American Idol: Caleb Kennedy sparks inspiration in teachers, classmates, Woodruff church

RD Anderson Applied Tech instructor Lauren Thompson will never forget her conversation with Caleb Kennedy before he got on a plane at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport bound for Hollywood.

“What’s your dream, Mrs. Thompson? If you could do anything what would it be?” Kennedy asked.

“I would want to own a bakery,” she replied.

“Then go do it,” Kennedy said. “I’m not going to let go of my dream. I’m going to go get it.”

So far, so good, for the 16-year-old from Roebuck, who continues to wow American Idol judges and fans. 

Sunday night Kennedy performed the Willie Nelson classic "On the Road Again" for his chance in the Top 9. This was the show's first live, coast to coast voting in real time. He received a standing ovation from all three judges and heaps of positive praise.

“You just laid that thing down from A to Z, and it was done perfectly,” judge Luke Bryan said.

American agreed and voted Kennedy into the Top 9.

Bryan, along with fellow judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, continue to praise the Dorman High School sophomore. With grit in his voice and deep, thought-provoking songs, Kennedy is the only country singer in this year’s Top 10.

Local musician and guitar and vocal instructor Kip Darby knew he saw something special in Kennedy from the first chords he played when Kennedy was just 13-years-old.

“When he started singing his song ‘Mama and Daddy Didn’t Get Along,’ I about went to tears,” Darby said. “I knew that day, there it is. That magic, God-given talent.”

Q&A:Spartanburg's Caleb Kennedy talks about chatting with fans, Hollywood Week

Caleb Kennedy receives hometown support

Kennedy seems to have a way of inspiring people like Darby and Thompson and those in his small community of Roebuck, population of less than 2,500. People driving around the small community may have seen the “Vote for Caleb Kennedy” signs in many of the yards around town.

It’s a small community, and they support their own.

Sherri Yarborough, director of RD Anderson Applied Tech, where Kennedy is a student, wanted to find a tangible way to show her support for Kennedy.

“We love good country music, and we love to hear Caleb sing.” Yarborough said. “The administrative team here at RD wanted to show Caleb how much we support him. We’ve sent signs to Virginia and Georgia, through his family. Once one person saw them everybody wanted one.”

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The graphic design class at RD Anderson, led by instructor Blake Paff, made the signs in-house. Yarborough pointed out how this has been an experience for the students at RD Anderson as well.

“I just feel like it’s a great thing to have put in all this effort and work to support Caleb’s dream because I know he would do it for us too,” student Kyler Bailey, 17, said. “I’ve been voting for him.”

The yard signs have been difficult to find since the school had a limited supply. Roebuck resident Pamela Kelley was excited to display her support of Kennedy with a sign.

Kennedy has become known on American Idol as a mysterious character with an outlaw appeal. Lionel Richie has said he has “ice water in his veins,” and Katy Perry even gave him the nickname "Knight Rrider".

But those that know Kennedy personally have a different take.

Kelley and her family attend church with Kennedy and his family at Woodruff Church of God and have been Kennedy’s youth leaders the past few years. She said it’s wonderful to see his determination to follow his dreams.

“When I see him on American Idol, yes, I see the superstar,” Kelley said. “But just a year ago, we were at Camp Awanita and all of the youth were sitting around and he’s playing and singing worship songs like ‘Fear is a Liar.’ That’s the Caleb I know. Humble, gets along with everybody, and having fun.”

An original song of Kennedy that seems to have resonated with so many is “That’s My Papa.” It’s a song he wrote for his grandfather, Rudy Blanton.

“I told my mama I’d be like that man. He’s got bloodstains on his skin. He’s got calluses on his hands. He’s a nightly news and a newspaper kind of man … He’s gonna work until the day that he dies. That’s my Papa.”

Kelley’s daughters lost their grandfather in January of last year and said the song makes her girls think of their own papa.

Kennedy has been a student in Jerome Hall’s carpentry class at RD Anderson the past two years. Hall said the classroom, made up of mostly boys, are often joking with each other while building things like a double-hunting blind.

“Caleb will come to class and give me a hard time,” Hall said, “And he knows he’s going to get it right back.”

In fact, when Hall heard from Kennedy’s mother that he was feeling homesick last week, he and some of the other students from the carpentry class made a video to send to Kennedy that they knew would make him laugh.

“They told us you were homesick, and we wanted to let you know your girlfriend is doing fine,” Hall said in the video, pointing to a goat eating some grass. “You’ve made us proud at RD Anderson, Dorman and Roebuck. We just wanted to make sure we told you your girlfriend was doing ok.”

The faculty and staff at RD Anderson Applied Tech enjoyed music by Kennedy while celebrating a successful canned food drive. The school participated in the Spartanburg Community Canned Food Drive, donating canned food to Miracle Hill. The students celebrated with snow cones and music by Kennedy.

“We have to show kids that we love them and connect to them on their level,” Hall said. “Caleb’s just a good kid, easy to talk to.  He can be serious, and he can be funny.”

What's next on American Idol? 

The Top 9, including one more contestant from season 18 which will be decided in tonight's "The Comeback" episode, will travel to Orlando, Florida this week for the show's "Disney Week" coming up April 25. 

American Idol airs Sundays on ABC at 8 p.m. Follow Kennedy’s journey through his Instagram @calebkennedyofficial

Ashley Dill is a native of Spartanburg and has been on staff for the Herald-Journal for 14 years. She covers community news and can be reached at ashley.dill@shj.com or on Twitter at @ashleydill_shj.