Madison's Erin Christine Prestileo Headed To Hollywood With American Idol XIII!

Madison's Erin Christine Prestileo is headed to the Hollywood round of American Idol XIII, according to a post on her Facebook page.

"Going to Hollywood baby!!!" she wrote above a picture of her holding a "Congratulations!" certificate. 

Many of her friends in Madison and surrounding towns looked on proudly as she performed Wednesday night. 

"Great things should happen to this wonderful person! Her voice is amazing! ...but her heart is the best!" Kathy Mannix DeBurra wrote on her Facebook page. Kathy said that she particularly admires Erin for the work she did to help a friend during a cancer fundraiser. Helping to raise more than $10,000, "she schlepped all over collecting raffle prizes and I'm just overwhelmed by my admiration for her! I absolutely loved her selfless hard work she did to help her friend." 

"She was great," on American Idol Wednesday night, wrote Lyda Potter, a Madison Patch reader, on the Madison Patch Facebook page. 

A Daniel Hand High School graduate, Erin Christine watched the first season of American Idol as a high school student, according to this article in The New London Day website. She is a 2004 graduate of DHHS, and studies at Berklee College of Music after that, according to the article in The Day. 

Recently, on a return trip home to Madison, she sang at Donahue's on New Year's Eve, according to her Facebook profile. She also performed at Rocky's Aqua in Clinton in July. 

According to the American Idol website, the judges are searching for "searching for those who have the potential to transform from an everyday singer into a successful recording artist and join the ranks of famous IDOL™ alumni, such as Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Scotty McCreery and Phillip Phillips."

There are a series of auditions planned in various cities over the next few weeks and then there will be the "Hollywood or Home" round. 

"Those who prove they have what it takes to move forward in the competition think they are headed to the “Hollywood” round. But, even before they unpack their bags, the contestants will learn they must compete in a surprise “Hollywood or Home” round, airing on Wednesday, Feb. 5 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). In this intense new round, the judges will decide if these hopefuls really are committed and talented enough to become the next singing superstar. Some of the singers will be asked to perform one more time for the judges – and for some, this will be their last performance. It's a tough decision for the judges, but even tougher for the contestants, because those who don't make the cut must head straight home." 

Best of luck to Erin Christine in the next round!