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You knew her when ...
By BRIAN BINGAMAN, Staff Writer 10/03/2008

Not all "American Idol" contestants from yesteryear are disposable. Some get recycled.

"American Idol Rewind," a syndicated edition of "Idol" airing on TV Guide Network, is bringing back the auditions from the singing show's third season from 2004 that feature Lindsey Kulp of Towamencin (referred to as "Lansdale" on the program).

Air time is 8 tonight, 6 p.m. Saturday, and 5 and 9 p.m. Sunday.

Twelve-thousand showed up to the New York auditions; 117 went to Hollywood.

Kulp's bubbly personality, coupled with her singing talent, carried her into the top 57 finalists that season.


Along the way, she became friends with top five finalist George Huff and future "Dreamgirls" star Jennifer Hudson.

Fantasia Barrino won that year, in case you forgot.

"I was in Hollywood eight days. Every day was more and more intense. I was sick. It was so physically draining. You had to be prepared every day for anything and everything," Kulp recalled

When told by an "Idol" producer that her audition was being re-aired because it was one of the more memorable ones, "she had to wait five minutes for me to stop giggling," she said.

A 2001 grad of Lansdale Catholic, Kulp, 25, recently completed a bachelor's degree in business administration at Gwynedd-Mercy College — she was taking courses during her "American Idol" run — is still singing, and is working part-time in the Hatfield office of Independent Research Group, a firm that investigates insurance fraud.

She goes by the name Lindsey McKay these days because, she said, Simon Cowell suggested she get a stage name.

"He said, and I quote him, that (the name) didn't sound like a star," Kulp said.

Makes sense. How else would she have come up with a catchy fan club name like the "McKaymates"?

Since "Idol," Kulp has written songs with her manager and mother, Joyce Kulp — in the music biz world she goes by "JKay" — and is recording a pop country album/demo of original songs with local music maven Brett Kull (Echolyn, Grey Eye Glances).

The track "Believe in Me" is posted on her MySpace page, MySpace.com - Lindsey Kulp McKay - LANSDALE, Pennsylvania - Country / Pop / R&B - www.myspace.com/lindseymckaymusic.

Still working to get her name out there, in 2006, Kulp won the grand prize in a talent search hosted by Doylestown native and "Idol" season one runner up Justin Guarini at the Trump Marina Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.

Last year, Kulp submitted a video for a "Dreamgirls Live the Dream Contest." Her rendition of "Listen," which was sung by Beyonce in the movie, earned her a runner-up prize package that included an iPod and a set of "Dreamgirls" collectors edition merchandise.

Nominated by 92.5-FM WXTU in Philadelphia, Kulp entered the Colgate Country Showdown.

In September she was declared the best new country talent in Pennsylvania. She moves on to the northeast regional round of the talent search Oct. 25 in Marietta, Ohio. The top five Colgate Country Showdown finalists have a date with national TV.

The timing of the "Idol" reprise certainly can't hurt.

"It was so surreal in the first place. Just going through the process, I couldn't believe I was on ("American Idol")," she said.

Reporter online.com - Replay for local 'Idol' contestant