By Brian M. Boyce
TERRE HAUTE — It was standing-room-only Tuesday night in Buffalo Wild Wings on U.S. 41, but they weren’t just there for the food.
“This is awesome!” exclaimed Darrick Scott, Vigo County councilman and Terre Haute’s assistant fire chief, surrounded by a room full of the family and friends of local attorney Adam Cook and his wife Kendra.
Adam’s brother David competed, and by the judges’ comments excelled, in Tuesday’s round of “American Idol,” singing Mariah Carey’s “You’ll Always be my Baby.”
“I thought he did something really different, and it made me really proud as a songwriter to know that the song can stand on its own,” Carey said of Cook’s performance, noting how he offered “a male perspective” of her song. And while Adam’s and Kendra’s children were there with family and friends wearing “Uncle David Rocks” T-shirts, for most of the room the night was more than just a battle for a recording contract.
Adam Cook, 36, is undergoing chemotherapy for his second diagnosis of brain cancer, which has spread to his spine. A plan to travel to California to see his brother perform was grounded earlier in the week when Adam’s doctors told him he could not fly commercially in his condition.
But through a coalition of friends and local businesses, an all-expenses-paid flight on a chartered medical jet complete with flight medic and nurse came through, along with lodging at the hotel across the street from the studio where “American Idol” is produced.
“I’d say that’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience!” shouted Crossroads Communications’ Julie Henricks, pointing to Adam and Kendra seated behind the judges and right next to “Desperate Housewives” star Terri Hatcher and daughter.
B102.7 paid for the hotel where the Cooks and the paramedics stayed, and Henricks noted that Adam and David stayed up Monday night playing euchre, a game for which it’s hard to find players west of the Mississippi.
Financial support for the project also came from LifeLine Critical Care Partners and Clarian Health Partners, and their T-shirts covered the room full of “Idol” gazers.
The crowd screamed each of the many times the Cook family popped onto the screen, but even the judges had to acknowledge David’s singing abilities.
“That song could be on a movie soundtrack right now,” judge Paula Abdul told him.
And even Simon Cowell, whose snarky remarks have made the reality television series famous, said Cook’s voice ascended from the “karaoke hell” to which he’s become accustomed, and “it stood out by a mile.”
“It was unbelievable. He was the best one up there by far,” said Cook family friend Lori Hoffman.
The Cooks were unavailable for comment after the competition as they were off to a cast party with the rest of the “American Idol” crew, Scott said.
So David will go on in the weekly competition as Adam and Kendra return to Terre Haute sometime Thursday, but the memories of their trip will last a lot longer.
Brian Boyce can be reached at (812) 231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
