Asheville’s Jesse Barry will compete to be your next American Idol

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Photo by Jason Sandford

Asheville resident Jesse Barry, the young songstress well known around Asheville for her slight frame, big voice and band Skinny Legs and All, is an American Idol contestant, if all the Internet rumor-mongering is to be believed.

The newest season of American Idol starts Tuesday night, and it’s already making news. Show star Simon Cowell announced on Monday that this year would be his last.

But the even bigger news for us folks here in Ashvegas is that Barry will be a contestant. This Web site, which promotes itself as an Idol spoiler, lists the names of all the folks who got a ticket to Hollywood this season, and Jesse Barry is on the list.

Moutain Xpress does a nice job of rounding up the latest online gossip. And Asheville Citizen-Times columnist John Boyle all but says that Barry made the cut.

All this should come as no surprise to anyone who has heard Jesse Barry sing. I checked her out at Bele Chere last year, and at the Orange Peel, where her band performed as part of the newspaper’s Best of WNC Showcase event. She’s got the pipes and she’s got the stage presence. Jesse Barry’s well on her way to making it.

I can’t wait to watch this season of American Idol unfold, and cheer on one of Asheville’s own.

Check out the video below. It include a couple of seconds of Jesse Barry singing in her audition near the end.