Published: February 18, 2008 09:42 pm      

‘Idol’ finalist has family ties to region County

PRINCETON — An “American Idol” finalist competing on tonight’s show is the grandson of a Mercer County couple.

Finalist Robbie Carrico, 26, of Melbourne, Fla., is the grandson of Robert and Betty Carrico of Lake Shawnee, the Daily Telegraph has learned. Born in Raleigh County, where he lived until the early 1990s, Robbie Carrico later moved to North Carolina and then onto Florida with his parents, Robert Lee III and Diana Carrico.

Robbie Carrico auditioned for “American Idol” in Miami, where he earned his golden ticket to Hollywood. After more grueling auditions in California, he was selected as one of the 12 men in the top 24 contestants.

Although Carrico sports a “rocker” look on “American Idol,” he was previously in a boy band (that included girls) named Boyz N Girlz United. The group opened for one of Britney Spears’ tours in the late 1990s, according to published entertainment reports.

On his “American Idol” biography page, Carrico lists his musical influences as Jonathan Davis, Brett (Shine down) and Rob Thomas, and his favorite female pop artists as Christina Aguilera.

Carrico began singing at the age of 16, according to the biography, and lists “impressions” among his other talents. His favorite quote, from Henry Ford, is: “If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right!”

In addition to his grandparents, Carrico has several other relatives in the southern West Virginia area, including his grandmother Beulah Whitt of Mullens; an aunt and uncle, Randy and Alicia Price of Princeton, and cousin, Ashleigh Carrico; and his uncle and aunt, Tim and Karen Caren Carrico of Beckley, and cousin Timmy Carrico, also of Beckley.

Because of confidentiality agreements, representatives from Fox say Carrico’s family is not permitted to discuss the show until he is either eliminated or wins the competition.

Vickey Gravely, a former Raleigh County neighbor whose mother babysat for the Carricos, however, is not bound to those restrictions and is quick to voice her support for the hometown boy.

“I’m just overwhelmed and very proud of him,” Gravely said. “He’s worked very hard to do this.”

The success he’s had doesn’t surprise Gravely, who says she remembers moving the furniture in her mother’s house to make room for Carrico’s older sister Samara to show off her dance skills — moves, she says, Robbie was quick to mimic.

“He’s just very outgoing and he’s never been afraid to do anything,” she said. “I’m just glad they’re giving him the opportunity to be able to perform for the world.”

Carrico will compete on “American Idol” with the other 11 male contestants during a two-hour show tonight on Fox. The show will air from 8-10 p.m. Following the show, viewers will have the chance to call or text in to vote for their favorite contestant. The 12 female contestants will perform during a two-hour show Wednesday, also beginning at 8 p.m.

The first results show for this season of “American Idol” will air Thursday at 8 p.m. on Fox, during which two males and two females will be eliminated.



— Contact Samantha Perry at sperry@bdtonline.com

Register-Herald reporter Michelle James contributed to this report.