This week, the Hazlehurst community came together to celebrate one of its own, Will Moseley, a proud 2023 graduate of Georgia Southern University. He has secured a top 3 spot in the national American Idol competition. The community held a parade in his honor, and he offered a free concert.
Students at Jeff Davis Pre-K, located in Moseley's hometown, showed their support in their classrooms and along the parade route with encouraging messages on handmade signs: "Go Big Mo!" "We're proud of you!" and "High Five for Making the Top Three!"
Christian Ryles Edwards, a Hazlehurst native and one of the Pre-K teachers, shared her experience:
Everyone felt like they were part of his journey as he gave a very genuine and heartfelt thanks to the crowd and community. He stated that he would not be where he was “without all of y'all."
The one song that everyone was hoping he would do in Jacket Stadium, holding their breath for, was “Wagon Wheel.” This song is special to the community because it is played after every football game at Jacket Stadium.
Will brought up his former football coach, Lance Helton, to introduce the song, and from now on we will be playing the Will Moseley version in the stadium after each win. The crowd went wild as Will and his band started the song and enthusiastically sang along with him.
Edwards says Hazlehurst is the kind of community that gathers together to support one another, "I have even seen people who used to live here or graduated from Jeff Davis and live in different parts of the country showing their support and calling on their friends to support Will."
Before he took his place on stage, Jeff Davis School Superintendent, Chris Roppe, called Moseley onto the stage to present with him a very special gift, a second Letterman Jacket with “Big Mo” embroidered on the back. The crowd went wild when Moseley took the stage and started singing “Folsom Prison Blues," “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay,” and one of the original songs from his American Idol audition, “Gone for Good."
Support for Moseley runs deep. The local children, teachers, business owners, community members, and his alma mater have rallied behind him as Georgia Southern University mascot GUS, Freedom, and representatives from multiple University departments came out to cheer Moseley on.
Moseley shared his gratitude for the support he's received in a post on his Facebook page, "I’m speechless! Thank you guys for all of the love and support, and always know I love you Hazlehurst! Let’s go win this thing! Don’t forget new music out Friday!"
Now, as the final winner is set to be announced this Sunday, we urge everyone to show their support by voting for Will Moseley. You can also tune in to the live broadcast and join the excitement as we cheer on our hometown hero.
Voting will re-open during the show on Sunday. Click here to watch the finale this Sunday at 8pm local time.
