Last year, Laine Hardy left American Idol, planning to work on his music career back home in Louisiana.
“I went home and started getting more experience playing to live audiences,” says Hardy.
This year, he went back to the competition, not to reaudition, but to help a friend, Ashton Gill, who needed a guitarist for her own audition.
“Ashton sang her songs, and I play guitar, so then, she got the golden ticket. And then, we were telling the judges ‘bye,’ and Katie asked me to sing a song, and I backed up, and they offered me a golden ticket, and I couldn’t say no to that,” says Hardy, who will be back on the Idol stage with hometown friend Ashton in Hollywood, starting tomorrow night.
This year, Laine says you’ll see him come out of his shell.
“People can expect a little more confidence in my singing and in my stage presence and stuff, but that’s really all. I’m going to stay me and stay who I am.”
He is looking forward to sharing his journey and his music with the nation.
“I have fun doing music, and that’s what I’ve been doing since I was a little kid, and that’s what I’m happy doing,” says Hardy.
