American Idol's Michael Sarver Goes Country, Releases First Album (Video)

Remember big Michael Sarver on American Idol? No, not Big Mike Lynche from Season 9 -- the other Big Mike, from Season 8. Michael Sarver was the big ole boy from Jasper, Texas, that made his living working oil rigs and just wanted to do something that might help secure his family's future. Well, he made American Idol's Top 10 finalists that season and now has his first album out.

Remember Simon Cowell and the other judges telling him that he had a country vibe about him? Schooled on gospel and R&B, Sarver had wowed the American Idol judges with his soul and R&B renditions, but they kept telling him that he might stand a better chance of success in his music career if he recorded country music, especially after he sang Garth Brook's "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til The Sun Comes Up)" for his Top 11 performance. Michael Sarver seems to have listened, because his first album is, for the most part, contemporary country.

"Instead of being stubborn," Michael Sarver says of his self-titled recording (via "Idol Chatter"), "I began to really go back to my roots."

The album was produced by a couple heavy-hitters: Ben Glover, who has worked with Trace Adkins and fellowAmerican Idol alumnus Clay Aiken, and Rachel Thibodeau, who co-penned (with country star Luke Bryan) Billy Currington's #1 Billboard Hot Country Songs hit "Good Directions."

The first single off the album, "Ferris Wheel," is a light-hearted blend of acoustic guitar and Phil Vassar-like vocals and just might become a hit if he can get some airplay on country stations. Sarver also made a video for the song and launched a new website, MichaelSarverSite.com, in June to promote his music.

While on American Idol, the country found out that Michael Sarver was 27 years old (he is now 29), married, and had two children. He grew up in church and has continued to be very spiritual. He is also an avid musician and songwriter, having penned nearly 900 songs by the time he had auditioned for American Idol in Phoenix.

Does Michael Sarver have what it takes to be a country star? He certainly had what it took to be an American Idol Top 10 finalist in Season 8 (the year David Cook won it all). He'll be joining several of his American Idol colleagues who have chosen to pursue a country music career: Bucky Covington, Josh Gracin, Kristy Lee Cook, Danny Gokey, the unforgettable Kellie Pickler, and the incomparable Carrie Underwood.

Check out Michael Sarver's "Ferris Wheel" video and see if America did a good job of placing him in the Top 10 in Season 8.

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Sources:

"Idol Chatter," USAToday.com
CMT.com
MichaelSarverSite.com