Smile a while...

A few stops to make you smile on this most suspenseful Wednesday:

The Queen theme night wasn't the biggest hit with most of the critics, but some reviewers had good things to say about Bucky's "Fat Bottomed Girls" performance. Palm Beach Post entertainment blogger Leslie Gray Streeter gives him some "love, love, love", and Reality TV News notes that he "seems to be peaking at exactly the right time in the competition."

And as always, the Richmond County Daily Journal has the inside scoop from Bucky's family:

“It was about like he was performing back here in Rockingham,” Rocky said. “He sure looked comfortable up there.”

Father Gene Covington added, “I think he was one of the best tonight without a doubt.”

Wife Crystal Covington watched Bucky’s performance live in Hollywood.

“I think he did well,” Crystal said in a phone interview. “He has a good chance of staying in the competition. I don’t think he’ll be going home (tonight).

“The (studio audience) was totally into it. All of the songs that have some rockin’ to them, the crowd, they’re going to get up and just go for it.”

Most importantly, Crystal said Bucky was pleased with the performance.

“He’s comfortable with tonight,” she said. “He’s always cool and laid back; even if he was worried to death, you wouldn’t know it.”

If you've enjoyed R. Shawn Lewis' chronicle of Bucky's Idol journey as much as we have, be sure to check out his beautiful photography--he captured yesterday's Bucky Bash in both words and pictures. It's a fun way to get a glimpse of the sweet and supportive hometown scene. (And for Rocky's fans, there are some great onstage snaps, too...)

More pre-show news later today--hang in there!