Minnie Pearl-styled comic, R&B singers among dozens in Niles seeking spot on ‘Talent’

By SEAN BARRON

news@vindy.com

NILES

The bottle of fake urine in her hands and piece of toilet paper protruding from Pearly Adams’ right sock gave her a rather unconventional look at the Eastwood Mall.

Then again, the 57-year-old Volant, Pa., woman wasn’t exactly setting out to make a fashion statement.

“I worked in nursing homes and like to entertain the elderly and make them happy,” said Adams, who was poised to provide a touch of comedy for her first TV audition. “I used to be shy, then I said to the Lord, ‘I’d like to serve you’ and he said, ‘Dress like a nut and make people laugh.’”

Adams did indeed generate laughter. She was one of an estimated 130 residents of all ages from the Mahoning and Shenango valleys who registered Sunday at the mall to perform stand-up comedy, sing and do other acts as part of a casting call for NBC’s summer reality show “America’s Got Talent.”

Its fifth season premieres June 1.

Sponsoring the event was WFMJ-TV 21. Hosts were Channel 21 personalities Mike Case, Lauren Lindvig, Mark Monstrola and Scott Schneider.

Adams cited as her inspiration the late singer Minnie Pearl, perhaps best known for her more than 50 years with the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn.

“I thought I’d be a twin sister from a different mother,” she said of Pearl, with laughter.

Soon after the 10 a.m. registration in the concourse, a line grew with people bringing acoustic guitars, along with their voices, nervousness and hopes. Each had 90 seconds to make an impression for the first leg of the process to appear on the show.

The majority of those trying out were singers who covered R&B, oldies, hip-hop and other genres. A sampling: “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5; “Me and Mrs. Jones,” an early 1970s hit by R&B singer Billy Paul; “Always” by the popular 1980s R&B group Atlantic Starr; “Ribbon in the Sky,” a classic by Stevie Wonder; and “Tomorrow,” from the musical “Annie.”

Read the full story with photographs Monday in The Vindicator and on vindy.com