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| When Ace Young faced thousands of his fans last year, he learned to brace himself for impact. All he had to do was walk on stage during the "American Idol" concert tour, and arenas echoed with thunderous waves of sound. |
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| As part of a promotion for Edy's ice cream, Young has been hired to do mini-concerts for contest winners in 10 cities, including Birmingham. He's also been hitting the road for meet-and-greets sponsored by Edy's, which has been touting five new flavors linked to "Idol." Not as glamorous as performing at the White House, perhaps, but Young says he's pleased to reconnect with his admirers in this way and remain in the public eye. |
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| During two days here, April 12 and 13, Young signed autographs for about 160 people at the Wal-Mart on U.S. 280, did a round of media interviews and entertained about 20 listeners at a private party in a doctors' office at St. Vincent's hospital. Sandy Parker, an office coordinator for a group of pediatric orthopedists, won Young's services after entering an Edy's contest online. Instead of the typical house concert, Parker opted for a workplace performance attended by her colleagues and their families. "Ace is absolutely gorgeous," says Parker, 40. "This is was more than I had hoped for, a lot better than I imagined." |
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| In Ace Young's world, admirers of any type are met with cordial chatter and wide smiles. Just as long as they don't restrict him, Young says, to the role of an "Idol" pretty boy. "People may get caught up in looks," he says. "But I'm never going to focus on it. I'm the same as I always was. I wake up in the morning and use whatever shampoo is in the hotel." |