American heroes get a glimpse of 'American Idol' during song
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 17, 2015 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Goldsboro native and former "American Idol" contestant Majesty Rose salutes before taking a ride in an F-15E Strike Eagle Friday.
Signaling the start of the aerial performances at Wings Over Wayne on Saturday morning, she was introduced simply over the loudspeaker.
"The next voice you hear will be that of hometown hero Majesty Rose."
No "American Idol" reference.
No bells and whistles frills.
Just the sound of her melodious a cappella rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," aesthetically timed to the backdrop of a U.S. Army Black Dagger parachuting from the sky -- a large American flag flapping below him.
Her pitch perfect styling wrapped up as a four-ship fly-by soared overhead to kick off the air show at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
The wonderful thing, for those who missed it, is that she will perform the national anthem again today, at 10:30 a.m., on the flight line.
And for die-hard fans who have followed her since she represented Goldsboro on the TV show in 2014, she has been invited to give a concert at the air show this afternoon at 5 p.m.
She also promises a "merch table" with various Majesty Rose items for sale.
To hear her talk, the past few days have been especially "crazy."
Starting with the chance to fly in an F-15E on Friday.
The "pilot for a day" experience was everything she imagined, she said afterward.
"I was really nervous and really excited. We had to go through all this training on base, about safety precautions," she said. "I think that made me kind of nervous. I was trying to get all the information in my head really fast."
Her pilot's call sign was "Nasty," she said, and the other person chosen to fly at the same time, the Airman of the Year whose last name she recalled was Walker, rode with a pilot named "Clean."
"So we flew with 'Nasty' and 'Clean,'" she giggled. "We actually flew in formation together.
"We got up to 5 G's (the acceleration measurement). It only goes up to 9 G's."
In the hour-long flight around the coast near Kitty Hawk -- including getting to steer the plane solo briefly -- she said she managed to stave off the nausea.
"I had to really prepare myself. They gave me a lot of pointers," she said. "I was just trying to follow 'Nasty,' everything he said to do. But I hear that 95 percent of the people, the first time they fly, they get sick. I didn't get sick.
"So I think I'm a pilot now."
She was given a jumpsuit with her name embroidered on it and then received an unexpected award at the end -- a photo of the F-15E signed by all the pilots.
"I'm really proud of myself. I feel really honored that they chose me (to fly)," she said. "Thanks to Lt. Col. James Ladd. He's the one who asked me to do it."
She doesn't consider herself a "hometown hero," she said, and admitted that while flattering, she was a bit surprised by such an introduction.
"It's weird because they called me hero and I'm like, look at all these guys who fight, who really traveled far (and were deployed), they're the heroes," she said.
As for singing before the hometown crowd amid a parachuter and booming planes overhead, she managed to "take it all in," she said.
"I was trying to get in the moment," she said. "It's hard to sing and keep my composure the whole time because I do feel like this is such an honor -- you want to cry and scream and you have to sing.
"I'm really happy about the time up there. I think it went well."
The "American Idol" alum, who came in ninth place during Season 13, also commented about the official announcement this past week that next season, Season 15, will be the show's last.
"It wasn't so surprising. We already started hearing a lot of rumors that there were only two years left (last year)," she said, admitting that she was thankful for the experience she gained and being forever part of "the Idol family."
She was also pleased that another secret could be made public, her concert this afternoon.
"I'm just excited to see everybody, all my fans again," she said. "Our show is going to be really good, really different than what Goldsboro's used to."