Fans Await Haley at First Hometown Stop

Marni Rotblut clutches a book that already contains the autographs of two previous American Idol winners, Lee DeWyze and Kris Allen.

She's ready to add who she believes will be the next one to join them, Wheeling's Haley Reinhart.

Rotblut, of Vernon Hills, was the first to show up at 7:20 a.m. Saturday morning at the AT&T store at Deer Park Towne Promenade where Reinhart will make an appearance as part of her coming home weekend in front of the fans who voted her as one of American Idol's top three finalists Thursday night.

A fan of the show, Rotblut said Reinhart made a early impression on her.
"She has a really pure, jazzy, deep voice," Rotblut said. "She has a really good personality, really grounded. She's really what the show stands for."

Rotblut said she wanted to attend last year's AT&T appearance by last year's Idol winner, Mount Prospect's Dewyze, but found out about it after the fact. This time she kept track online.

"I'm ready," she said.

This is the first stop on a busy day for Reinhart, who will visit her high school alma mater in Wheeling later this morning, followed by a parade this afternoon in downtown Wheeling and a concert at Arlington Park.

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