NEW KENT, Va. (WWBT) – “American Idol” Season 20 winner Noah Thompson rocked Henrico’s Jail East in New Kent County on Monday.
The country music singer-songwriter shared his inspiring story of growing up in a home of addicts and how he rose above, now spreading hope to those in recovery through his music.
The audience of about 75 inmates warmed to him instantly.
“It’s really heartwarming because it lets me know that there’s a chance for me to get out here and do bigger and better things as well,” said Raven Samone Clay, an aspiring musician set to be released from Henrico Jail West next week.
Thompson, 22, also shared how some of his songs were inspired by losing loved ones to substance abuse.
“I look at my life and how I grew up, but I’m very grateful for it because it’s made me who I am, and it’s also given me a pathway to write music,” Thompson said. “At the end of the day, I think that music is the best medicine in the world.”
Thompson played for about an hour and then insisted on meeting the inmates, shaking hands and sharing hugs.
“By them coming up and talking to me today and the letters that they wrote me and everything, it was completely, just good for my soul,” Thompson said.
This was Thompson’s first time performing for a jail crowd of this size.
“It was great! They were the sweetest people ever and you can just see that they, honest to God, need some sort of inspirational thing,” Thompson added.
Mobilize Recovery and the McShin Foundation teamed up to make Thompson’s visit possible.
“Giving people the opportunity and giving them just a little bit of hope that once they leave they can be part of their community, they can be a part of their family, they can enjoy music and concerts, and don’t have to rely on drugs and alcohol to have fun,” Mobilize Recovery Co-Founder Garrett Hade said.
Hade is now 10 years sober after battling addiction himself and spending time in and out of jail.
“When I was in and out of jail, I never got to experience anything like this,” Hade said. “It was very hopeless. It was, you know, keep your head down, do what you’re supposed to do, do what you’re told, leave and get your life together.”
Thompson says he strives to bring hope to the hopeless.
“The songs that I’ve been writing have just fell right into struggle and life, you know, the good parts, the bad parts, everything in between,” Thompson said. “For me, it just feels really right. And it’s what I want to do and, yeah, it’s the kind of people I want to sing to.”
“His courage to get out here in front of everybody and do that and share his story was incredible,” Clay said of Thompson’s performance.
Thompson also gave a concert at the McShin Foundation Monday night and will perform at the Chesterfield Jail on Tuesday for those in the “HARP” recovery program.
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