It seems hard to believe that American Idol premiered as a summer replacement show on Fox in June of 2002 as it quickly became THE powerhouse TV ratings winner from 2003 thru 2011. The series finale airs tonight at 8pm. Here are my Top 3 ALL TIME Idols from New England.

1. Ayla Brown (originally from Wrentham Mass.)

Her viral hit (and parody of her own song) "I Just Want To Free Tom Brady" took the world by storm last May for our sister station WOKQ. Back in 2006 she made it all the way to the Top 16 and I can remember being CRUSHED that she missed the touring Top 12 by ONE SPOT. I'm still angry at Simon Cowell over it.

I can't find her latest National Anthem performance from the NCAA Women's Final on YouTube (Tuesday night) so I have added this one from late last year at Gillette Stadium before a raucous Patriots crowd.

Ayla will be touring extensively this summer and playing at The Hampton Beach Seashell Stage on July 27th.

2. Scotty McCreery (his family is from New England and that counts)

The husky voiced 22 year old won it all five years ago on Season 10. Although he's as North Carolina as the day is long, he is a hardcore New England sports fan because of his family and I qualify that as officially being from New England.

He is currently on tour for his latest album AND his latest book entitled 'Go Big Or Go Home'

3. Alex Preston (Mont Vernon, NH)

The Granite State's pride and joy, this Season 13 finalist had a huge parade in honor of him at the University of New Hampshire back in 2014. His Top 3 finish is miles above any high water mark for a New Hampshire-ite Idol. His debut self titled CD was released just last July.