Kentucky native wins American Idol

Springsteen's catalogue was right up Noah Thompson's alley. The country crooner sang Springsteen's “I’m on Fire." Photo: ABC

Lawrence County’s Noah Thompson first Kentucky winner

Noah Thompson, the 20-year-old construction worker from Louisa, Kentucky whose co-worker went behind his back to sign him up for American Idol, won the national singing competition Sunday night. He is the first Kentuckian to win in the 20 seasons of the show.

“Oh my god … my heart is beating out of my chest, this is crazy,” Thompson said after learning the news of his win live onstage.

“As a kid, all I thought about was playing music and being famous. But where I’m from, you don’t really get much opportunities. My family, they believe in me, the guys I work with believe in me, but I’ve just never believed in myself,” he said at the time. 

“During his time on ‘American Idol,’ Noah Thompson has not only just shown his ability as a singer, he’s also been a shining light on Lawrence County with his character,” Lawrence County Judge Executive Phillip Carter said in a proclamation to declare April Noah Thompson Appreciation Month in the county. “Noah represents Lawrence County with a sincere politeness and humbleness that speaks volumes to the rest of America.”