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Badger High grad on her way to Hollywood for 'American Idol'

By gazettextra

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TWIN LAKES -- Growing up in Twin Lakes, Megan Pflueger became a talented fixture on the local Idol circuit.

The 2004 Badger High grad competed in the Walworth County Fair's Country Idol contest, in the Geneva Idol contest sponsored by the Geneva Lake Women's Association and even auditioned in 2008 for NBC’s “Nashville Star.”

And it's no surprise that Pflueger used all of those experiences as a tune-up for the big one, Fox's "American Idol."

Pflueger, who now lives in Nashville, made the first cut of auditions and is on her way to Hollywood in season 10 of the show.

"When I was about 16 years old was when I decided that OK, this is for real," Pflueger said in a video posted on AmericanIdol.com.

Pflueger admits Nashville is a tough, but she also admits she's not the average singer is this famously country town. Although Patsy Cline is her favorite singer, she has a little Guns N' Roses, AC/DC and Joan Jet in her repertoire

Not only does she credit her family -- mom, dad, grandma and her brother -- for encouraging her career, but some younger kids have inspired her, too. Pflueger began babysitting when she was 11, and has found inspiration in those you faces, too, she says.

"American Idol" continues Wednesday at 7 p.m. with auditions from Austin, Texas.

The Megan Pflueger file

Age: 23

Home town: Twin Lakes

Local celebrity: Since she was a little girl, Pflueger has competed in singing contests in the area. She's appeared in the Walworth County Country Idol contest and performed at Country Thunder. She has competed in Geneva Idol since its inception in 2004, when she sang Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.” She placed every year until capturing the Geneva Idol title in 2006 with “Blame it on Your Cheating Heart,” by Patty Loveless. Pflueger is chasing down her dream of becoming a country music star, and the local contests provided her much-needed exposure, she told the Gazette in 2008.

Experience: Pflueger has never taken voice lessons. “I just started singing, and just kept singing everywhere,” she said.

Favorite songstress: Pasty Cline.

Repertoire: While she can go from Patsy Cline to Guns N’ Roses in a snap, Pflueger prefers performing country. “I have a natural twang,” she said. “At least that’s what I’ve been told.”

Real life: Pflueger lives in Nashville, Tenn.