When American Idol finalists lined up to belt out "Shout to the Lord" a couple of years ago it was in keeping with the discreetly-stated tradition that many of these talented young hopefuls polished their musical skills in church.
That's right. The LA Times reported matter-of-factly in 2010 that "Ties to churches are indeed a common denominator for many contestants." In 2004 one performer successfully revived and guided the traditional 1950s religious song "I Believe" to the top of Billboard's 100 best songs that year.
The church gives young talents a chance to feel safe and be accepted, says one of their most fervent supporters and providers of hospitality for families that come to visit the show. Just as well for prime time TV can be a powerful platform for Christian themes.