MILLSTONE: Clarksburg native advances on ‘Idol’

By Jessica Ercolino, Staff Writer
   MILLSTONE — The first few weeks of any “American Idol” season can often make for some cringe-worthy television, but one Clarksburg native featured last week on the program put a smile on all four of the judges’ faces.
   Ashley Anderson received a unanimous pass to Hollywood during her televised tryout for the FOX-TV singing competition Jan. 14. The 20-year-old was among thousands to audition for the show in August in Kansas City, Mo., and one of 27 to be selected for the next round.
   Ms. Anderson crooned Leona Lewis’ “Footprints in the Sand,” a song written in part by “Idol” judge Simon Cowell. Though she initially muffed the lyrics — singing “footsteps” instead of “footprints” — the singer-songwriter elicited high praise from Mr. Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson and new judge Kara DioGuardi.
   ”Yes, yes, yes, yes — I like this girl!” said Mr. Jackson. “That’s a great song. Very difficult to sing.”
   Ms. Anderson could not be reached for comment.
   According to her MySpace page, Ms. Anderson, who also has gone by the stage name, Ashley Loren, has been featured on CBS-TV’s “Star Search,” NBC’s “America’s Most Talented Kid” and “Showtime at the Apollo.”
   ”American Idol,” created by Simon Fuller, is now in its eighth season. The show airs at 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays on FOX-TV.