Review UPDATED with photos: American Idol finalist Casey James does Dallas-Fort Worth

by Sarah Blaskovich , Elliott Muñoz

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James performed to hundreds of people packed into the Wildflower Festival on Friday.

RICHARDSON — American Idol finalist and southern heartthrob Casey James made the rounds in North Texas on Friday, home for "homecoming" week on the show before they head back to LA for Tuesday's taping.

James stopped by an AT&T store Friday morning -- which we didn't feel compelled to cover, no surprise -- before showing up in the rainy Fort Worth Stockyards at 4 p.m. Friday and then on to Richardson's Wildflower Festival.

The pretty lawns of the Wildflower Fest in Galatyn Park were absolutely packed before James' performance Friday night, with loyal fans already holding signs that said "Casey James is THE next American Idol." We've got to give it to James; he earned himself at least a few more fans with his four-song performance. The Fort Worth native had incredible stage presence, truly acting like he was home performing for a few friends.

He started with a song he'd written recently, and we're just waiting for it to blow up the Top 40 charts. Participants at the Wildflower Festival will be able to say "they heard it first." Then a Fleetwood Mac cover brought the tone down as the largely teenage crowd (near the front, anyway) seemed to hang on his every word. He finished the night with a performance of "Heaven," which he sang on an American Idol show. (You know the song: Baby you're all that I want / When you're lying here in my arms...) Cue swooning by women of all ages.

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