The latest “American Idol” hails from nearby Louisa, Kentucky, and despite his newfound fame he plans to stick to his humble roots.
By Megan Archer
HQ 118 | SUMMER 2022
Whether it’s riding motorcycles, mowing grass or being named the 2022 American Idol winner, Noah Thompson said he has no plans to change who he is because he’s now a household name.
“After I won, one of the first things I did was come home and cut my grass because that kind of stuff makes me happy. I posted the photo on Instagram, and people went crazy for it, but it’s about the simple things for me. I knew going into this that I wanted to stick to my roots. I’m not willing to change who I am for fame. I want to stay humble, and I think a lot of people can relate to that.”
A native of Louisa, Kentucky, Thompson was recently named the winner of the 20th season of American Idol, but prior to this, he was visiting cities like Huntington to build facilities for individuals who struggle with addiction.
“Working in addiction and recovery was such an inspiration to me and working with a group of guys who were former addicts that have turned their lives around really impacted me. They are the biggest reason I was even on American Idol because they kept pushing me to post videos of myself singing and to pursue the opportunity. They all love music and have let music heal them in a way. Music helps us all get through everyday life.”
Luckily for Thompson, music has been in his everyday life for as long as he can remember.
“I grew up with my dad who was in a band, so I’ve been around music my entire life. He always had a guitar in his hand, singing and writing songs. I grew up with all types of music. I grew up more with rock, and not just country, so I think it surprises people when I tell them that I’m open to all genres of music. I love Southern rock, and I love the blues. I think that’s why I’m such a Chris Stapleton fan because he’s got that bluegrass, soulful vibe. He just embodies his own genre, and that’s what I love about it. I’d like to be like that and do my own thing — and whichever way it goes, well, that’s how it goes.”
With his new single One Day Tonight now available for streaming after its live debut on the American Idol stage, Thompson said he feels like this song was the perfect first song for him to release, with hopes to release more in the future.
“One of the most exciting parts of the experience was going into the studio and recording that song. It was so much fun, and at that point, it didn’t feel like a job. One Day Tonight just felt like a hit the more I listened to the words, and it seemed to really resonate with people,” Thompson said. “I’m looking forward to sitting down and trying to write some good songs of my own, then hit the road and play some shows.”
With Kentucky music on the map in recent years with Grammy Award nominee Tyler Childers and The Voice finalist Holly Forbes, Thompson noted it feels like country artists from this region are beginning to get the attention they deserve.
“I think it’s special — where we’re from. We’re all simple people. We’ve learned to enjoy the little things, and we are who we are. It’s not just the fame and the money, it’s the music,” Thompson said with passion. “I actually got to meet Holly, and have listened to Tyler for years, and I feel like I would die and go to heaven if we ever got to collaborate. It’s not something we’ve ever discussed, but it would be awesome to blend our different styles together and see what we create.”
As he looks ahead to the future, Thompson said he’d love to have as many shows as he can back home after receiving so much support from the Tri-State area.
“I feel like it was such a proud thing for the entire community. We aren’t usually put on the map, especially on national television, and it seemed like everyone came together to share that pride. The whole point of joining the show is to build a fan base, but it feels like I’ve got forever fans here. I’d love to come to Huntington one day … The people of West Virginia have always been so nice and welcoming.”
Representing Appalachia, and Kentucky specifically, has been a blessing for Thompson as he continues to learn all he can during this journey.
“I feel like God has a plan for everything, and for some crazy reason, this was supposed to happen. I didn’t expect to win the show. I went into American Idol just being who I am; I wasn’t trying to change for anybody. For me, it’s always been about the music.”
