Fire captain's daughter earns spot on 'American Idol'

Bob Schreihans knew his daughter was destined for greatness when he watched her as a 3-year-old singing Michael Jackson songs into her Mr. Microphone.

Tonight or Wednesday night, an estimated 30 million viewers of "American Idol" can see what Schreihans has known all along - the girl's got talent.

"She's been singing since she was a little kid," said the proud papa, a captain with the Carson City Fire Department.

Schreihans' daughter, Amanda, 23, made it through the first cut of "American Idol" during Las Vegas auditions.

Dressed in a necklace that read "pick" and a neon pink T-shirt that read "me," Amanda wowed judges with her emotion-filled rendition of "I Wanna Love You Forever," which aired Jan. 26 on Fox.

Schreihans said as a child, Amanda would spend her summers in Carson City and live the rest of the year in Los Angeles with her mother.

A graduate of the Los Angeles School of Performing arts, Schreihans' only child has steadily forged a path for herself in the entertainment industry. She spent 18 months touring as a backup singer for Smokey Robinson, was in a music video for best friend and gold-record music artist Josh Groban, and last year was a contestant on "Star Search," where she won the judges' vote but lost out on the popular vote.

She works as a "Siren" showgirl for Treasure Island Hotel Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

When Amanda, who uses her mother's maiden name of Avila as her stage name, auditioned for "American Idol" this summer, Schreihans said the contract she signed prevented her from telling anyone but her parents the outcome of her audition.

She cannot reveal if she continues on in the competition. Schreihans can't say which night this week his daughter will be on.

"You'll just have to keep watching to figure out what's going to happen," he said.

n Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.