Bucky Covington is a good ol’ boy who had big ol’ dreams.

The 30-year-old blond-haired country singer went from working at his dad’s body shop in Rockingham, N.C., to “American Idol” season five finalist to successful country artist, with his singles “A Different World” and “It’s Good To Be Us” making the top 20 country singles chart.

But when he was a kid, Covington had visions of himself as a performer after listening to the Jeff Healey Band.

“He’s the reason why I went out and bought a guitar,” Covington says. “I heard his album one day. As soon as I heard this song, I just saw myself playing guitar on stage with a pair of sunglasses on.”

Covington also saw himself making it to top 24 on “American Idol.” His father just saw him as nuts when he proposed quitting the family business to audition with his twin brother, Rocky, in 2005.

“You might as well say, ‘Daddy, I want to be a fire truck.’ It’s about the same,” Covington says.

But Bucky got lucky, making it to the top 12 and finishing eighth overall, which led to a record deal and the release of his self-titled album in 2007. Covington may have lost on ‘Idol,’ but the only loss he suffers now is when he gets slaughtered at “Halo 3” on the tour bus of country superstar Dierks Bentley, who Covington is sharing the stage with on Bentley’s Throttle Wide Open Tour.

Covington is taking time away from the tour to headline a show at the Buffalo Bar in St. Joseph tonight, which will give him a chance to perform an album’s worth of his country rock sing-a-alongs and ballads ... not to mention the occasional Elvis tune or some Pink Floyd.

“Whenever I’m able to do my whole show ... you get a lot more crowd interaction,” Covington says. “I’ll be honest with you, it’s just fun. There’s no time limit on it. It’s more off the top of the head.”

Chet Lake, organizer and promoter of Covington’s performance, thinks even though Covington is an up-and-comer, he stands to draw a crowd.

“He’s new, but you know what, he lived in everybody’s living rooms for four months on ‘Idol,’” Lake says.

But for Covington, whether people remember him from the show or for his songs, he’s just glad to be here.

“I don’t care how you know me as long as you know me.”

‘Idol’ Country

What: Bucky Covington with Larry Thompson Neosho River plus special guest Scott Allyn Peery

When: 8 p.m. tonight

Where: Buffalo Bar, 501 Felix St.

Cost: $20

Info: Call 232-5588

Lifestyles reporter Blake Hannon can be reached

at blakehannon@npgco.com.