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By NOAH WORTHAM | Staff Writer 

COLUMBIANA – American Idol winner and Alabama native, Taylor Hicks, will soon perform two intimate shows in Columbiana.

The performances will be held at the Shelby County Arts Council on Friday, Jan. 12 and Saturday. Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m. These two shows serve as more than just a tour for Hicks as they also function as a return to familiar territory for the Hoover native.

“We had such a great time, the last time we did it,” Hicks said. “It was just a no-brainer that we’re going to come back and do it again. We had a great turnout; the music was great and it’s always nice to come back and see family and friends in that area.”

During the shows, Hicks will perform a variety of songs including, tracks off of his albums, American Idol and songs by Bob Seger.

“I’m excited to pull some Bob Seger music out of that hat and play some songs from his catalogue,” Hicks said. “It will definitely be a nice mix of music.”

The two performances at the Shelby County Arts Council will take place in its Song Theater in what Hicks calls an “intimate setting.”

“What I love about it is that it’s a really nice intimate venue that I just really enjoy performing in because it is a hometown, small venue where I can have some great relationships with the audience,” Hicks said.

During the show, Hicks will socialize with the audience and may even take requests.

“(It’s) just great live entertainment with a couple of jokes that hopefully land as well,” he said.

Hicks first stepped into the spotlight during the fifth season of American Idol. After which he launched into a musical career with his self-titled major label debut and 2009’s follow-up, “The Distance.”

Hicks has continued to release music as he prepares for his next major album release. In 2023, Hicks debuted singles “Porch Swing” and “Teach me to Dance.”

“I really enjoyed recording that single (‘Teach me to Dance,’)” Hicks said. “The song was actually on hold for Garth Brooks back in the early ‘90s and he never recorded that song. I kind of dug it up in the basement of one of my favorite songwriters in town, Victoria Shaw, and ended up falling in love with it and we cut it and it’s been a gem ever since.”

Tickets for the two shows can be found online at Shelbycountyartscouncil.com/events.