Lauren Alaina Talks Surprising Her High School Coach With Home Makeover

by Jessica Nicholson

8/6/2021

In late 2010 Lauren Alaina–then a teen brimming with desires of a profession in music–auditioned for American Idol. She made it by means of spherical after spherical, impressing the judges–and simply as importantly, Idol viewers–together with her hovering vocals and charismatic character. She finally positioned second within the competitors, and went on to earn a label deal. Her voice, infectious allure and heartfelt songwriting would earn Alaina nation radio hits together with “Street Much less Traveled” and “What Ifs,” alongside Kane Brown. Her expertise and drive have additionally been evident on her EPs together with 2015’s Lauren Alaina, her two 2020 releases Getting Good and Getting Over Him, and her full-length tasks together with Wildflower (2011), Street Much less Traveled (2017) and her upcoming third full-length venture, Sitting Fairly On Prime of the World, slated for Sept. 3.

However throughout her time competing on Idol, Alaina was surrounded by the assist of not solely her household, however notably, one very particular instructor, Susan Bradley.

“Susan Bradley is an angel on earth, actually,” Alaina tells CMT of her former cheerleading coach and tutor, whom Alaina says saved her grounded throughout her time competing on Idol.

“I met Susan my freshman yr of highschool, which for a younger lady, that’s a really vital time,” Alaina tells CMT. “I wasn’t the most effective cheerleader. I truthfully had the least expertise, I feel, on the entire group. She simply actually pushed me to be the most effective model of myself. Then after I went on American Idol, she really got here on the market and stayed with me at one level, so my mother may come house for my brother’s commencement. Then, after American Idol, I signed my report deal at 16 years outdated and I used to be a touring artist at 16. Once I would come house, she would tutor me on prime of her regular schedule, to assist me graduate highschool. She’s one of many causes I’ve a highschool diploma.”

On Friday, Aug. 6, music followers will get an inside take a look at a technique Alaina has helped present gratitude to Bradley for her ongoing love and assist, when Alaina and Bradley are featured on Secret Superstar Renovation, as Alaina helps renovate Bradley’s Georgia house. The episode airs Friday, Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. ET on the CBS Tv Community, and will likely be accessible for streaming stay and on demand by way of the CBS app and Paramount+.

“Many of the stuff I do on TV, it’s about me, however I really like this a lot as a result of it’s about her,” Alaina tells CMT. “I’m so completely happy to have the ability to use my platform to provide again to somebody who closely influenced the particular person I’m immediately. So to provide her a thanks for that was so cool, and that’s one of many causes I feel Secret Superstar Renovation is such a cool present.”

Alaina chatted with CMT about shocking Bradley, and concerning the singer’s work through the three-week renovation and filming course of.

CMT: How did this Secret Superstar Renovation alternative come about, and the way did you resolve on Susan because the particular person you wished to honor?
Alaina: what’s so loopy about selecting her? They approached my administration group first and once they introduced the chance to Trisha, my supervisor–earlier than Trisha ever even talked to me about if I wished to do the present or something–she informed them, ‘I’m positive Lauren’s going to wish to do that present, and I really feel fairly assured she’ll choose her cheerleading coach.’ Then she known as me and naturally, I mentioned I wished to do it and I mentioned, ‘We have now to select Susan.’ And Trisha mentioned, ‘Properly, I’m glad you mentioned that as a result of I already informed them that might most likely be who you’d choose.’”

CMT: In the course of the episode, you labored with the present’s Nischelle Turner, Sabrina Soto and Jason Cameron to fully renovate the within of Susan’s house, from taking out loos and revamping residing rooms, and you’re very hands-on with it. Have you ever been concerned with any house renovations of your individual earlier than?
Alaina: I flipped my first home, so I lived in building for about two years. But in addition my uncle Junior builds houses and lays concrete and does masonry. So I’m not afraid of it. I’ve grown up in an atmosphere of individuals demolishing houses and renovating…I feel they had been all shocked after I acquired a maintain of that sledgehammer. I actually pulled the cupboards out of that rest room.

CMT: How did you assist with a few of the design selections?
Alaina: It was fairly collaborative. That they had a number of concepts for a way they wished to renovate it. However, like, Sabrina would ask me, ‘Does this appear like one thing she would love?’ or ‘What colours does she like?’ It was collaborative, however they had been driving it, undoubtedly.

CMT: What do you recall about that second when Susan and her husband had been lastly in a position to see their renovated house?
Alaina: I used to be overwhelmed with nervousness till she noticed it, as a result of it’s a very scary factor to renovate another person’s house. And I simply wished her to like it a lot, however I had a fairly good feeling she was going to. I imply, it’s unbelievable. After which when she noticed it and simply to see her overwhelming gratitude, it was an excellent day. That reveal day was an excellent day. I’d say, in case you’re going to look at the present, you want some have some tissues.

CMT: Have you ever seen the completed episode?
Alaina: I’ve not seen it, no, however I lived it, so I do know it’s an actual tear jerker.

CMT: What was one in every of your favourite moments from engaged on the renovation?
Alaina: I used to be fairly completely happy to see that blue bathtub go bye-bye. However I feel the most effective half for me was her out of doors area, her again porch, as a result of I can simply see her on the market entertaining her grandchildren and her kids and her household. She already had a screened-in again porch, however it was simply very fundamental. So we vaulted the ceiling as much as the roof line. So it’s big and open now. We put a swinging mattress in there, we acquired all new furnishings, we painted it, we put a fire on the market. I imply, we did all types of stuff.

CMT: Along with this episode, you additionally simply introduced your new album, Sitting Fairly On Prime of the World, will launch Sept. 3. What are you most enthusiastic about with this new album?
Alaina: I feel for me, this album represents very well who I’m now. Street Much less Traveled was a coming-of-age album, changing into a lady, rising into this particular person. This album is about being her and overcoming all of the obstacles alongside the way in which. I feel it’s the most effective collection of music I’ve ever made. I can’t look forward to individuals to listen to my story, for me to share the previous few years with them.

CMT: You simply launched “It Was Me,” which you co-wrote with Hillary Lindsey. It looks like a really susceptible music for you.
Alaina: I at all times write from a spot of vulnerability. I’ve written about my dad and mom’ divorce, I’ve written concerning the lack of my stepdad, I’ve written about breakups. I wrote lots concerning the loud relationship that I had the place the particular person wasn’t devoted, and I wrote numerous songs about the way it affected me.

However I by no means actually wrote a music about my old flame and the way I used to be the one to finally stroll away. Although we each knew it was the appropriate factor, I didn’t actually know learn how to write a music for him. This music is that for me. I informed Hillary the concept concerning the line, ‘It wasn’t you I didn’t love, it was me.’ It’s my approach of claiming, “I wasn’t an grownup. I didn’t love myself. I didn’t know myself. And it wasn’t you, it was me.” It’s my favourite music I’ve ever written, palms down, no comparability.