Feb 22, 2006 - 10:46:04 CST
Retired veterinarian Irwin Huff, 71, of Bismarck, known for being a serious, methodical kind of guy, likes to watch the news and stock market-type shows so he can follow his investments.He was never the least inclined to to watch something like "American Idol." It never graced his screen, not his kind of thing. When his wife would watch that reality-television stuff, he'd head for the television in the basement.
But just try to keep Huff away from television and "American Idol's" broadcast set for 7 p.m. today. Can't be done. This season's "American Idol" has Irwin Huff glued to the screen for one reason:Massachusetts' Ayla Brown, 17, one of the 24 semi-finalists, will be performing, again. She'll perform today and then on Thursday, after which another four singers will be eliminated.
He thinks Brown's pretty wonderful - that granddaughter of his.
Not only does she sing, the high school senior is the recipient of a full basketball scholarship to Boston College.
"She's just a nice, beautiful girl ... just a peach," he said. "She's just a wonderful person to be with."
He last saw his granddaughter when he drove out to visit in the summer of 2004 and she sang for him, "God Bless the USA,"by singer Lee Greenwood, and he sang a French folk song for her.
He's pretty sure she didn't get her talent and beauty from him. His daughter, her mom, Gail Huff Brown, worked as a model and is now a television reporter. Her father, Sen. Scott Brown R-Wrentham, a state senator and lawyer, also was a model.
Ayla Brown has never been to North Dakota and currently is nowhere near.
Brown, now in Los Angeles, said in a Monday telephone interview that the "American Idol" experience continues to be fantastic. She said the most challenging thing has been that ongoing misconception about her: Early on, she was given the label of "All-American girl" based on several factors, including the perception that she's had a privileged childhood.
She said what people don't see is what's underneath - what her parents have done to provide for her and her sister.
"They work four jobs. ... They work incredibly hard,"she said.
She said that's the reason why she and her sister could attend private schools in the area.
Brown, who still sleeps with her teddy bear, even in California, played boys football for three years, sixth through eighth grades, and at this point in her life is one of the top female high school basketball players in the country, her dad said in a Monday interview.
Scott Brown said Ayla is focused and shares her grandfather's trait of being thorough. "She doesn't leave any details (to chance)."
He said Ayla - who has heard negative as well as positive comments from the "American Idol" judges - deals well with criticism because she has dealt with it for years - from basketball coaches, from people in the stands.
And from her first-grade teacher. Ayla Brown said she remembers her first-grade teacher calling her mom concerned that little Ayla "just won't stop singing." The teacher said that Ayla, granted, had a remarkable voice, but she would break out in song in the middle of class. Her mom wasn't concerned. "It's just singing,"her mom told the teacher. And Ayla said she kept singing.
This week the "American Idol" judges will let her know if she can keep on singing - for them, anyway.
"She's in the fight of her life,"Scott Brown said.
He said she's competing against some singers who have performed professionally.
"I tell her to keep being herself, smile, just be honest - there's no magic,"he said.
(Reach reporter Virginia Grantier at 250-8254 or at virginia.grantier@;bismarcktribune.com.)
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