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'Idol' Singer, Radio Jock Host Films On WMOR

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By WALT BELCHER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 4, 2008

TAMPA - When Melissa McGhee had surgery 16 months ago, the former "American Idol" finalist feared that she would lose her distinctive "smoky" voice.

Removing polyps from her vocal cords did make a difference, she says.

"I was kind of depressed for a while because it changed my sound," she says. "I was always known for that sexy, raspy voice, and I came out of surgery crystal clear."

But it has turned out to be a change for the better, the 23-year-old says. "I've got a top range now that I haven't had since I was 14, so it helped me."

The Tampa native, who finished in 12th place in the fifth season of "Idol," is still working toward a singing career. She has a following and has continued to be a local celebrity.

McGhee starts a new gig this week as co-host of "Suds & Cinema," a Wednesday night movie series on WMOR, Channel 32 (channel 11 on Bright House Networks).

She will be teamed with radio personality Jason "Buckethead" Bailey of 98 Rock (WXTB, 97.9 FM).

Buckethead came to the Tampa market about a year and a half ago after several years in Orlando. He says there are a lot of stories about how he got his nickname.

"The truth is when I started in radio in late 1995 as an intern, I got this goofy name," he says.

"The guys that named me never thought that I would still be working in radio. I was in college and had long hair, and they said I was kind of cocky and had a big head. I told them I was just confident, but they had an ongoing joke about my bucket-shaped head."

The name stuck and seems to suit his style of radio humor.

"But I just can't call him Buckethead," McGhee says. "It's too weird."

WMOR General Manager Ken Lucas says the station wanted two local personalities to help develop an identity for the station's Wednesday night movie.

"We had worked with Melissa before, and she is just delightful," he says. "We knew we wanted her, and we wanted a male co-host with a comedic sense of humor and timing. And we got to know Buckethead. We called him in for an audition and he nailed it."

He jokes that he lied on his resume and WMOR thinks he is Ryan Seacrest.

Buckethead says "Suds & Cinema" will be about kicking back and having fun in the middle of the workweek.

The duo will be introducing movies such as "Half Past Dead," a 2002 Steven Segal thriller that kicks off the series at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Lucas says Buckethead and McGhee will exchange loosely scripted banter during breaks in the movie. They will be on a custom-built set that resembles a pub.

Prior to "American Idol," McGhee had not sung professionally. The Sickles High School graduate auditioned for the 2003 edition of "Idol" and didn't make the cut. She returned in 2005 and made it all the way to the final 12.

The judges praised her distinctive "smoky" voice. Among the competitors that season were Kellie Pickler, Ace Young, Elliott Yamin, Bucky Covington, Chris Daughtry, Katharine McPhee and the winner, Taylor Hicks.

Only the top 10 finalists went on the "Idol" tour that fall. McGhee says she had numerous offers. She went on tour with former "Idol" winner Ruben Studdard and "Idol" runner-up Justin Guarini.

She has been writing music and working on an album.

"I am trying to figure out which genre of music is best for me," she says. "I grew up singing country, but my love is pop rock. I'm figuring it out and getting it together."

She hopes to record it in Los Angeles later this year.

McGhee has made numerous appearances at events in the Tampa Bay area and recorded the WMOR "More, More, More" jingle. She also was a guest host for past WMOR movies.

She says she gets more offers each season when "Idol" is airing on Fox. She adds that adjusting to life after being on "Idol" can be difficult.

She says that when she looks at "Idol" now, she has sympathy for the contestants.

"You are kept in this 'Idol' bubble, isolated from the public, and then you are thrown out," she says. "Everybody knows who you are and stops you on the street. But you are on your own to make it. People think you have money because you've been on TV but you don't."

Getting back to a normal life becomes hard, and trying to launch a singing career isn't a snap, she notes.

"It's hard to do it because there are so many former Idols out there, and some of the best known like Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee have already been dropped by their recording companies.

"The 'Idol' brand name opens a lot of doors, but a lot of doors get slammed in your face, too," McGhee says.

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813 259-7654 or wbelcher@tampa

trib.com.

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