Eden Prairie woman wows 'Idol' judges

Article by: PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune
Updated: January 15, 2009 - 8:19 PM

Casey Carlson's rendition of "A Thousand Miles" prompted hanging judge Simon Cowell to say: "I have a good vibe about you."

Casey Carlson, appears on “American Idol” on Wednesday night.

Photo: Americanidol.com ,

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A University of Minnesota student has sung her way into the hearts of the judges on FOX-TV's "American Idol."

Casey Carlson, 20, of Eden Prairie, peeled off a few bars of Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles" in the audition that aired Wednesday night and was held last fall in Kansas City.

"I have a good vibe about you," said Simon Cowell, the toughest of the four judges.

"I would love to give you another chance," said fellow judge Paula Abdul.

The panel was unanimous in keeping Carlson's "AI" dream alive, securing her a trip to Hollywood.

"I'm so excited," Carlson, decked out in cowboy boots and a mostly white sleeveless dress with gray and red accents, told the television audience of many millions. "I can't even believe that it's real right now."

Carlson graduated from Eden Prairie High School in 2006, participated in drama and choir at the school, and is a liberal arts undergrad at the U.

Carlson's father, Vaughn, said that the overall "American Idol" field was narrowed to 50 last week, but he's not free to say how far his daughter has gone in the competition.

"I can't say whether she is in that final 50," he said. "I need to honor [the show's] wishes. I wish I could tell you more."

Casey Carlson's TV appearance, combined with a recent bikini calendar project, has blogs and celebrity websites sizzling.

She posed for several photographs used in a 2009 Campus Girls USA calendar to raise money for breast cancer research.

The celebrity site www.tmz.com posted some of the "unbelievably erotic poses," which it said were taken in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Said www.americanidolworship.com about Carlson's audition: "She showed off impressive vocal chops."

And www.realitytvscoop.com said that Carlson "was universally approved by the judges [and] that was without Simon Cowell even seeing her in a bathing suit!"

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

WATCH HER ON "IDOL"

To see Carlson's "American Idol" appearance, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSfP9hX9WSQ . To see her calendar photos, visit www.caseycarlson.net.

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