Shoals rallies round its Nashville stars

Their names are on signs all over the Shoals, encouraging folks to show their support.

On Thursday nights, people are filling restaurants like LaFonda Mexicana, where televisions are tuned to "Nashville Star," the "American Idol"-style program searching for the next big country music star.

Shoals residents hope, and some are certain, that the winner will be one of their own, Zac or Angela Hacker.

The brother and sister musicians received enough votes last week to remain on the show this week. It was not, however, a night of praise from the show's judges, Blake Shelton, Anastasia Brown and Randy Owen. All three judges expressed disappointment with the five contestants' performances.

Chris Sexton and his wife, Melinda, have been following the show since the beginning and are familiar with the Hackers from their many appearances at local restaurants and clubs.

"I like both of them, but Angela is awesome," Chris Sexton said as they watched the show at LaFonda.

"She's the type of person that when you meet her, you're friends for life," Melinda Sexton said.

Bayou Blue is another venue where the Hackers have performed. Cathy Terry said she attended the first episode of the show at the Aycuff Theater in Nashville and was impressed by the standing ovation Angela Hacker received after her performance.

She has seen them perform at Bayou Blue. "We could see that they had talent," she said.

When asked who her favorite is, she diplomatically answers, "the Hackers." She then confides that she's an Angela fan first and a Zac fan second.

Paul Peden Sr., however, is foremost a Zac fan. He said the Hackers played at Bayou Blue every Thursday for three or four years.

At Brinley Bros. Downtown Bistro, attorney Tina Parker is impressed with the enthusiasm shown by residents who have turned out regularly for the restaurant's viewing and voting parties.

When she lived in Birmingham, Parker was involved in creating a voting bloc and parties for last year's "American Idol" winner, Taylor Hicks.

Her law partner, Elizabeth Berry, said people start coming in well before the show comes on. "I've been impressed with the crowd," she said.

Scott and Donna Sloan have also been keeping track of the Hackers' progress.

Donna Sloan said she's been to parties at Brinley and Bayou Blue and has watched the show at home.

"I vote on the phone and I vote online," she said. "It's the most exciting thing we've had for entertainment in awhile."

Her favorite is Angela "because she is a single parent and so was I for a long time," she said.

Her husband agrees with her choice, but for another reason.

"I don't know them well enough, but Angela because of her voice," Scott Sloan said.

Kelly Wright, of Florence, has attended several parties and came to Bayou Blue on Thursday.

"They're doing great," Wright said. "Both are incredible. I hope they will still be able to play here when they get real, real famous."

Staff Writer Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com.