UPDATE: Carlton Smith was eliminated from "American Idol" during "Hollywood Week," shows which aired Feb. 5 and Feb. 6. He sends appreciation for all the support he has received from his hometown of Morgantown - and the entire NCWV area. 

 

Carlton Smith had planned to audition for “American Idol” while he was pursuing a criminology degree at West Virginia University.

 

“I drove all the way to Louisville, Kentucky and chickened out,” he said. “I just didn’t think I was ready. All the people singing in the parking lot was so intimidating. I just didn’t think I measured up.”

 

Seven years later, Smith measures up.

 

At “Idol” auditions held in Boston five months ago, Smith –– a member of West Virginia University Police - received his “Golden Ticket” to Hollywood for the show’s 13^th season.

 

“I screamed and jumped. I was so happy and ecstatic. My heart was beating like a million beats per second,” said Smith, still quite elated at the thought of it all.

 

As he had planned, Smith - a lifelong vocal enthusiast and Buffalo, New York native – sang “A Change is Gonna Come,” a 1964 tune by rhythm & blues artist Sam Cooke.

 

Celebrity judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. unanimously voted to advance Smith to the next round of competition.

 

“Keith was a little bit reluctant, but he still said yes,” Smith said. “He told me I needed more emotion and JLo said the emotion was there. Harry said I did some weird thing - cutting off the end of my notes – but that it works for me.”

 

Walking into that process, Smith admits he was a little starstruck.

 

“(The judges) were deciding my fate and I was nervous – hoping it went well,” he said.

 

It had gone well in three preliminary auditions held before show producers executive producers, before ultimately reaching the celebrity judges.  

 

Smith sang the same song all the way through.

 

“If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it,” said Smith - who while recalling the surreality of the whole experience - often giggled during the interview.

 

He made the drive to Boston alone, he said.

 

“All my friends who were going to go with me bailed on me.”

 

 

Upon arrival in the city, he chose a hotel and set out to accomplish the first goal at hand –

 to be assigned an audition number.

 

“You show up the first day and wait in line to register and get your number. The next day you come back and sing – like little cattle call auditions,” he said.

 

Massive amounts of people surrounded Gillette Stadium, where initial auditions were held.

 

“Everyone seemed to be either singing or sleeping,” he said. “They had blankets and lawn chairs and everything.” 

 

Smith made fast friends with a group of fellow Hollywood hopefuls.

 

“We sang a little bit and talked a little bit and it helped out with the nerves a lot,” he said. “Then I wasn’t focused so much on being afraid or the rejection part of it because I was just enjoying the experience.”

 

Each step of the audition process was a crossroads.

 

“You went in and sang and they told you either yes or no and you walked one way or another,” he said.

 

 

The trip to Boston was a crossroads in Smith’s life.

“It’s always been my dream to pursue music. Really, it’s the only thing I’m passionate about,” he said. “Most of what I do is what other people want me to do. I respect that they want what’s best for me, but I had to go for my own dreams. I knew I wouldn’t be happy if I didn’t give my own dreams a shot.”

 

Also a talented pianist, Smith said he’s been singing for as long as he can remember. 

 

“I sang classical and theater music. I was also a lover of R&B and pop. I sang in gospel choirs in church, show choirs and musicals around town,” said Smith, about his upbringing in the Buffalo area, including his high school years at Sweet Home High School on the Buffalo outskirts.

 

Upon high school graduation, he was led to WVU, which he was told was one of the country’s leading schools for forensics study. Over the course of his education, he changed his major to criminology. During his senior year, he nabbed the 2009 “Mountaineer Idol” title, winning over judges with his renditions of Kenny Chesney’s “There Goes My Life” and Usher’s “You Remind Me.”

 

Smith has been employed with WVU Police since 2011. His duties run the gamut – from traffic control to DUI calls.

 

And, yes, he said he sings while he works.

 

“I do sing on the job, but not around people,” he 

said, “and never when I have someone in my cruiser. It’s not good for the image.”

 

In addition to celebrity judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr., “American Idol” features host Ryan Seacrest. The show’s 13^th season began airing Jan. 15 on FOX. This week wrapped up recaps of auditions held across the country, including Texas, Michigan, Georgia, Utah, Nebraska, Massachusetts and California. Two hundred twelve golden tickets were awarded throughout that process. Contestants will compete in a surprise “Hollywood or Home” round, airing Wed., Feb. 5. The “Hollywood” rounds continue Thurs., Feb. 6 and Wednesday, Feb. 12. On Thurs., Feb. 13, the Hollywood rounds end with a new twist as the top semi-finalists are revealed.

 

What happens here on out with regard to Smith’s journey remains to be unseen. Hear more from Smith about his quest to be the next "American Idol" at the video below: