W. TERRY SMITH
Editor
PINETOPS —
"As soon as he was able to talk," said his mother, "he was singing."
Jonathan Sanderson is still singing, this weekend at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., where he is auditioning for the top-rated television show "American Idol."
"It's always been one of my dreams to sing on that show since it first came out," Sanderson said.
The 17-year-old son of Dana Wheeler of Rocky Mount and Bruce and Linda Sanderson is dedicating his effort to his mother.
"I want to share my dream with her," Sanderson said. "As a single mother she's always put me and my brother (Cody, 16) and sister (Kailey, 11) first. I want to pay her back."
Mom, son and grandmother left Rocky Mount at 4 a.m. Thursday for Music City. 10 hours and some 600 miles away.
The auditions for "Idol's" 10th season begin at 5 a.m. Saturday. The age range also has been expanded to include hopefuls from 15 to 28 years old.
Sanderson, who graduated from SouthWest High School in May, has sung at church, Edgecombe County Relay for Life and the West Edgecombe Homemakers Club.
He won the "West Edgecombe Idol" contest in middle school and came in third in a contest at the Imperial Center earlier this year.
He plans to sing "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts during his audition.
"I like all types of music," he said, "and give any genre a chance. There's none I don't like. I have eclectic taste."
The compact disc player in his 1988 Honda Accord this week had a disc by Glee.
Sanderson sang in the chorus at SWE and worked after school with his music teacher, Nicole Turski.
He said it has been friends and family that has encouraged him to try out for "Idol."
"I have a really great support system," he said.
"I'm excited about it. I'm always watching the show. I'm not nervous at all."
Sanderson plans to enter the college transfer program at Nash Community College in August. He wants to be a middle school English teacher.
"Education is the most important thing in your life," he said.
