Malvern celebrates as resident brings 'Idol' title back to Arkansas

About 85 people attended a watch party Thursday at Larry's Pizza in Malvern to see resident Trent Harmon named the final winner of American Idol.
About 85 people attended a watch party Thursday at Larry's Pizza in Malvern to see resident Trent Harmon named the final winner of American Idol.

As thousands gathered Thursday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to see Trent Harmon crowned the final winner of American Idol, a much smaller crowd packed the local pizza parlor in Malvern, where the Mississippi native calls home.

"When they called out his name, there was a lot of screams and crying, and it was really great," said Caleb Mitchusson, president of the mayor's youth council. "We got what we wanted — he won."

Larry's Pizza has been the site of weekly watch parties since the University of Arkansas at Monticello graduate made the top 10 in February, but it wasn't the only local business to throw its support behind Harmon.

Storefronts throughout Malvern were draped with banners and covered with painted windows supporting the eventual champion. The downtown retail store, Guapos, provided Team Trent T-shirts for sale that many residents wore as they cheered him on at Larry's.

"It’s been pretty electric all week and throughout his journey," Mitchusson said. "We’ve been really excited, and we hoped for the best."

Harmon, who moved to Malvern last year to be closer to his girlfriend, beat La’Porsha Renae of McComb, Miss., to become the final winner of the show that has run for 15 seasons.

"I love you all so much. I worked hard, but you all did this," Harmon said in a video on Twitter after the finale. "All I did was show up and sing, and I appreciate you so much."

While city officials are not sure when Harmon will next be visiting Malvern, they plan on giving him the weekend to celebrate before contacting him early next week, Mitchusson said.

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