Published: April 02, 2007 08:02 am      

Local relatives of American Idol contestant say ‘vote often’

Phil Stacey, whose grandmother Myrtle Horn lives in Waco, will be performing on the Fox network’s American Idol program Tuesday night between 8 and 9 p.m.

The number of contestants is down to 10, but only nine will remain after this week.

The results of last week’s round encouraged Stacey’s local relatives, said his aunt, Darlene Cornett. “Even Simon Cowell was complimentary to Phil after his performance last week,” she said. “We think Phil is gaining momentum.”

In last week’s competition, Stacey sang “Every Breath You Take,” which was a hit for Sting and The Police.

“Now that he’s made it to the top 10, we want him to relax and just have fun,” said Cornett, whose sister Adrell Stacey is Phil’s mother.

When interviewed late last week, Cornett said she had just copied a videotape of Stacey’s American Idol performances for his grandmother. “I’m sure she’ll watch them over and over,” she said.

In addition to Cornett, Stacey’s mother has three other sisters and two brothers who still live in Madison County. Another brother lives in Cynthiana.

After Tuesday night’s program, the public will have until 11 p.m. to cast ballots that will decide which contestants stay in the running for another week.

“All of Phil’s supporters should remember that votes made by telephoning the toll-free number displayed during the show are free, and anyone can vote as many times as they can get through,” Cornett said. “If you get a busy signal, you just have to keep trying.”

Fans also may vote via text message, but there may be charges associated with text messaging, depending on the messenger’s phone service.

A 29 year-old U.S. Navy enlisted man in the based in Jacksonville, Fla., most of Stacey’s naval service has involved singing with military music groups. The Navy has been supportive of his venture on American Idol, Stacey said in an interview on AmericanIdol.com.

A friend of Stacey’s wife’s has made a house in Los Angeles available to her, and she was able to bring her to children there from Florida so Phil can see them “almost every day,” he said.

The support of family has been crucial on his quest to be the American Idol, Stacey said. His first audition took place after his wife went into labor with their second child.

Stacey’s grandfather, the late Carlie Horn, was pastor of the Berea Church of God on Richmond Road for eight years.

While Stacey never lived in Madison County, he visited his mother’s home county often, his local relatives say. His mother and some of his aunts and uncles graduated from Berea Community School.

Phil and his wife, Kendra, were married in Berea by his grandfather. Stacey’s father also is a Church of God minister. He now pastors a church in Henderson, Tenn.

After graduating from high school in Wichita, Kan., Stacey earned a bachelor’s degree from Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn., and a master’s degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

One of his ambitions, he told AmericanIdol.com, is to earn a Ph.D. so people can call him Dr. Phil.

Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.