Alabama’s Native American Son Triston Harper did not win a spot in the Top 3 of American Idol in the Sunday night elimination.
Triston, 15, had an amazing run on the nation’s stage. He will now return to McIntosh, Alabama and Leroy High School with a likely singing career ahead of him.
Two of the top five contestants were eliminated, creating the top three for the Sunday, May 19 episode. The three surviving competitors will next compete on Sunday, May 19, at 7 p.m. on ABC.
Viewers continued to marvel that Triston’s voice was the voice of a 15-year-old. Such a deep and mature-sounding voice.
Triston, raised in the small town of McIntosh, is a Choctaw Indian. There is an extended village of Choctaws in and around McIntosh, the MOWA Tribe.
McIntosh is in southwest Alabama, about 75 miles north of Mobile. He attends LeRoy High School and is the youngest Idol contestant this season.
Early in the competition, Triston revealed that his stepdad had been abusive towards his mom. When he was 11, they felt they had to leave McIntosh. “The lowest part of my life was when me and my mom had got homeless, and we were sleeping on the side of the road. I had just turned 12.”
From homeless to Hollywood. We have the makings of a movie.
Triston was a winner in the eyes of his people.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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