Kellie Pickler: A Small Town Girl in Red High Heels

Kellie Pickler: An American Idol After All

Kellie Pickler, American Idol of Season 5 would have been her preferred result of the talent competition, but the American television audience (and ultimate final judges of the contest) voted for the other very talented singers to progress to the final round. But Kellie Pickler is still the winner of a recording contract, and she is the first of the Season 5 participants to complete and release a complete album of songs.

Kellie Pickler sang a song that had been recorded by one of her American musical models, LeAnn Rimes,  at her high school graduation in New London, North Carolina. On The Side of Angels was it's title, and they have been with her through her life.
High School in America has changed for the worse with "standardized testing" and "Exit Exams" adding to the already intense social pressure to fit-in and be popular. What happens to the 'C' students who don't make it through the initial audition process of life after graduation because their grades were to low for college and employers at large corporations want employees with job experience? If they are lucky they can find a job at a Sonic Drive-In, like Kellie Pickler did so she would have money for her basic needs.

Kellie Pickler might have wondered "Who is paying attention to the 'C' students?" and decided to concentrate on cheerleading and singing. Advanced Placement students receive the most attention, followed by the group "At Risk" for dropping-out before reaching the Exit Exams. "Standardized Testing" has increased the pressure on all but the top students (to them it is just another series of tests.) Unlike in Washington D.C. where the "Benchmarks that are not fixed timetables", school districts have to have continous improvement of the "Standardized Test Scores" as the years go by.