Before ‘American Idol,’ Estero’s Casey Bishop was sports bar karaoke sensation

FORT MYERS, Fla.– It’s rare that a memorable act comes from karaoke night at Shoeless Joe’s sports bar in Fort Myers. Nine years ago, a seven-year-old singer delivered a rousing performance. Her name was Casey Bishop. 

Long before the Estero teen made a name for herself nationally as an “American Idol” finalist, Bishop performed karaoke across Southwest Florida hoping to catch her big break. 

“We were eating dinner outside and I wanted to do it so badly,” Bishop said of her first time performing at Shoeless Joe’s. “I just went up there.” 

Bishop sang Adele’s “Someone Like You” and stood out among the rest that night.

“It was a packed house and she nailed it,” general manager Fritz Pohler said. 

Bishop had a much less captivated audience that evening than she has lately on “American Idol”.

“I was just singing and no one was really listening but my family, but it was fun,” Bishop said. 

To all those kids who also have big aspirations for a career in performing, Bishop had a simple message: “If you want something, you can definitely get it.” 

Take it from someone who went from Shoeless Joe’s to stardom. 

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