'American Idol' finalist Abi Carter gets warm welcome at former school, sings with students

Indio is known as the city of festivals, and soon it may also be the hometown of the newest "American Idol" winner if Abi Carter earns the crown this coming Sunday.

The "Idol" finalist earned a spot in the competition series' Top 3 this past Sunday, and as is tradition, those contestants return to their hometowns for a day of celebration with family members, friends and adoring fans.

For 21-year-old Carter, her Tuesday was filled with hugs, tears and emotional reunions with former teachers and current students at her alma mater George Washington Charter School in Palm Desert. A parade and concert in Indio were also scheduled for later in the day.

Elementary school children lined the grounds of the school chanting the singer's name and holding colorful posters to support their favorite "Idol" contestant. Once Carter stepped foot on her former school campus and the students' cheers erupted, the young singer couldn't hide her tears. She made her way through the crowd, high-fiving students and signing their posters, hats and even one child's arm cast.

At one point, Carter was entirely swarmed by children hoping for an autograph, clearly showing how excited they were to have a superstar in the making spend the afternoon with them.

Carter's mother, Andrea, stood back to admire the scene before her, wiping away tears and holding her hand above her heart.

"This is the best place for her to be," Andrea Carter said. "She loved this school, and she loves kids."

Carter attended Washington Charter up until third grade and then was homeschooled. She then attended less than one semester at La Quinta High School and returned to homeschooling in order to help take care of her siblings and have a job.

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The "Idol" singer was able to reunite with several of her past teachers and mentors, including her piano instructor Marta Basham, who Carter has credited with helping her find her passion. The two women embraced and didn't hold back the tears.

Basham said she keeps in touch with the Carter family after every "Idol" episode. She described the singer as a "humble, kind, compassionate and hardworking girl," and it's been emotional for her to see her student shine every week. Basham recalled that at Carter's piano recitals, "no one would talk" once she started to perform.

Win or lose, Basham believes this is only the start for Carter's music career.

"I tell her, 'Don't stress it, enjoy it. You've been given a gift. You've touched people,'" Basham said.

Several surprises and treats were in store for Carter at her old school. Fifth grade honor choir students performed "A Million Dreams," for which Carter accompanied them on the piano. She even sang her "Idol" audition song, "What Was I Made For?" with the group for a verse, and afterward Carter was wiping away tears.

"I don't know what to say, that was beautiful," Carter said. "This is surreal."

Speaking to a large group of fourth and fifth grade choir students, she told them about a failed audition she had for her school's talent competition. She admitted that she never wanted to sing or dance again because she "felt so bad about myself," but she decided to ignore the rejections and noes that she received that day, and later on in life. It eventually pushed her to earn a spot in the talent show the following year, and that inner drive led her to audition for "American Idol."

"I was told when I was about your age that I would never be a singer. I was told that my voice was too raspy, so I fixed it, I made it really clear," Carter said. "I don't want any of you guys to have your dreams crushed because I'm still standing here and I'm still able to do what I love here today. I just want all of you guys to do the same."

A few students also had an opportunity to read letters to Carter, in which they called her an "inspiration" and "the perfect person to represent the Coachella Valley."

Linda Hushaw, Carter's former music teacher, said it was "a special treat" to have her students perform for and with Carter on Tuesday. She always knew Carter would go far — she called her a "big performer" who "owned the stage." She recalled watching the young singer perform during the annual McCallum Theatre Open Call Talent Project one year and being blown away by her performance.

"When I watched that, I knew she was amazing here in third grade, and then I thought, 'Oh she's going far,'" Hushaw said. "What I've loved in seeing her come back, she's so grounded and just so authentic and that's a really sweet thing to see as she's going through all this."

Earlier in the day, Carter visited the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Andreas Road in downtown Palm Springs, where she used to play for tips during the weekly VillageFest event. Surrounded by family and cheering fans, the singer, wiping away tears, said, "I'm so proud to be here. I'm so thankful. ... I don't think this could have been a better way to come home. I think no matter what happens, this is so much more rewarding than winning could ever be."

But her Coachella Valley fans think otherwise: Someone in the crowd called back, "You're gonna win!"

The "American Idol" finale, during which footage from Carter’s visit to her native Coachella Valley will be shown, will air live at 5 p.m. PST Sunday on ABC. It will also be available to stream on Hulu starting Monday.

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 'American Idol' finalist Abi Carter visits her former school