Mia Matthews of Centre could be America’s next American Idol
By Sherri Blevins
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I have to admit that I am a big softy when it comes to the “ American Dream Story.” My husband laughs at me when I tear up watching people I don’t even know sing. I tear up because I am amazed at not only their talent but also the effort they extend to make their dreams become reality, and many times, I can see the hand of God in their story.
For the last few weeks, my husband and I have been glued to the television screen on Sunday and Monday nights to watch the long-running television hit American Idol. The show offers young artists the chance to become stars. The successful show first aired in 2002, creating a host of stars along the way. The fun part about it is having the opportunity to vote and contribute to the success of a young star.
This year, Centre’s own nineteen-year-old, Mia Matthews, is living the American Idol Dream. She is no stranger to being on stage and sharing her talent with the world, but this experience has been her biggest exposure so far.
Mia was born in Gadsden, Alabama, in December 2004. According to her biography sketch on Billboard.com, she grew up watching the show. She stated, “My older sister Sadie loved it. I had an American Idol karaoke machine. I would stand on my mini trampoline like a stage and then sing with my American Idol microphone.”
Many members of Mia’s family share her talent. Her father, who passed away when Mia was three, was a heavy metal rock star who played the electric guitar while touring with the rock band Whitesnake. Her mother is also very musical, singing with country music stars Ernest Tubb and Barbara Mandrell. Mia, her Mom, and her sister Jacey formed the trio Worth the Wait and even made it to the top seventeen in the television show The Voice. Since then, they have appeared at The Grand Ole Opry and June Jam 2023.
Mia described how she and her six siblings learned to sing while taking road trips with her family. She said, “There’s not much to do in Alabama, so we would drive around. Mama would play a game with us to see if we could find harmony. It started with, ‘I’m going to hit this note. See where you land.’ And then we sang ‘Jesus Loves Me.’”
Mia’s mom was the choir director in her church when Mia was growing up. Mia said that singing was her family’s passion, and it helped them deal with their grief when their dad passed away. She also said they would sing for anyone and everyone, which led to her first claim to fame. In her Billboard interview, Mia said her first break came in Walmart. She said, “One day, when I was 11, we were shopping at Walmart, and we sang the National Anthem for the cashier because she was having a bad day. A woman behind us recorded it and posted it on Facebook, and it went viral.”
Mia never believed it would be possible to appear on American Idol. She said, “This past summer, I felt stagnant. I had just graduated from high school. I wanted to be a singer, but how do I do that? What was the next step? I was searching for an opportunity, but was it time to open the door to Idol? Then I received a message asking if I wanted to audition, and somehow, I am here now.”
Mia needs everyone’s help to complete her Idol dream. The show will air again on ABC on Sunday, April 28, and Monday, April 29. America will vote to send the top contestants to the next level. To learn how to vote for Mia and any of the other talented contestants, visit American Idol’s Facebook page. Voting is only open during the live shows, so be sure to watch.
