More Than 3,000 At Josh Ledet Picnic, Concert

SULPHUR, La. (AP) — Fourteen-year-old Brittney Betrand says she cried when she couldn't get tickets to "American Idol" contestant Josh Ledet's concert May 12 in Lake Charles. She was all smiles Saturday, as one of 3,000 fans who got to hear Ledet at a free outdoor concert in Sulphur.

Ledet sang gospel music and songs made famous by Whitney Houston and Beyonce, as well as "Idol" fan favorites "When A Man Loves a Woman" and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" at the Picnic in the Square in Sulphur, about 8 miles west of Ledet's home town of Westlake.

"I've never been to a concert in my life, and I'm just so excited!" Betrand said.

Sandra Abla told the American Press (http://bit.ly/LnGtAF ) that she runs a Facebook group called "Team Josh Ledet."

When she heard about the concert Friday, she said, "I went and packed my car immediately so I could leave straight from work and be here. I wasn't missing it."

She arrived at 10:30 a.m. Saturday to nab a front-row seat.

Fans packed Burton Coliseum for the May 12 concert.

Members of the local 4-Them Community Organization volunteered at the event and helped set up the stage and concession stands. Ledet's relationship with the group goes "way back" — Ledet has sung for years at its Fourth of July block party, said volunteer Randy Armelin.

Ledet's "Idol" run ended in third place behind Jessica Sanchez and winner Phillip Phillips. The top 10 contestants begin a national concert tour July 6, with a stop in Lafayette on July 30.

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Information from: American Press, http://www.americanpress.com