LANSING, Mich. (June 1,, 2007) — LaKisha Jones, fourth-place finisher on “American Idol,” was greeted by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and hundreds of other fans Monday at the state Capitol.
Jones, a native of Flint, wowed the crowd with “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” from the “Dreamgirls” film and “God Bless the Child.” She had performed both songs on the hit Fox Network talent contest.
Fans held signs, snapped photos and cheered Jones along as she continued a homecoming trip through Michigan before leaving to rehearse for an upcoming tour.
“Never in a million years” did she dream that she would be on the Capitol steps with the governor, Jones said.
“My life is at a complete 360,” the 27-year-old singer told reporters. “God has really blessed me tremendously.”
The single mother said she plans to live in Houston, where she lived more than six years before moving to Baltimore for a bank-teller job.
She made the “Idol” semifinals in February, got an on-camera kiss from sometimes-churlish “Idol” judge Simon Cowell and remained in the running until May 9, when she was outpolled by Melinda Doolittle, Blake Lewis and eventual winner Jordin Sparks.
Jones will participate in the “American Idol” tour this summer. She was to leave Tuesday for rehearsals in Los Angeles.
Michigan is proud of Jones, Granholm told the crowd. The governor also said she had voted for Jones.
Jones sang the national anthem Friday before the interleague game between the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets. She also was honored in Flint on Saturday with “LaKisha Day.”
The Lansing celebration featured a performance by the youth choir from Jones’ Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church.
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