After an incredible day of interviews, parades, catching up with family and just generally being hounded by “American Idol’s” camera crews on Saturday, Joshua Ledet made his stunning entrance into Burton Coliseum for his homecoming concert.  Neither his entrance  nor singing disappointed.  It was a fitting end to an amazing day.

The doors opened at 4 p.m., and the crowd was treated to opening performances by Josh’s Zydeco-slinging cousins — first Brandon Ledet and then Terrance Simien.  And while the crowd was having a good time, they started getting restless at about 7 p.m.  It wasn’t that they weren’t enjoying Simien, but by that time they wanted some Josh.

Simien kept getting the crowd to chant, “JOSH, JOSH, JOSH,” which led the crowd to believe that the headliner was indeed about to hit the stage.  But apparently, Josh (or the “Idol” crew) wasn’t ready, and so Simien would have to launch into another song.  By the third time this had happened, the crowd began to boo.

“When he gets here, he’ll get up on stage,” said Simien, trying to win over the crowd.

But it wasn’t much longer before Josh entered.  And when he did, it was all worth it.  The producers had rigged up a Mardi Gras float for Josh and his family to ride, and so the drove into Burton like Fat Tuesday royalty.

Joshua Ledet and La. Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne
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Once he stepped down off the float (more delays there, too), he rocked the house with five songs from his ‘Idol’ playlist, starting with “When a Man Loves a Woman,” and winding down to his rendition of James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”

He was also welcomed by Louisiana’s Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne and named as an official ambassador for the State of Louisiana.

It was an incredible experience for the Lake Area, and it cemented in everyone’s minds just why Joshua Ledet will be the next American Idol.

Check out Josh’s majestic entrance and his performance of The Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody.”

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