| There is no doubt that Brooke and Leah | | | | Leah. |
| Barrettsmith of Spring Grove had the adventure | | | | "We asked to go into the audition together," said |
| of a lifetime competing on Fox's megahit TV | | | | Brooke. In an unusual move the producers |
| show American Idol. Before we explore their | | | | permitted that. In an televised interview Leah said, |
| experiences, here is a short description of how | | | | "I believe in my sister and she believe in me just |
| the show works in case you've never seen the | | | | as much so I love her and we are going to do |
| show. | | | | this together as much as we can." |
| Before getting a plane ticket to Hollywood, a | | | | For the first time Brooke and Leah confronted |
| contestant must first endure three days of | | | | the now famous American Idol judges, Simon |
| grueling auditions in one of the major U.S. cities | | | | Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. |
| chosen to host the preliminary auditions. The | | | | Brooke led off and sang a short section of her |
| producers of American Idol are well aware that | | | | Shoop Shoop song. Then Leah sang. Randy said |
| the success of the show is based on people | | | | to Leah, "I like your voice I think you are good. I |
| without talent as well as those who have IT. | | | | would say yes to Leah." Paula Abdul said, "I think |
| Many people tune in just to see the judges ridicule | | | | you are both talented and different in your own |
| a contestant to the point of tears or to watch | | | | ways, so I'm either going to say 'yes' to both, or |
| the contestant's angry reaction to being sent | | | | 'no'. Simon said, "Well, I would say 'no' to both of |
| packing. For example, in this year's show two | | | | you." There was a short silence. Then Randy said, |
| male twins are feature because they are very | | | | "We have a quandary, judges." Simon said, "I am |
| outspoken about the judges and verbally | | | | going to apply Randy's 'yes' to both of you, so |
| protective of each other. Another contestant | | | | now it is down to Paula." Paula said, "I love my |
| called "Cowboy" jumped on the judges' desk to | | | | sister. I love the fact that you are here together |
| sing part of his song. | | | | supporting each other. I think you both need to |
| The camera is focused on the expressions of the | | | | work, but you can do that and come back to |
| American Idol judges, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul | | | | Hollywood." Brooke and Leah reacted with happy |
| and Randy Jackson as much as on the | | | | exclamations and a big hug. Meanwhile Randy said, |
| contestants. Cowell's scathing comments are now | | | | "Welcome to Hollywood, sisters, sisters!" |
| ritual and crowd-pleasing. Abdul and Jackson | | | | Brooke and Leah told the producers about the |
| regularly criticize Cowell. At times the contestant's | | | | Richardson corn maze. Sensing a good story the |
| talent is so obviously second rate that all three | | | | producers sent a camera crew to Spring Grove |
| judges can barely contain their laughter. | | | | to film the sisters playing in and around the corn |
| Contestants must be U.S. citizens and between | | | | maze. "The filming took about 10 hours including |
| the ages of 16 and 28. This year 16 year-old | | | | dinner with the crew," said Brooke. "All that for a |
| contestant Kevin Covais revealed that talent | | | | two minute segment." |
| transcends age. At the opposite pole is | | | | In Hollywood |
| prematurely gray 28 year-old Kevin Hicks whose | | | | The next stage of auditions began on December |
| unique voice might carry him to the finals. | | | | 4th in Hollywood. "About 200 people out of tens |
| The top 24 semifinalists are removed from public | | | | of thousands made it to Hollywood," said Brooke. |
| contact much like a secluded jury. The must take | | | | Brooke and Leah made the trip without parents |
| drug tests. Some contestants have been | | | | or relatives. They spent the first day touring |
| disqualified during the show for failing these tests. | | | | Hollywood with half of the contestants while the |
| All contestants must sign a contract that | | | | other half went through auditions. They wore |
| prevents them from using cell phones except for | | | | distinctive American Idol tags to promote the |
| family calls and emergencies and the Internet | | | | show in Los Angeles. They stayed in a hotel, two |
| where they might discuss the show in a chat | | | | to a room. "The show did not skimp on the |
| room. They may not watch TV news shows or | | | | accommodations," said Leah. |
| listen to radio shows or read the newspapers. TV | | | | Both were successful in their first audition. In the |
| fans take over the voting on the phone at this | | | | second audition Randy said to Leah, "You didn't |
| point. The judges are consulted and make | | | | bring it today. It's the end of the road." |
| comments on performances but they no longer | | | | Leah was surprised by the action. "What you see |
| vote at this level. | | | | on television is not always the way it actually |
| The "finalists" are the last 12 contestants. The | | | | happened," said Leah. "They do a lot of editing to |
| drama heightens after weeks of further | | | | make the show more dramatic. When I was |
| eliminations until a single contestant is chosen as | | | | singing, for example, it appeared that the audience |
| the winner | | | | was bored and quiet on TV. Actually the audience |
| The adventure of Brooke and Leah Barrettsmith | | | | was cheering and clapping while I sang. They were |
| began on a cool day in September, 2005. They | | | | yelling 'let her through!' " At another point you see |
| arrived at Soldier Field in downtown Chicago at | | | | Leah looking startled on TV as though she was |
| 5:00 am escorted by their father, Rev. Scott | | | | reacting to the negative decision. "That shot was |
| Barrettsmith. "We needed to be there early | | | | totally taken at another time and edited into the |
| enough to get a good place in line," said Brooke. | | | | space," said Leah. |
| Nearly 20,000 contestants auditioned in Chicago | | | | The show puts the contestants into small groups |
| that day. Some of them were from New Orleans | | | | for one segment. "I don't know why they make |
| because that city was picked as an audition | | | | us sing with a group," said Leah. "It really has |
| center but it was washed away by Hurricane | | | | nothing to do with why we are there. I think they |
| Katrina. | | | | are trying to put a lot of stress on the |
| Contestants were led into the Soldier Field in | | | | contestants for the TV cameras. They are very |
| groups of 300. Brooke and Leah wanted to | | | | strict. You better not be a minute late for a |
| audition together so they held hands. "Don't | | | | meeting. They treat you like dogs." |
| separate us!" they said to American Idol | | | | Brooke backed up Leah's concerns. "They love |
| employees. | | | | the crying and the drama. They love to frighten |
| Only 300 hopefuls survived the first day. Brooke | | | | you," said Brooke. "Sometimes the judges are |
| and Leah were relieved to be one of them. | | | | totally acting. They seemed to be faking." |
| "There were thousands of totally depressed | | | | "I think they are pushing for a guy to win this |
| people there," said Scott. The Barrettsmiths spent | | | | year," said Brooke. "They are focused on guy |
| their nights at a nearby hotel. "We literally got the | | | | talent." |
| last available room," said Scott. | | | | American Idol rules say that a contestant cannot |
| Days two and three were as hectic as the first. | | | | be signed professionally. The show makes the |
| American Idol executive producers told the | | | | contestants sign a contract that restricts their |
| Barrettsmiths the "needed personality" to move | | | | professional activity for one full year. "We are |
| on. "I had no problem showing personality," said | | | | locked up until August," said Brooke. |
| Brooke. Brooke befriended Mandisa, a semifinalist | | | | Leah will soon be moving to Nashville to continue |
| from Tennesse. "I can tell you are a Christian," | | | | her singing career. "I will be doing more |
| said Mandisa. "Girl, let's pray!" When told that Leah | | | | mainstream music," said Leah. |
| planned to sing a Christian song called "Blessed" | | | | Brooke is committed to remaining in the Christian |
| the producers said they preferred secular songs. | | | | music scene. "Christian music is much more |
| "They did not want to show favoritism," said | | | | relevant now," said Brooke. "My career has taken |
| Leah. During the audition, though, Leah sang | | | | a turn for the better. God used American Idol to |
| "Blessed" anyway. "I was having trouble with my | | | | change me. I am now even more into music |
| first selection and just stopped and switched," said | | | | ministry. |
