What does making the top three on Fox’s “American Idol” get you?
In the case of Mount Prospect’s Lee DeWyze, a trip to Wrigley Field to throw out the first pitch (complete with a police escort to the ballpark), a parade in his hometown and a concert in front of 41,369 fans at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights. And those were just half of his stops on Friday.
DeWyze, a former employee at Mount Prospect Paint, kicked off his hectic homecoming with a visit to various Chicago radio and TV outlets.
“Being in Chicago … it feels like it’s been forever,” DeWyze said on Fox’s “Good Day Chicago.” “To be back, it’s just like — this is home.”
After getting his first real taste of the media — Fox doesn’t allow contestants to do interviews during the earlier stages of the show — DeWyze headed to an 11 a.m. meet-and-greet at an AT&T store in Skokie. The first of the estimated 200 fans in attendance arrived around 5:30 a.m., according to an AT&T representative.
From there, Cubs fan DeWyze headed to Wrigley Field. Moments after stepping on the field, he shook hands with Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts (“This is awesome,” he told Ricketts) and then soaked up the moment.
DeWyze was unable to stay for the game because of the parade and stops at places including St. James Catholic School in Arlington Heights, but he told Cubs staff he’d like to return in June under calmer circumstances.
The festivities came to an end at Arlington Park, where DeWyze performed an acoustic set for family, friends and screaming fans. He was originally supposed to play three songs, but DeWyze played 10 complete songs, including Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody,” Dave Matthews Band’s “Crash” and Hinder’s “Lips of an Angel.”
“This is the best day of my life,” DeWyze told the audience. “This is the absolute best day of my life.”
Of course, that could change May 26, when “American Idol” names its Season 9 winner.
“Could you imagine?” said DeWyze. “What if I win this thing?”
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