LUMBERTON — Country singer Lauren Alaina helped welcome the new school year in Robeson County by performing hit songs and sharing her story of being bullied when growing up.
The back-to-school concert at Biggs Park Mall was hosted by Fayetteville country radio station WKML 95.7 and enabled local students to meet the singer who was promoting the #Bekind campaign, which takes on cyber bullying in schools.
“Those things that people type on computers, they don’t realize what that does to other people’s feelings. It hurts,” Alaina told the crowd.
The campaign asks students to be nice this school year, with bullying being such a huge thing, said Sarah Weaver, a WKML morning personality.
Alaina performed “My Kinda People,” “Doing Fine” and “Road Less Traveled,” her first No. 1 song.
Between songs Alaina spoke of her struggles with being bullied online and how she was able to overcome it.
“Think about some of the things you say and how it can affect other people,” Alaina said to the children who return to school on Monday.
The fame thrust upon her after she was on “American Idol” brought with it a lot of online bullying, Alaina said. That caused her to struggle with an eating disorder for six years.
After the show Alaina met fans in Cowboys and Angels clothing store. The after-show meeting was for winners of a contest held before event. Some fans who did not get a chance to see Alaina perform were lucky enough to meet the singer.
Riley Sterns cried when she met Alaina. Riley was turned away at first but Alaina saw her and allowed Sterns to be photographed with her. And the singer gave the fan an autograph.
“Don’t worry,” Alaina said to Riley as she tried to calm her. “I did the exact same thing when I first met Carrie Underwood.”
“She has a lot in common with her,” said Carolyn Sterns, Riley’s grandmother.
Others were overwhelmed with happiness when they met the singer for the first time.
“It was amazing. I love her,” said Taylor Chance, who almost missed Alaina but caught up with her as she was leaving.
“We only heard the last two songs, but she did good,” Tina Fitzsimmons said.
“I asked her did she sing ‘Georgia Peaches’ but she said no. I’m thankful I got to meet her though,” April Hall said.
Some, like Makala Field, didn’t hear about the event until the last minute but were still able to get a quick picture.
“I rushed to get up here and didn’t even see her,” said Field, talking about the performance. “She’s pretty though.”
“I’ve been a fan of her since ‘American Idol,’” Chelsea Floyd said after meeting Alaina. “I personally think she should have won.”
Alaina, a Georgia native, appeared on Season 10 of “American Idol.”
In January Alaina followed up her No. 1 debuting first album with the release of “Road Less Traveled.” Selected as one of Rolling Stone’s Most Anticipated Albums of 2017, the collection of 12 songs all written by the young star, includes her first No. 1 hit and title track, “Road Less Traveled.”
She is currently on the “Love Unleashed Tour” with Martina McBride and soon will head out on the “Huntin’, Fishin’, And Lovin’ Every Day” Tour with Luke Bryan.
