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You are wrong about Chris. He is a genuinely good human being.

ADOPTION TODAY MAGAZINE
August/September 2006

Adoptive Father and Rock Star: Chris Daughtry
By Douglas Cogan

His wife Deanna has said people might think he is boring around the house. As an adoptive father, he has much in common with other fathers. He works hard for his family, attends PTA meetings, stops by his son’s school for lunch, and rides scooters down the street with his son and daughter.

As much as he has in common with other dads, however, Chris Daughtry’s story is far from common. After all, this rocker from small town McLeansville, N.C., is soon to become a major rock music star.

Music fans were introduced to the Daughtry family on the music talent search show, American Idol. Fans were immediately captivated with Chris and Deanna. With tears in her eyes, she told the story of how Chris, who is several years younger than her, married her and took on her two small children. Deanna told the audience that he was a great father and husband, and this was his chance to realize his dream.

Deanna nervously waited with a friend outside the audition room in Denver. Would America finally get to see her husband’s talent, the talent that was well-known to a growing fan base in Guilford County? Guilford County was far from Hollywood, and McLeansville is hardly the typical venue where agents search for talent. Chris needed a shot to get noticed.

With his audition completed, Chris walked out the door. He was not holding the yellow paper, which signified the ticket to Hollywood and moving on in the competition. When he suddenly took off his cowboy hat and showed the yellow paper he had hidden, Deanna screamed for joy, broke down, and embraced her husband. The man whom she loved so much was going to get his shot. Others who were also auditioning gave them a big round of applause. One shouted out, “Way to go, Chris!” Indeed, that was the day music fans fell in love with the head-shaved rocker, Christopher Adam Daughtry.

As the television journey continued, Chris rocked the audience with amazing performances. When he performed Hemorrhage, by the rock band Fuel, judge Randy Jackson told him that the song could be on the charts by him right now. He was that good. Many people believed that Chris was the best performer on Idol and would be the winner.

It was not to be. Fans, the judges, and even fellow performers were shocked when the voting audience eliminated Chris from being in the final three. Petitions were put on the Internet claiming telephone voting irregularities and demanding a recount. But Chris would be okay. He had been noticed by a worldwide audience. Looking at it philosophically, he commented that, “When one door shuts, another opens.”

That door was opened by American Idol. Chris dreamed of becoming a rock performer since he was 16 and attended a concert by Live, still his favorite band. Since appearing on American Idol, lead singer, Ed Kowalzcyk, has become a friend and mentor. Chris joined Live for a performance of the new hit song Mystery on the season finale of American Idol. The cameras showed Deanna cheering, and her lips could be seen saying, “That was awesome!” The dream was coming true, but it was not easy getting there.

To compete on American Idol, Chris took a leave from his job as an automotive service adviser, Deanna had to work an extra job to make ends meet. Because money was tight, Deanna was only able to travel to Hollywood a couple of times to watch her husband perform. Also, during the competition she had a hysterectomy, but she insisted Chris needed to stay in Hollywood and pursue the dream, rather than be at home with her during the surgery.

It was definitely a long way from where they had first met at a birthday party and sensed an attraction to each other. Chris told Deanna that he was in a rock band and invited her to watch them play. When he finally met her children, Hannah and Griffin, Chris told her that he loved them already because, “They are little ‘yous’.” Six months after they met, Deanna walked down the aisle and became his wife.

Tracey Adams has been a friend of Deanna’s for several years. She attended the wedding and told of a story that is a genuine Kleenex moment. Chris took Hannah and Griffin aside, told them how much he loved them, and promised that he would always be there for them. At 20 years old, Chris was sage beyond his years.

When Griffin was 4 years old, his biological father died. Chris immediately told Deanna that he wanted to adopt Griffin. A short time later, he was officially an adoptive father.

Fast forward several years and it was Chris’ turn to give back to other adoptive families. The entire McLeansville homecoming weekend in early June was all about children. There was a parade, Chris performed for them, watched them perform a skit for him, and told a group of kids under a tent to never give up on their dreams. Also, “do your homework.”

All proceeds from the concert in Greensboro, featuring his band Absent Element, went to benefit the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina. Adoptive families sat up front in a special section. Tommy Lineberry, Special Events Director for the Greensboro CHSNC, was overwhelmed with the generosity — Chris wanted to do all this for the children without being asked. There are more than 3,000 North Carolina children who have been cleared for adoption. Chris told reporters at his press conference that he just couldn’t relate to what some kids have to endure. “Every child,” he said, “deserves what I had growing up – a loving home.”

Not only did the children benefit, but so did Chris with a true southern welcome home party. Little McLeansville, a town with one shopping center and no gas stations, wanted to give Chris a proper welcome home. Retired ladies worked in the Chris Daughtry storefront, selling tee shirts and raising funds to help the family. Everyone helped with signs and yellow bows.

The McLeansville homecoming was put together in record time by the Friends of Chris Daughtry, under the leadership of next door neighbor, Tammy Sharpe Lowdermilk . Tammy’s daughter Abigail was thrilled when Chris took the time to call her from Hollywood to congratulate her for making it through the first round of the local Triad Idol competition. “It made me feel really good,” she beamed.

Chris and Deanna’s dedication was also noticed by actress Maureen Van Zandt and husband Steven Van Zandt, both of The Sopranos fame. The couple was so impressed with his journey, his musical talent, and his humanity that they sent loads of gifts to the family. But beyond that, they did something more important. They offered their names and fundraising help for charity to assist Chris in helping children. As Maureen stated, “If you can’t use your celebrity for good, it is of little value.”

Those suspicious of Hollywood image making still have questions. “Is Chris really as he is portrayed or is he a manufactured image invented for ratings? Is he really the great father, humble young man, and genuinely good human being we think we see?” After meeting him in person and speaking with friends, family, acquaintances, local reporters, a PTA president, a school principal, a law enforcement official, the head of an adoption agency, and many others, the answer is clear. Yes, he is. Chris Daughtry is the real deal.

The Daughtrys plan to stay in Guilford Country because, as Chris commented, “L.A. ain’t home.” They are preparing their children for how sudden fame will affect their lives.

Chris thanks God for his talent and recognizes Deanna as his inspiration. He has an enormous opportunity to continue helping children. There is no doubt by those who know him best that he will follow that path. After all, this is the humble rocker who lists teaching his son to ride a bike as his greatest accomplishment.

Douglas Cogan is a freelance writer, a former teacher, and the father of two wonderful grown children.