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May 25, 2012

Kellie Pickler on singing, Simon, and salmon

by Bob Sassone, posted Apr 30th 2006 4:22PM
Simon CowellLong Q and A with Kellie Pickler over at Entertainment Weekly's web site. I like how she understands that she really gave two bad performances in a row and was lucky to last as long as she did, but this quote sticks out to me, as she answers a question about not knowing what a minx or calamari are, or how to pronounce the word salmon:

"To be honest, that kind of hurt my feelings. I don't think people realize I went from a small town in North Carolina to Los Angeles, so of course there are going to be things I don't know."

What, they don't have salmon in North Carolina restaurants? They don't use the words minx and calamari there? They don't use the phrase "on paper" (something Simon said to her) in the Carolinas?

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D. Smith

I trust now that Kellie is out of the Idol competition and is doing guest spots on different shows that the viewing public will see what we KellieFans saw in this young lady..Not just her country singing but her sincere--honest-sweet-charming personality..The camera loves this girl..Now I was born a long time ago and have been around but being from the South I also say SaLmon..Why spell a word with an L if you are not going to use it..Someone changed the pronouncation of that word...Never heard of calamiri until Kellie brought it up but have since noticed it on menu's down here..Probably didn't order it because I had no idea what it was...As to the "What On Paper" response to Simon she was not saying she did not know what that meant but trying to figure out what Simon was trying to say..He does ramble quite a bit and uses words that we are not used to hearing...I had to look up the correct deffinition for "Minx" myself...I had a general idea...Kellie is just simply naive about things outside her country life..She is just now learning about those things she has been sheltered from...I really see a bright future for Kellie...

May 02 2006 at 4:27 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Alce minkley

I am 78 years old, have read a lot of horrible untrue blogs about Kellie by jealous, stupid and ignorant people who don't know anything about people and there speach and ways, growing up in a small town in the south. I think Kelly was trashed by a pack of sicko nerds and it probably affected her performance!
Just My Humble Opinion!
Allie

May 01 2006 at 7:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Marlene Sanges

I am 55 years old and have lived in Albemarle, North Carolina, most of my life. I spent an entire summer studying in Paris, France, when I was in college, and I have traveled extensively in Europe over the past 30 years. It was only two years ago, however, that *I* learned what calamari was (not that I had cared enough to look it up before that). I have eaten escargots, pate de foie gras, truffles, vichyssoise, bouillabaisse, and coq au vin. So what if I've never eaten calamari?! Kellie has one up on me.

I have two sons ages 19 and 26, and I have taught teenagers for the past 34 years (including Kellie), yet I can honestly say I had never heard the word "ballsy" used until American Idol. And "minx" just isn't a word that you hear very often, if at all, in a typical Southern town.

Kellie is still a teenager; she is only 19 years old. I applaud the fact that from the beginning to the end of her stint on American Idol, she conducted herself with grace, good humor, honesty, humility, and sheer, unadulterated joy. She never criticized anyone, cursed her misfortune, pitched a hissy fit, or made excuses for herself. Perhaps those who judge her so severely should take a look in the old mirror and see if they can say the same.

May 01 2006 at 7:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
shelley

It truly bothered me when people called Kellie stupid. She is hardly stupid, but being a young girl from NC I could understand that there may be many things she never heard of.

I come from NYC and when we visit my husband's family who never left their rural town in NC I totally understand why as young girl from that background might not know many phrases that are not used on a daily basis.

There are many things that I do not understand about living in a small town in the south. Culture shock for both sides

May 01 2006 at 2:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Emily

Speaking as someone who has to pre-screen entry level job applicants... there is a whole generation of young people out there that make Kellie Pickler look like a rocket scientist.

Don't be afraid...be very afraid.

May 01 2006 at 10:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Renee

I agree Leesa! Her age as A LOT to do with it, then add small town, plus add someone with a "ham it up in front of the camera" attitude, and.....YIKES! I'm from Nashville, and my 82 year old Grandma says salmon with an L.

May 01 2006 at 7:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Leesa

I believe the one aspect of Kellie everyone is forgetting is that she is still a young girl. One who has not had the opportunity to travel nor complete her education. As an employer of young people, her lack of knowledge is not that unusual. In fact you would be amazed! Remember back when you were her age...the only thing you really cared about is how your hair looked and where you were going on Saturday night. Give her a break!

May 01 2006 at 1:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gidget

As one born and bred in a small town in the Carolinas, I can assure you that Kellie's ignorance is, indeed, her own.

And Derek? Bob made no such assumptions. He's actually disputing Kellie's assertions.

May 01 2006 at 1:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Derek

I didn't mean to sound so combative. People dissing on Southerners is one of my pet peeves. But my point is still valid.

She said the reason she didn't know about them was that she was from a SMALL TOWN in North Carolina. You then turned around and made an assumption that the ENTIRE STATE knew nothing about salmon, etc. Your reply to my 1st message again made that same assumption. That's what I mean by generalization.

See where I'm coming from?

April 30 2006 at 11:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bob Sassone

Derek: I have no idea what you're talking about. I never said anything bad about North Carolina. I was simply pointing out that Kellie Pickler said the reason she didn't know those things is because she's from North Carolina. She's the one who dumped on the state, not me.

April 30 2006 at 9:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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