Whoa, what's this?

Could this be the first "ode to Bucky" in a major paper? We loved this funny, affectionate tribute from the Philadelphia Inquirer:

In recent weeks, Bucky Covington has become a giant killer, the George Mason of American Idol. [...]

That's right, you non-believers who put not-so-young Bucky Covington (28, been around his share of bar bands) at loser odds and predict his demise week after week.

Look, America knows a cutie singing cowboy dude when they see one and is smart enough to keep him around some.

(Be sure to check out the whole essay--it's guaranteed to raise a smile. I hope Ms. Rosenberg will join our redialing ranks tonight...)

There's also an update from the Richmond County Daily Journal. Yep, we're in for a smooth, slow ballad this evening:

It’s ladies night for Bucky Covington fans.

The 28-year-old Rockingham “American Idol” star is expected to do a ballad during tonight’s country music-themed "American Idol" elimination round.

"I think he’s gonna slow it down a bit," twin brother Rocky said Monday evening. "He’s singing it great."

"I feel good about it," Bucky said in a phone interview late Monday from Hollywood, though he added he wasn’t "too positive that I should have slowed it down, but that’s what a lot of the fans have been asking for."

Hey, anyone who's heard "I Found the One" knows how lovely Bucky's balladeering can be. (And if you haven't heard it, check out Bucky Covington Online for links to his original songs--and prepare to be impressed.)

Finally, we've decided that even the tough-to-please Idol Chatter blogger at USA Today might be slowly (quite slowly) coming around. His recent, very timely column on the prospects of the current Idols' future CDs is worth a look--as are some of the interesting reader comments posted beneath it.

More later--stay tuned!