Crystal Bowersox sings "Me and Bobby McGee" Live

Crystal Bowersox at Vinyl Radio Nashville covering the Kris Kristofferson tune made famous by Janis Joplin "Me and Bobby McGee"

Crystal's Homecoming Videos/2 Original Songs & Bobby McGee!

American Idol Top 3 front-runner Crystal Bowersox sings her heart-felt, original songs, "Holy Toledo" and "Gray Haired RockStar" at the Fox Toledo studios upon arriving in Toledo, Ohio on 13 May, 2010. After singing "Holy Toledo", Crystal was moved and said that she had never had a crowd cheer so loudly for a song she wrote.

Crystal finished the set with Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee" - the song that showed American Idol viewers and judges she was "in it to win it!"

Holy Toledo:



Gray Haired Rockstar:


Me and Bobby McGee:

Crystal Bowersox whirlwind tour of Northwest Ohio

America Idol finalist Crystal Bowersox spent her day in Northwest Ohio “just trying to take it in,” she said.
The Elliston, Ohio, resident was continually greeted with adoring fans as she went from parades to concerts to singing the national anthem at the Mud Hens game.

Ottawa County officials declared May 14 as “Crystal Bowersox Day,” which was fitting as the Elliston, Ohio, native performed her hometown tour as a Top 3 contestant on “American Idol.”

Prior to her performance in Levis Square, in Downtown Toledo, she appeared in a parade led by Mayor Mike Bell, as well as Toledo School for the Arts (TSA) students and members of Diabetes Youth Services of the Greater Toledo Area. Bowersox attended TSA.

“It was really hectic, but really cool,” said Miriam Taylor, eighth grader at TSA, of being in the parade with Bowersox.

Appearing on stage, Bowersox told the audience of several thousand, “I’m just trying to take it in.” She waved to those who had gathered on rooftops and in parking garages to hear her sing.

A diabetic, Bowersox shouted, “Diabetics in the house!” and asked everyone to support the local juvenile diabetes organization.

At Levis, Bowersox performed “Holy Toledo,” a composition of her own, and “Hand in My Pocket” by Alanis Morissette. During her performance, Muddy and Mudonna danced behind her.

Afterward, Bowersox made two media-free appearances; one at Papa’s Tavern and one at her family’s home in Elliston. She visited with old friends and families in private.

At the Ottawa County Fairgrounds, some “Bowerstock” attendees waited outside in the blazing sun for Bowersox for more than five hours.

Peg Wilbur, of Genoa, received a speeding ticket on the way to the fairgrounds.

“We came to see Crystal. We vote for her lots, just the other night, I voted 73 times,” she said.

Ron Hanny and Nancy Nigh, of Findlay, arrived at the fairgrounds at 12:30 p.m. to see Bowersox perform.

“We wanted to support her. We like ‘American Idol’ and she’s from Ohio so we support her,” Hanny said.

Bowerstock attendees were excited to hear four songs by Bowersox and her former bass guitarist Frankie May.

Bowersox showcased Janis Joplin's “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Holy Toledo” and “Hand in my Pocket” and then asked the crowd to choose a cover or original song for her final performance. The crowd screamed “original,” which led to Bowersox shouting, “yay, yay,” throwing her fist into the air.

The singer chose her personal favorite, “Speak Now,” a song she wrote as she was leaving Chicago to return to Toledo, she said.

In addition to her performances, Bowersox received many accolades throughout the day, including keys to Elliston and the City of Toledo. Bowersox also made an appearance at an AT&T store where she received a text from “American Idol” judge Ellen DeGeneres telling her she will sing “Maybe I’m Amazed,” by Paul McCartney, on the May 18 show.

At the Mud Hens game, Bowersox sang the national anthem with her son Tony in one arm. The singer also threw the first pitch to Mud Hen Jeff Frazier, who is a huge Idol fan.

At each appearance Bowersox reminded Northwest Ohioans that if it was up to her she’d be the winner of “American Idol,” but it’s up to them and they have to vote.

Source:  Kristen Rapin/Toledo Free Press

Crystal Bowersox Concert at Ottawa County Fairgrounds, including "Speak Now", "Holy Toledo" and others

Crystal Bowersox, the American Idol Top 3 favorite, visits Toledo, Ohio during her Homecoming visit Friday, May 14, 2010. Crystal gives a very emotional concert at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds with her bassist and friend Frankie May. In recognition of Crystal Bowersox Day, the event was called 'Bowerstock'.

Crystal first performed Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee", the song that showed her fans and the judges on American Idol she 'was in it to win it.' Then, she sang her heartfelt original song "Holy Toledo" with the great line "my dread's are locked, my watch has stopped, my glass half full, my gun half cocked." The song asks "How do I get to Heaven from here?" Crystal told the crowd "And the answer is you guys...Because really the only way to make it to the top on this thing is if you guys are doin it. Because it ain't up to me. It's completely up to you, completely up to you man God Bless you all for carrying me this far, I don't know what else to say. I'm very thankful."

She then opened Alanis Morissette's "Hand in My Pocket" with a great harmonica solo.

Crystal then tells the crowd "We have time for one more...do you want an original or a cover?" The overwhelming response, "ORIGINAL!" Crystal lets outs a mighty "YEA! YEA!" and plays one of her personal favorites, "Speak Now," which she wrote right before moving back to Ohio, when she didn't know where her life was heading.

It's obviously headed in the right direction!