Yuba City woman goes from IHOP to 'American Idol'
Longtime "American Idol" fan Amy Smith of Yuba City is heading for Hollywood — with a seat in the show's VIP section Wednesday when the 10th season's winner is announced.
Smith, 28, is the Sacramento-area winner of the television station's "American Idol Giveaway" contest held in coordination with My925 KGBY radio.
She and friend Cathy Holland are being flown to Southern California on Wednesday morning and will stay in a hotel next to the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
The show's two-hour finale with "Idol" contestants Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina is at 8 p.m. Wednesday on FOX40.
Contestant Haley Reinhart was eliminated from the top three this past Thursday.
"I'm going to be happy to meet all the contestants," Smith said Thursday afternoon.
Though she hasn't received all the details about the trip, she does know they will go backstage after the event.
"I'm kind of bummed that Haley's out, but I was rooting for Scotty from the get-go, so I'm happy about that."
Smith also did a short television spot about winning the contest for FOX40 to be aired during the days before the "Idol" finale.
The Yuba-Sutter resident was entered in the contest for the finale tickets after winning two tickets to the "American Idols in Concert" summer tour's stop at Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento.
Smith, a server at International House of Pancakes in Yuba City for almost 12 years, called into the radio contest on her one day off last week.
A second winner in the FOX40 "Idol" finale week contest was Shelly Garrett of Ripon. She won through KOSO radio in Modesto and will attend the Tuesday show seen at 8 p.m.
