Kamloops' Cameron Whitcomb will perform this Sunday, April 3 at 8 p.m. PT on ABC (Image Credit: American Idol)

By Chad Klassen

AMERICAN IDOL

Kamloops singer to perform in Hollywood Sunday, balancing American Idol with pipeline work

Apr 1, 2022 | 9:40 AM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops singer Cameron Whitcomb performs in Hollywood on Sunday — his first performance in front of a real audience — and it just happens to be on national TV.

Whitcomb advanced in the American Idol competition after doing enough to impress the judges in his first audition two weeks ago.

It wasn’t the most graceful entrance as he nervously introduced himself — although with a pretty cool backflip — but when Whitcomb started to sing, it changed everything.

Whitcomb’s smooth voice convinced judges Katy Perry and Luke Bryan to give the 18-year-old from Kamloops a shot. It has people in the city following his progress on the show.

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“It was October when I went and did the audition in Texas and it’s really become real. It’s become a real thing,” said Whitcomb. “People in Kamloops are coming up to me saying, ‘Hi, I know you. You’re that American Idol guy.'”

He’s still new to performing, but says he’s worked his local vocal coach Sabrina Weeks to get more comfortable on stage.

“She’s been amazing. As soon as I got back from Texas, I went directly to her and been hanging out with her this entire time. I’m still taking vocal lessons,” he said. “[I have] tons more [confidence]. Lots more. But it’s always nerve-racking, regardless. It’s either you make it or don’t. It’s a thing man. You’ll never ever be able to shake that adrenaline, but just use it to work for you.”

Whitcomb is balancing the competition with a full-time job, working construction on the TransMountain pipeline expansion, which involves 80 hours some weeks. He says he just finds time after an exhausting work day to get better.

“Both things are important to me. I still need to eat. I work really hard, but I make time for music,” he said. “I’ll get home and the last thing I want to do is do anything, but I’ll do vocal warm-ups, talk to Sabrina, go see Sabrina in the evenings. Just make time for it. You’ve got to have that motivation.”

Now that he has a taste of performing and is seeing some success, it’s where Whitcomb wants to take his life.

“After watching Katy’s eyes flash open, that was the greatest thing in the world, and if I can chase that for the rest of my life absolutely. I’d love to entertain,” said Whitcomb. “As much as I love to be up to my chest in mud and ice for 12 hours a day just killing myself, I’d much rather entertain.”

Sunday’s American Idol show airs at 8 p.m. Pacific Time on ABC.