Supporters sad, but confident Haley will go far
Haley Reinhart can't be the only one with a broken heart.
Devastated fans in Wheeling shared their grief while Reinhart smiled and rocked her way through her exit song, after being voted off “American Idol” Thursday.
“It's a little upsetting to see her go, but I know she's still going to go far,” Laura Finfrock of Wheeling said. It's crazy how much she's already put out there and given to the American people ... she's going to be great.”
Before the loss, supporters were hopeful at the unofficial headquarters of Haley at PS Pub in Wheeling.
“We started coming here every week and wearing our shirts,” Marie Charrier of Wheeling said of her and her husband Rob.
“There are lawn signs all around Wheeling; the whole town has Haley signs. Everyone from young to the older folks are supporting Haley,” she said, hopeful that Reinhart would inherit the title from reigning “American Idol” and Mt. Prospect native Lee DeWyze.
Reinhart's supporters looked on with pride as the scenes from Saturday's hometown tour played out on national television.
“I'm so ecstatic for Haley and her family and to share in the fun and success that she's seen so far,” Wheeling resident Laurie Schufeldt said.
As has been her hallmark, Haley had a hot and cold night Wednesday. Her cover of Led Zeppelin's “What is and What Should Never Be,” was the performance of the night, but her sloppy, shouty take on Alainis Morrisette's “You Oughta Know” may have cost her votes when it counted.
Fans wearing “I Love Haley” shirts were thrilled with the Zeppelin performance, cheering her on from the standing room only pub. The crowd went wild with screams when Reinhart's father, Harry — who frequently plays at the pub with Reinhardt's mother, Patti — joined his daughter onstage for the song.
After the loss, many supporters were too upset to talk about the results, but Charrier was hopeful for Reinhart's future.
“It feels sad that it's over, but we'll still support her. She seemed like she took it real well, like a pro would, so I give her kudos for taking it nice and singing the song. We'll see her all around town; maybe I'll see her in the Walgreens or something.”