Who is Shelbie Z.? Alabama singer set to make debut on final season of 'American Idol'
Alabama singer Shelbie Z. is set to make her debut Jan. 6 on the final season of "American Idol." She auditioned for "Idol" staffers in July at the Denver Coliseum, moving on to rounds with the show's producers and, finally, with its three celebrity judges: Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban. (Fox photo/Michael Becker)
By Mary Colurso | mcolurso@al.com
Shelbie Z. grew up watching "American Idol,"cheering for her favorites at home in Sumiton.Alabama's long line of singers on the show, including winners Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard, made an impact on the girl and she "voted religious" for contenders from her home state.
Now, Shelbie Z. — full name Shelbie Zora James Panter — is a Southern rock and country singer with reality-show ambitions of her own. After earning fans on "The Voice" in 2013 as a member of Blake Shelton's team, Shelbie Z. has decided to try her luck and test her skills on "Idol."
She's expected to make her debut on the series tonight, as the 15th and final season launches on Fox at 7 p.m. Central.
Shelbie Z., 23, auditioned for "Idol" staffers in July at the Denver Coliseum, moving on to rounds with the show's producers and, finally, with its three celebrity judges: Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban.
Early episodes of "Idol" are filmed in advance; Shelbie Z. cannot reveal the results of her audition or provide other spoiler info. However, she's likely to be featured on tonight's episode, showcasing her strong voice and confident performance style.
"I think what really sets me apart from everyone else is that I worked so hard to get where I am," Shelbie Z. said. "I've been the person in the audience and the person on stage."
During a recent phone interview, the singer offered a few details of her experiences in Denver, including the songs she chose to wow the judges. Her initial "Idol" setlist: "Last Name," a Carrie Underwood hit she nailed in a knockout round on "The Voice," and "Tush," a ZZ Top classic she discovered online, via a 2011 cover by Grace Potter & the Nocturnals.
"I love that version," Shelbie Z. said. "I found it on YouTube, and that's when I started singing 'Tush.'"
As a contestant on "The Voice," Shelbie Z. raised a ruckus by shaking her own tush on camera, during her performance of "Last Name." She threw a couple of sassy wiggles into the rendition, paired with the lyrics, "Last night, I met a guy on the dance floor, and I let him call me 'baby.'"
In a video clip from the episode, Shelton and one of his fellow mentors, CeeLo Green, can be seen smiling at her moves. (Watch Shelbie Z. vamp in the video below, at the 1:51 point.)
Shelbie Z., a veteran at nightclubs and festivals here, admits that she's not a shrinking violet.
"When I'm on stage and in front of a crowd, that passion just comes out," she said. "I'm confident. There's a fine line between arrogance and confidence, but I'm extremely confident in my craft."
Her goal during the cattle-call auditions in Denver? To showcase her technique, even if she had a brief time to do so. Also, she wanted the performance to seem effortless.
"For those few seconds, I did what I do best," Shelbie Z. said. "When I sing, I just want to open my mouth and it seems like it just comes out."
Tune in tonight to see if Alabama's latest "Idol" candidate earns a golden ticket to Hollywood, moving on to the next round of the competition. In the meantime, here are some more things you might want to know about Shelbie Z.:
Domestic life: She's married to Zak Panter. He's an auto technician at a dealership in Cullman, according to his Facebook page. They tied the knot in September 2013. The couple lives in Jasper with his parents, Shelbie Z. said.
Family support: Shelbie Z.'s father-in-law, Brant Panter, encouraged her to audition of "Idol," and financed her trip to Denver. "Originally, I had not even thought about it," she said. "And I thought hard about it, to make sure this is the right decision." Family members previously supported her run on "The Voice," and made excited appearances on the NBC show, applauding in the studio audience.
Taylor time: Although the "Idol" audition process didn't rattle her, Shelbie Z. said she was happy to see a familiar face on scene in Denver. Hoover native Taylor Hicks, who took the "Idol" crown in 2006, had returned for a guest appearance. "That was really interesting," she said. "We were waving at each other."
Music heroes: Her influences and inspirations include Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Eric Church, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Wynonna.
Singer-songwriter: Shelbie Z. has several original songs to her credit, including "Walker County Way" and "That's How Mama Raised Me." "I write a lot from personal experience," she said. "I think that says a lot about who I am as an artist."
Song specifics: "Walker County Way" extols the virtues of "good ol' boys born deep in the sticks" and lauds hard work, John Deere tractors, shotguns, drinking from Mason jars and more. The tune, which also takes a stand for the Confederate flag, was released as a single in December 2013.
Alabama 'American Idol' hopeful Shelbie Z. supports Confederate flag in 2013 song, video
The singer-songwriter, who lives in Jasper, stands with the flag in her video for the original song "Walker County Way."
Beauty queen: Shelbie Z. has worked as a cosmetologist at Mane Attraction in Jasper, according to Facebook. She studied acting and modeling at a Barbizonschool in Alabama, and has served as a pageant consultant.
Football fan: Alabama or Auburn? Shelbie Z. has declared her SEC allegiance loud and clear on social media. A selfie with her hubby bears the slogan "Roll Tide" and another shows the singer in a University of Alabama jersey, with the hashtag #RollTide. "Y'all, it's that sweet time of the year again," she says in a September tweet.
Social media: Shelbie Z. can be found on Facebook, Twitter (@Shelbie_Z) and Instagram. She also has an official website.
Local stages: In 2014, Shelbie Z. performed at Rock the South in Cullman and the Magnolia Festival in Gardendale. This year, she was on the lineup for the Frog Festival in Sumiton. Her nightclub dates include the Rattlesnake Saloon in Tuscumbia, Cafe Bill's in Jasper, Rhythm & Brews in Tuscaloosa and the Turtle Creek Bar and Grill in Greensboro.
Fan base: Folks who discover Shelbie Z. on "Idol" won't have to create a name for her fan base, as they did for Hicks with the Soul Patrol. Shelbie Z. calls her fans #LittleShuges and pays tribute to them on ReverbNation, saying "I owe everything to my fans (#LittleShuges) because without them I would be nothing."
History on "The Voice": Shelbie Z. made it through the blind auditions in fall 2013, a battle round with Justin Chain (besting the fellow Alabamian) and a knockout round vs. Briana Cuoco. She was eliminated in the live playoffs.
Cover girl? Not always: If Shelbie Z. makes the live shows on "Idol," vying for votes from viewers, she just might perform an original or two. "It depends on what the night is," she said. In the past, "Idol" has emphasized theme nights, asking contestants to perform songs that fit into various genres. Examples: Motown, songs from the 1980s, movie themes, Billboard No. 1 hits, arena anthems, songs from the year you were born.
Mission statement: According to Shelbie Z's artist bio on ReverbNation, her career goals are many. "To hear my songs on the radio so they can bring joy into many people's life," she writes. "Also to sing a 'SOLD OUT' show. To have the honor to sing/win a Grammy, CMA, and an AMA, Also to have the biggest honor of all to sing on the Grand Ole Opry. But most of all to hear thousands of people scream my name and just to have that feeling."
Spoiler alert: Want to know Shelbie Z's fate on "American Idol" before tonight's episode? Fan sites such as mjsbigblog and The Idol Pad provide reliable spoiler info. In fact, these sites already have tracked the Top 24 contestants for the coming season. The information hasn't been confirmed by "Idol," and comes from insider tips.