Longview...more like Lame-view

My mom sent me the following article via email with the subject title: Do you know this girl? No, I don't, but seriously- my hometown is lame. l-a-m-e. They wrote an entire article about a girl who is simply going to a town four hours a way to try out for American Idol. Did she make the cut? Nope. Just auditioning. Like thousands of other people. She is not special whatsoever.

Some Longview residents are hopeful the next "American Idol" will be the girl next door – literally.

Michelle Muckleroy, a teller at Telco Plus Credit Union on Gilmer Road, will travel to Austin next week for a chance to audition for Fox's hit reality television program's fifth season.

Muckleroy, a 1997 Pine Tree High School graduate, said her love of singing and a good time prompted her to throw her hat into the ring – or her voice onto the stage.

"It was just: Hey, what the heck? Go try it out," the 26-year-old aspiring singer said. "The reason why I'm doing it, it's something fun to do No. 1, and I would love to sing. I would love to perform. I don't mind being the center of attention."

She's had no formal training but was in school choirs since the third grade. She also sings karaoke from time to time and is asked to perform the National Anthem at work-related events.

She said her favorite tunes to sing are by country artists – Faith Hill, Martina McBride and others. Her song of choice for the audition, which must be done a cappella, is Alanis Morissette's "Ironic."

"She sings it pretty wild. That's not me, so I'm going to tame it down," Muckleroy said.

Co-worker Tammy Byrnes said Muckleroy has a shot at going all the way because she's a talented go-getter.

"She has a great voice. We think she'll do fine," Byrnes said. "Lots of people have dreams but she's one who has kind of pursued hers."

I'm not even going to link to this, don't want to bother. The Longview News Journal will never know.