‘Idol’ winner brings ‘Home’ to Benedictine University

Music fans looking to put a face with the guy responsible for one of most popular songs of the past year can see him up close this spring at Benedictine University in Lisle.

National recording artist and “American Idol” season 11 winner Phillip Phillips will take the stage April 13 at “BenBash 2013” in the university’s Dan and Ada Rice Center.

BenBash is a daylong spring party sponsored by Benedictine and the university alumni association to celebrate the end of the school year.

Since his victory on the TV show, the 22-year-old from Leesburg, Ga., has produced the most successful song of any “Idol” winner with his hit single “Home.” It has sold more than 3.4 million copies.

The track has since gone triple platinum and was used as the soundtrack for the 2012 U.S. Olympics women’s gymnastics team.

His debut album, “The World From the Side of the Moon,” debuted at No. 4 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart and already has reached gold status.

“His name came up and when we contacted him, we were lucky enough that he was available,” Debbie Smith, university events director, said. “We did look into him because he was an ‘Idol’ winner and knew he would be a good show. We also thought he was a good fit for the university.”

Once Phillips was announced as the BenBash act, Smith said the university’s social media pages “lit up” and organizers have been receiving nonstop calls about tickets.

“In the three years we have been doing concerts, with some rather big names, we have never had this much buzz,” Smith said.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for the pre-party sponsored by 103.5 KISS-FM. Pre-sale tickets are two for $50 and four for $100 and will go on sale Wednesday. General admission tickets will be $30 and will go on sale Friday.

Tickets can be purchased online at ben.edu/benbash and on campus in Room 055 of the Krasa Student Center, 5700 College Road.