'Idol' finalist visits alma mater

Back before she was an "American Idol" finalist, Melinda Doolittle was a Belmont University mascot. She wore a hot, sweaty bear costume and jumped around in the name of school spirit.

The tables were turned on Doolittle in a big way on Friday when she returned to her alma mater to film a segment for the hit show.

Hundreds waved signs and shouted encouragement to her: "We love you, Melinda." "You're going to win, Melinda." "Doolittle's Da Bomb." "Melinda for President."

The school even named a street after her, unveiling a black iron post with a blue sign that read: "Melinda Doolittle Way."

Doolittle, who arrived waving from the back of a white convertible Mustang, looked _ all too characteristically, as "Idol" judge Simon Cowell has scolded her _ surprised and overwhelmed.

"If I talk too much I'll cry," she said. "You have no idea how much this means to me. ... This is probably one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced."

The events were filmed for the show and scheduled to be broadcast next week.

Doolittle said she was glad to be home, even if just for an afternoon. "I just got some sweet tea, so I'm happy. Now I need some candied yams and greens and I'll be great."

Doolittle, a professional backup singer in Nashville before she became an "Idol" contestant, is one of three finalists. She has a rich, powerful voice that she put to work on two songs Friday. But even stars have off moments, and Doolittle's came during her first number when her microphone kept cutting off. The problem was corrected, and she recovered nicely for the second song.

Ironically, her mother, Marguerite Doolittle, said her daughter was tone deaf until about the sixth grade. She couldn't carry a tune to save her life.

"God really dropped a voice into her in the seventh grade," her mother said. "It's been so exciting watching this, because it was not there before. It's like seeing a miracle, really."

Doolittle, 29, who graduated from Belmont with a music degree in 1999, also has a strong spiritual side. She thanked God for her success and observed, "You can dream so big and God can take it so much farther than you ever thought."

The crowd sure believed in her. Everyone was just certain she'd prevail over rivals Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis.

"She's very talented, and she's also very sweet and personable," said Susan Belsante of Charlotte, N.C.

Belsante has a daughter at Belmont and a son graduating from nearby Vanderbilt University. She felt a little guilty about it, but she skipped the commencement speech at her son's graduation so she could come cheer Doolittle.

"I went `Let's see,'" she said, holding up both hands like a scale, "commencement speech or Melinda Doolittle.'

"I had to go with Melinda Doolittle."