Photo courtesy of Mark Davis/FOX Season nine Top 12 contestant Aaron Kelly arrives at the American Idol Top 12 Party at Industry on Thursday in Hollywood, Calif.

Photo courtesy of Frank Micelotta/FOX (Left to right) Siobhan Magnus, Aaron Kelly and Crystal Bowersox arrive on the red carpet at the American Idol Top 12 Party at Industry on Thursday in Hollywood, Calif.

Idol chatter: Sonestown's Aaron Kelly among top 12 finalists on American Idol

On March 11, American Idol revealed the season's Top 12 finalists. Among those finalists was Sonestown, Pa.'s Aaron Kelly, a 16-year-old whose story of a struggling childhood won over the hearts of judges during audition week last summer in Orlando, Fla.

And Kelly has been stirring a buzz in his small hometown of Sonestown, Pa., where many of the locals already familiarized themselves with Kelly's stage presence at area events such as the Troy Fair in 2008, and performances at the Bloomsburg Fair for two of the past three years.

Although Kelly has received criticism from the judges of lacking confidence in himself and for not having belief in himself, his March 10 performance of "I'm Already There" by Lonestar won the hearts of America and landed Kelly a seat in the Top 12 on American Idol.

Fans on Kelly's Facebook page are chiming in their support, and are cheering him on from back home in Pennsylvania.

On his Facebook page, Deanna Woodruff, a Towanda High School graduate, writes: "Congrats for making top 12! We are voting for you here in Central Pa. and you are doing us all proud. Believe in yourself and try not to let the nerves get you down. You're just as good as the rest of them."

An excited hometown woman, Nina Ford, writes: "WOO HOO our hometown guy~!~! There are signs everywhere in support for you~~You go AARON, WE LOVE YOU!"

And others, who remember Kelly from recent area performances, are also staying tuned in to see how far their local Idol will go. Susan Noss writes: "Way to go Aaron!! We have seen (you) many times at local events. We are so proud of our local Pa Idol. It's your time to shine we wish you all the luck in the world from Harveys Lake, Pa."

If you want to stay tuned in, tonight, at 8 p.m. eastern time, a new Idol stage will be revealed and America's Top 12 will take the stage to perform songs by The Rolling Stones.

And, for the first time ever, Idol show themes will be on iTunes along with playlists of original songs by the original artists from which the contestants may choose. ITunes Store customers will be able to purchase and download songs and playlists for IDOL show themes in advance, giving fans the opportunity to preview and download the same music the contestants will be listening to as they make their all-important song choices.

Then tune in at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17, to the live results show to find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who is sent home.