Idol | Top Three Week of American Idol Season 8 (2009): Kris Allen Goes Home and Slays Heartless

We've reached two of the best episodes in American Idol history in our lookback at Kris Allen's 2009. It's top three week and Kris, Adam Lambert and Danny Gokey visit their hometowns and duke it out for the chance to be a finalist for the title of American Idol 2009. Let's get right to it, because this post is going to be JAMPACKED with videos and mp3s!

2009 Lookback | Happy Kris Allen Day

On this date in 2009, Kris Allen made his hometown visit to Conway, AR as part of top three week on American Idol and the day became known as "Kris Allen Day."

A jam-packed post about top three week is coming your way in a few days, but it was so jam-packed, I decided to make a special 2009 lookback post at the hometown visit! Read on for videos, photos and mp3s...

Private | Kris Allen returns to Arkansas for charity benefit and convention appearances

Photo by KATVAlyson

Kris returned to Arkansas this past weekend and played a gig on April 13 to benefit Alzheimer's Arkansas, hosted by Glen Campbell's widow. He reportedly sang Wichita Lineman with his father. Updated with video from Kim Allen! That's not Wichita Lineman though. Neil sounds great! The song is called Gentle on My Mind.

On April 17, he played a private gig for the Arkansas Bankers Association conventions. We do have a little video.

See what we do have for both events after the jump.

Christmas Tour 2018: Kris Allen comes home to Little Rock for the holiday on December 7

Ron Robinson Theatre

Little Rock, AR

December 7, 2018

Doors 6:00 PM CST

Tickets and information

Kris Allen returns to his home state with his Christmas show! He appeared on KARK-TV to promote it the day after Thanksgiving. 

Updated December 9, 2018: Hear the hometown show was received enthusiastically. Thank you to @elmo3907 for sharing your videos with us! After the break. Also hear that Kris played a private Christmas party gig for a local hospital while in town.

Charity Event: February 17, 2018: We AR One, Little Rock, Arkansas

February 17, 2018

Clinton Presidential Center

Little Rock, AR

6 - 10 PM Central time

Kris will perform this Saturday, February 17, 2018, at an annual fundraiser held in Little Rock for ICM, Inc., a nonprofit which supports individuals with disabilities. Event information here and on the group's Facebook page.

Updated 2/19/18: Listening to the livestreams, Kris sounds like he's in great voice and the band is as tight as ever. Set list and videos after the break. Thank you to papa Allen and Debbi for the streams!

Somethin' About Christmas Tour: December 16, 2017: Little Rock, Arkansas

CALS Ron Robinson Theater
Little Rock AR
December 16, 2017

Opening Act: Marie Miller

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After a week off, the tour hits the road for one last week in the south, starting with Kris' original home base in Arkansas.

Updated 12/23/17: I've got some promo linked (thanks to @ISBinLA for finding it!) and a few pictures and mini-IG vand Facebook videos, plus most exciting for me, Kris' manager actually put a picture of the set list, sadly on IG stories, but it's a picture! Plus now Arkansas has finally earned #gavegoodlist thanks to Amanda (Elmo)'s efforts! Her videos are now embedded inside the post.

Charity Event: June 18, 2016: Union Rescue Mission Presents: Night on the Streets 2016, Little Rock, Arkansas

Union Rescue Mission Presents: Night on the Streets 2016 "Multicultural"

June 18, 2016

War Memorial Stadium

Little Rock, AR

Doors 4 PM CDT
Show 6:30 PM CDT

Other Acts: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Mary Mary, Tamela Mann and Amber Bullock

All ages

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Show and List Preview:
This charity telethon event benefits the Union Rescue Mission of Little Rock, a faith-based charity in Little Rock, Arkansas that seeks to help the homeless, addicted and disadvantaged rebuild their lives. Although it says it's a telethon, I'm not finding any livestream or TV information; it sounds more like a charity concert. According to this news story, "Every act will perform live with their band and after 45 minutes of the performance the show will stop and the audience will have the opportunity to participate in the telethon event by getting on their phones and raise funds for the URM."

Updated: Some pre-event stories after the break. Could not find any information or media regarding Kris' part in this show but it turns out there was a very good reason for this:

UPDATED 06/20/2016

Concert: May 22, 2015: Verizon Riverfest, Little Rock, Arkansas

Photo via arkriverfest on IG

Festival

May 22, 2015

Miller Lite/AFCU Stage

downtown Little Rock, AR

8-9 PM CDT

Also performing: Sheryl Crow and Just Sayin'

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Show and List Preview:
This is a big annual festival that Arkansas fans have been begging to book Kris for years, seeing as how he's their hometown boy and all. Finally, the festival has booked him!

Our twitter list to follow the event included many AR fans, who tweeted lots of pic! And it seems that Kris played the same stage he played for his Little Rock Idol Homecoming, and it touched him greatly.

Updated with set list, videos and media after the break...
Updated 6/24/2015

Christmas Show: December 20, 2014: South on Main, Little Rock, AR

Christmas Show

December 20, 2014

South on Main

Little Rock, AR

8:00 PM

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Show and List Preview:
Kris is doing a holiday concert at a venue in Little Rock, Arkansas tonight. The list is small but the concert is only $10; Hope to add more names as the event gets closer.

Media after the break...

Event: March 22, 2014: Mary & Friends: An Oxford American Fundraiser

Mary & Friends

Fundraiser for Oxford American Literary Project

March 22, 2014

South and Main

Little Rock, AR

6:00 - 9:00 PM CDT

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Event and List Preview:
This event is hosted by Kris' songwriting pal, actress Mary Steenburgen and is a fundraiser sponsored by Oxford American to benefit its literacy charity. With "spirited concoctions," "butlered bites," and music by Kris, sounds like a fun event for a good cause! As far as the list goes, we'll see who shows up. It's Arkansas, y'know.

Pre-Show/Event Press and Publicity:

• Event webpage
• Event Facebook page
• Article: ArkansasMatters.com

Set List: 

Partial; order uncertain

1. Monster (jazzy version) [Instagram]
2. In Time [Instagram]
3. Love in a Small Town (with Mary Steenburgen) - PREMIERE  [Instagram] [Instagram]

After the Event:

• Theba Lolley's photo album
• Pink Elephant blog post
• THV11's photo album
• Oxford American's photo album

Event: The Inaugural New Year's Eve BigBall Dropping Celebration 2014, Little Rock, AR, December 31, 2013

Photo by @NaturalStateofMusic.com

The Inaugural New Year's Eve Big Ball Dropping Celebration 2014

Northshore River Wall

Little Rock, AR

7 PM CST

Also appearing: Bow Wow, Cody Belew and others

Show Preview:

Kris is part of the entertainment lined up for Little Rock's first ever "New Year's Eve Big Ball Dropping Celebration." The line-up consists of various Arkansas entertainers and is headlined by Kris, hosted by rapper and BET Host Bow Wow, and will also feature The Voice season 3 contestant Cody Belew. According to this tweet, Kris will have a backing band and will perform four songs. I don't have any information at this time about the time Kris will be on stage, but will update this post if we get some.

Pre-Event Press and Publicity:

• Arkansas Times
• KARK News Video
• Fox16 story | Video | Story | Video
• THV11 Story
• River Valley Leader
• Facebook Page for Event
• Show Producer's Blog Post

The Ticket:

Photo by @RustiMajere

Soundcheck:

Photo by @BigDaddySays

  

Photo by Aaron Nolan, Fox16 News

Oh - and - Happy New Year! May 2014 bring us many Kris Allen Lists and live performances (plus a new album to boot)!!
--KAL

The Show:

Photo by @PStiles

Photo by @PStiles

Photo by TreDayAllDayEveryday

Set List: (Order Uncertain)

• Better With You [FoxNews16 Video]
• Man in the Mirror (Cover - Michael Jackson) 
• Come Together (Cover - The Beatles)
• Live Like We're Dying

List: April 11, 2013: Central Arkansas Christian School Fundraiser, Little Rock, AR

Photo by Jordan Collier

An Evening at CAC (Central Arkansas Christian)

Little Rock, AR

8 pm CDT

Kris does a private school fundraising gig tonight in Little Rock, AR. Although it is a "private gig," tickets (generously priced as it was for charity) were available to the general public. Kris will perform an acoustic show and also do "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers with the school's choir!

As we've seen from the past, Kris and high schools are always fun. We get epic flaily tweets from the kids (if not a full set list or videos right away).

Updated: This high school was no exception and brought us great info! Here's the set list post with video links! Don't miss Lean on Me with the HS choir.

Concert: January 26, 2013: The Rev Room, Little Rock, AR

The Rev Room

Little Rock, AR

January 26, 2013

8:30 pm CST

Jillette Johnson opening

Show Preview: 

Kris returns home to Little Rock, AR for a near-hometown show. Hopefully, after all he's been through, the town will come through for him with a sold-out and supportive audience.

We do have quite a few Arkansas regulars on our list! And one of our fandom's best photographers will be there.


The Show!





Full Band - Plugged In (photos by @cyf1 and @pgreen8869)

Set List:

1. Out Alive [Video - partial]
2. Better With You 
3. Alright With Me [Video]
4. Loves Me Not (with Jillette Johnson)
5. Faith/We Are Young/Some Nights (Cover - George Michael/fun. mash-up) [Video] [Video - partial]
6. Red Guitar
7. Request: Cry Me a River (Cover - Justin Timberlake) - PREMIERE [Video] [Video] [Video] [Video] [Video] [Video] [Video - partial] [mp3]
8. Paul Simon
9. Leave You Alone [Video - partial]
10. Monster
11. Rooftops [Video] [Video]
12. Live Like We're Dying
13. The River (Cover - Garth Brooks) [Video] [Video] [Video]
14. Heartless/Gangsta's Paradise (Cover - Kanye West/Coolio mash-up)
15. Seven Nation Army (Cover - The White Stripes)
16. Shut That Door [Video]

Also: Happy Birthday

Opening Act: Jillette Johnson

Banter videos: [WorldVision speech]

Related Links:

• YouTube playlist: SlaptyBack34
• Video: Kris Allen on AR TV
• Kris Allen Media