Of the top 24 contestants on American Idol, only one mattered for Frankie Dorsey of Gainesville. She’s been listening to Alexandrea Lushington sing since she was 6 or 7 years old.

“She sings at family reunions, any time we get together Alexandrea sings,” Dorsey said. In fact, Lushington even sang in Gainesville in December for the funeral of Dorsey’s mother.

Dorsey, who drives a school bus for Hall County, is Lushington’s grandmother’s first cousin and good friend.

“I know the family very well,” Dorsey said, adding that she lived in Atlanta closer to Lushington for a while.

Dorsey said Lushington started singing in church, and that her grandfather is a minister. She also said the singer is very smart and funny.

Lushington was voted off the show Thursday, though, despite Dorsey’s faith in her.

“I think she stands a very good chance of getting in the top 12,” Dorsey said before Thursday’s results show.

Lushington sang “Spinning Wheel” in her first performance.

“I really liked her,” Dorsey said of the performance. “I thought she was unique.” 

She performed “If You Leave Me Now” last week getting good feedback from Randy and Paula and not so good from Simon.

Though Lushington is now off the show, Dorsey said she enjoyed the excitement of watching someone she knows on TV.

“Oh it’s so exciting,” Dorsey said. “I drive for Flowery Branch High School and I told all the kids and they’re excited. I work lunchroom at ... Chicopee Woods, and I told everybody there. I tell everybody I know.”

The show continues this week, with the top eight boys competing Tuesday and the top eight girls on Wednesday. Thursday’s results show will narrow the contestants to the top 12.