Glendale’s Idol hits home stage

Glendale’s own American Idol, Jordin Sparks, will return home next week for the first time since winning the Idol crown in May, and the super sweet 17-year-old is excited to perform for her hometown fans, friends and family.

“I’m excited because I’ve gone to other people’s hometowns so far and I can’t wait to see how full it will be,” said Sparks, who called in from a tour stop in Alabama Thursday. “I love to feed off the crowd. They are so loud and supportive and we don’t have to worry about being judged because they are there to see us. We can just go out and have fun.”

Sparks and her Idol friends will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Jobing.com Arena as part of the American Idols Live! concert extravaganza.

Sparks said the life of an Idol is busy. She is living with the four other female finalists on a tour bus and sleeps sporadically, but is having the time of her life.

She said they watch movies, or cuddle while watching the television show “Friends.”

Sparks said her life has flipped upside down since winning Idol.

“Life is so good right now,” she said. “I’m gonna put out the record I’ve always wanted to. I’m really excited to be living my dream.”

That dream has had its surreal moments, Sparks said. She sees herself in the magazines she used to subscribe to, she has photographers trailing her, she sits at awards shows in the same rows as her favorite artists, and she has some surprising fans.

“I was standing on the red carpet and I turned to my dad and said ‘Oh my gosh, it’s LL Cool J,’” Sparks said of the BET Awards in June. “Then he tapped me on the shoulder and said hi, and I kind of freaked out.”

The concert will feature a solo set by Sparks, who couldn’t say what she will perform.

Previous shows on the tour have had her belting out some of her signature Idol tunes, including the sassy Shirley Bassey stunner “I Who Have Nothing,” Pat Benatar’s searing rock anthem “Heartbreaker,” and Sparks’ first single “This is My Now.” Sparks also will perform various medleys with the rest of the top 10 finalists, including three songs she never sang on Idol.

The top 10, who get their own solos in the show, include mop top Chris Sligh, rocker Gina Glocksen, military man Phil Stacey, the leggy Haley Scarnato, Justin Timberlake doppelganger Chris Richardson, diva Lakisha Jones, former background singer Melinda Doolittle, beatboxer and Idol runner-up Blake Lewis, and of course — he of many hairstyles — the unforgettable lady-killer Sanjaya Malakar.

Sparks, who is expected to release her first album prior to Thanksgiving, promises the evening will be filled with surprises.

“This tour is different than any of the other Idol tours,” she said. “I cannot wait to see all your faces out there, and I hope you all have fun because that’s what I’ll be doing. Home is where my heart is.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: American Idols Live! featuring Glendale native Jordin Sparks and the rest of the Season 6 top 10.

WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesday.

WHERE: Jobing.com Arena, Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue.

TICKETS: 480-784-4444 or www.jobingarena.com.

COST: $39.40 to $72.50.