging some young person to use their talents and come out of his or her shell to bloom into a gorgeous butterfly. Okay, butterflies don't bloom from a shell, but you get it. Let's do this, Saline! You've got the summer to work on it. And.... GO!