CLARKSVILLE, Ia. — Maddie Poppe walked around her hometown Tuesday like it was just any old spring day.
The 20-year-old who recently rocketed to fame by becoming a finalist on "American Idol" leisurely made small talk with neighbors and accepted homemade gifts — as though she wasn’t being followed closely by a limo painted with a giant “American Idol” logo, didn’t have a bodyguard watching her and wasn’t having her every move taped to air on national TV.
It's that humble demeanor — mixed with her undeniable talent, unique look and bubbly personality — that has driven her so far on the “Idol” stage.
And it’s those same qualities that make her a hometown treasure, according to people in Clarksville, Iowa, where the population hovers just under 2,000.
"It's so much fun," Poppe said of being back in the state while relaxing in front of her childhood home during a break from filming. “You know the support is there. You see the comments online, but to actually see it with my own eyes and all the posters and everything … It’s amazing.”
Poppe was back in Iowa for a performance that will be aired Sunday night as part of a package when the top three finalists — Poppe, Gabby Barrett and Caleb Lee Hutchinson — will take the stage one last time.
The winner of this season of “American Idol” will be crowned on Monday’s results show. If Poppe is named “American Idol,” she will take home not only the title, but also a recording contract and a cash prize.
A local hero in overalls and combat boots
Wearing blue overalls and combat boots, Poppe glided through town, stopping at the local daycare and shouting out to friends on the street, all of whom were either volunteering for the festivities or gearing up for a parade later in her honor.
Her day began at about 4 a.m. when she started getting ready for a morning appearance on KCRG-TV.
She was then whisked off to her local school complex, where her entire graduating class of 22 surprised her and the elementary grades sang “Rainbow Connection” in honor of the song she sang at her “Idol” audition.
"We always knew she was going to be famous," said Kayla Jacobs, 20, a classmate of Poppe's and a junior at University of Northern Iowa. "We just didn't know it was going to be this soon."
After being presented with a proclamation declaring May 15 as "Maddie Poppe Day" by the town's mayor, the singer-songwriter mingled among the more than 200 people who came out for the afternoon event.
“From Day 1, you guys have supported me at Pioneer Days and when I sang ‘Landslide’ in the gym,” Poppe said, starting to tear up. “I can’t even imagine how many millions of votes have come from this area alone.”
Lola Clark, 82, was in the front with a sign featuring Kermit the Frog and declaring that “Maddie Poppe is looking for #1 place at the end of the rainbow,” another nod to the first song she sang for the show.
“I was her story-hour lady when she was a little kid,” said Clark, the retired librarian of Clarksville. “And she was as special then as she is now. What you see on TV — that personality — that is what she is like in real life.”
Poppe on her winning strategy
Poppe advanced to the finals of “Idol” on Sunday's episode, marking the first time an Iowan had ever gone that far on the reality singing juggernaut.
“Maddie’s voice is even more hypnotic in person,” said Carrie Underwood, the most successful "Idol" ever, who returned for the penultimate episode of the renewed vocal competition.
“Every week, Maddie is gaining some confidence in her own ability,” Underwood added.
Throughout the show’s run, Poppe has stood out with her singer-songwriter vibe and her unique combination of vocals, guitar, piano and ukulele — which she told the Register early on was part of her plan.
“My strategy, so far, has been to pick weird, quirky, unique songs that no one else wants to do that make me stand out," she said. "Song choice is huge in this show. We have had several people pick the same song, but I have picked different songs that no one else has thought to sing and I think that is helpful.”
More:Iowan Maddie Poppe reaches Top 3 on 'American Idol.' Watch all of her performances here.
And she continued to embrace her quirkiness on last Sunday’s episode, singing offbeat renditions of “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys, her Mother’s Day selection, and “I Told You So” by Underwood.
“I thought, maybe, I was at your concert — all of time stood still,” “Idol” judge Katy Perry said after Poppe's first performance.
“I just want to hear a record of yours,” said Perry, who last week told Poppe that she just might win this season of the show.
The winner of “American Idol” Season 16 must have the total package — personality, presence, performance and sound — the judges concurred at the beginning of Sunday's episode.
"I am so proud of you and this journey has been an amazing one for you," Bryan said.
For Poppe's part, her progress on the show has been one of picking up more and more confidence along the way.
"When I got to Hollywood Week, I looked around that room and I just thought, 'I don’t know how I am going to stand out,'" Poppe said. "But along the way, I found who I wanted to be."
'Anything is possible'
Janet Vanderhoar hunkered down in navy lawn chair, keeping the sun away with a wide green and white umbrella. She’d driven up to the Butler County Fairgrounds at about 11 a.m., had a sandwich in her car and was nursing a Diet Coke.
Seated just outside the gates, she was the first in line to see Poppe take the stage at 6:30 p.m. But, before that, she had about 7 hours to kill.
“I’m saving this spot for my granddaughter,” she said. “I’m retired, so it’s OK. But what a grandmother won’t do for a granddaughter, eh?”
Living in the area her whole life and currently calling Dike home, Vanderhoar said she hadn’t seen a hubbub like this since RAGBRAI came through in 2015. For a small town like Clarksville, this is a big deal for local businesses and local pride, she said.
But more importantly, she said, the national spotlight is highlighting a girl who exudes the best parts of Iowa — Poppe is someone who really deserves the attention.
“I probably wouldn’t do this for a 14-year-old otherwise, but Maddie seems like someone you want your granddaughter to have as a role model,” she said. “From what you see on TV and you hear around town, she’s grounded and nice and talented and just a good girl.”
As Gov. Kim Reynolds would say to the at least 5,000 people who gathered to listen to Poppe later that night: "Maddie is proof that in Iowa, anything is possible. She dreamt big and worked hard and now her dreams are coming true."
Across town, Vanderhoar’s granddaughter, Emma Fleshner, was watching Clarksville declare May 15 "Maddie Poppe Day." Fleshner and her friends Brooke Peterson and Karlie Rickert, both 14, had taken the afternoon off from school to see their idol, who they were sure would become the next "American Idol."
She’s just so cool, Fleshner said, tearing up, and she’s not afraid to be herself.
“To me, she just proves that even though you’re from a small town, you can do whatever you want,” she said. “Because she was able to achieve her dreams, I know I will be able to achieve mine, too.”
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