I never imagined I’d spend so many nights with a guy born in Huntsville, Ala.

But that’s what happens when you become a Bo Bice fan.

The Alabama native -- a recording artist who got mainstream attention as an “American Idol” runner-up -- performs Saturday at the Phenix City Amphitheater.

As someone who listened to Bo’s rendition of “Sweet Home Alabama” before my move to the South mandated an obsession with the song, I’m pretty jazzed about the show.

I first encountered Bo during his season four “Idol” run.

That was during the awkward post-college period when I lived at home with my parents. My father didn’t exactly approve of the relationship.

An ability to share the remote control isn’t among his strongest traits.

That year, many father-daughter screaming matches pitted my “Idol” obsession against his immediate interest in PBS documentaries.

On one especially bad evening, I hoarded the remote during the season four “Idol” top three performance show.

The decision was worth the family feud it spurred.

I got to see Bo’s memorable rendition of “In a Dream” -- one of the rare a cappella performances in a competition round of a reality TV talent show. It epitomized the elusive “Idol” moment, and remains one of the strongest efforts in “Idol” history.

Of course, Bo ultimately lost the “Idol” title to Carrie Underwood.

Still, he hardly disappeared into pop culture obscurity, thanks to singles like “The Real Thing” and “Inside Your Heaven.”

He’s also made headlines for his focus on altruism, embracing causes like support for the military, disaster relief and more.

The season four finale wasn’t the last time I linked Bo to “Idol.”

He reentered my “Idol” vocabulary five seasons later, thanks to one tantalizing command: “Just give me the works and put the guacamole on the side.”

That’s right, Bo’s commercials for Moe’s Southwest Grill seemed to dominate the ninth season of “Idol.” Bo was inadvertently the best part of an otherwise drab season.

I have high expectations for Bo’s Phenix City concert.

After all, I already consider him a miracle worker.

Bo recently participated in a documentary for Nashville’s PBS station.

Six years after my father and I fought over TV channels, Bo has apparently found a way to combine our feuding passions.

Not bad for an Alabama guy.

Sonya Sorich, reporter, can be reached at ssorich@ledger-enquirer.com or 706-571-8516.