Family Fourth American Idol

As part of our Kurt Family Fourth tradition, my Dad decided to add a new set of festivities: Kurt Family American Idol Karaoke. If you know one thing about the Kurt's it's this: we're all tone deaf, but like to sing (except Maddie). On our long family car rides to Iowa we would have family talent shows. I would often sing Kenny Rogers, "The Gambler" (while Jon and Dan mocked me by doing choreographed motions). My Dad would do an operatic version of "Little Boy Blue" and Dan would do his favorite, "The Little Seed is Planted in the Ground" - complete with motions as well. My Mom somehow was always the impartial judge and got out of having to embarrass herself.

My Dad had planned this for months, asking each family to have an act. He sent out a list of songs from the 1950s asking each family to be "In it to win it". We went out and picked up our own Karaoke CDs to add to the fun. We even had judges. I was able to be Idol Judge Simon, complete with tight shirt, nipples and rude comments. Beth pointed out that I have an Australian accent.

My Dad and his fiancee' Judy kicked it off with "Home, Home on the Range". I laughed so hard that I'm pretty sure that's where I damaged my rib further. I'm sure my Mom was looking down from heaven laughing her head off and saying the occasional, "Day-vud".

My brother Dan asked his siblings to sing the Irish Ballad, "Danny Boy". Wow. Bad. We had christmas songs, dinosaur songs and even baseball songs. Matthew did his best Elvis impersonation and Maddie did 'Girls just wanna have fun'. Dan and I helped push her performance over the edge as backup singers.



The guys did the most amazing melodic version of Sweet Caroline - complete with choreography, harmony, melodies, falsettos and audience participation. Neil Diamond would have been proud.
After the votes were counted and then corrected (Jon took votes as they came in, crossed them out, and put his name on them) - Maddie ended up as the winner. Matthew came in second and the guys came in third place.

As you can see from Mike's pants, Mike laughed so hard that he peed himself.

Note all of the red cups in the guys hands throughout the event.