American Idol in South Mississippi: Part II

Lumberton native, Michael Simeon, is one of 24 finalists on season 14 of American Idol, and Wednesday night, you could have a hand in just how far this Mississippian makes it on the show, since for the first time this season, viewers get to vote on their favorite contestant.

Lumberton, Mississippi is a small town off Highway 13 between Gulfport and Hattiesburg, with a population of 2,200, but this little town is in the spotlight thanks to one of its natives, Michael Simeon. Summer Hartfield, a Lumberton High School senior, says, "He was a senior when I was a freshman. He was always a very nice person, very outgoing."

Simeon’s kind qualities that didn’t go unnoticed by American Idol judge, Jennifer Lopez, who shared a dance with the 21 year old after his request during his Idol tryouts in Nashville in 2014. Millions of viewers, including his fans and friends from Lumberton, watched as Simeon crooned to one of the world’s most sought after celebrities. Javier Chavis, another Lumberton High senior, says, "I thought it was pretty cool to watch him dance with one of the hottest girls on the planet. I kind of wish I was in his shoes."

Simeon says, "The dance with J-Lo, it was something I just thought about, something I could do to make my audition more memorable, something I could make a memory with. If she had said no, maybe I would have asked Harry and maybe I could have been funny with it, but she said yes and it turned out to be this really sweet thing."

Simeon took time out of his busy schedule to spend time with News 25 at our studio, and being an undeniably true southern gentleman, made room for our own Toni Miles on his dance card. Not nearly as nimble footed as J-Lo, Miles managed to get tangled up in a studio wire, but this consummate southern gentleman didn’t let her fall and everyone at the studio got a good laugh out of it, but Simeon is serious when it comes to his education and dreams of singing for a living. He says, "Determination is everything and perseverance is hard work. I don’t think there’s such a thing as luck. Luck is when opportunity and hard work come together."

Make no mistake, he’s no overnight success. His stint with Idol has been six years in the making. Simeon also says, “It was crazy. I did it last year, made it all the way to the Top 48. This year, I’d like to go further."

Blake Ford, another Lumberton High senior, says, "We’ve got the perfect guy doing it. He’s humble. He’s Christian. He’s a good guy. He’s the person we need to represent us."

Mason Smith, Michael’s father, closes, "This is just another light on the city of positive things that can come from a small town as our former Principal, Mr. Holder, used to say, ‘It’s not where you come from, it’s where you’re going.’”