He started with earning a Greenhand Degree his first year in the Garrard County FFA Chapter. Now, after competing in Season 19 of American Idol, he’s preparing for a performance at the Grand Ole Opry.
Alex Miller, a 17-year-old from Lancaster, Kentucky, has an infectious personality and profound charisma that will light up any room. Even better, Miller captured America’s attention this year by performing traditional country music from artists like Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash in front of millions of viewers on American Idol.
As he continues to succeed in his musical and performing journey, he said his FFA involvement largely impacted his success.
“I owe a lot of my personality and my outgoingness to the FFA,” said Miller.
Although he was already outgoing, Miller said he didn’t know how to channel his personality for effective communication, especially in front of an audience, prior to being in FFA.
“[FFA] taught me how to communicate with people and it taught me how to get myself out there to people.”
Now, he serves as an FFA Regional Sentinel.
Miller’s FFA SAEs (Supervised Agricultural Experiences) include raising beef cattle and helping out on his grandad’s farm. So far, he’s received his Greenhand Degree and his Chapter Degree, and he’s working on his State Degree.
He said growing up in agriculture has taught him the value of hard work.
“It’s not the easiest life,” he said. “But it’s definitely one that will teach you a lot.”
Even though he was eliminated during the “Showstopper” round on Idol, he’ll soon be reaching another milestone: performing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, which he said is even better than competing on Idol.
Luke Bryan, who serves as a judge on American Idol, extended an invitation to Miller after his run on the show, following a promise he made during his audition.
For now, he’s focused on graduating high school so that he can pursue music after graduation.
And as a Kentuckian, he left this message for Nebraskans in agriculture.
“Be glad y’all have flat land, because we got so many hills out here, we can’t do anything with them.”
Learn more about Miller and his music on his website.
