Rhodes tries out for 'The Voice'

When most of us think of a "red card" we automatically think "stop" or "pink slip", neither of which is a good thing.

For one young man from Hot Springs County though, that "red card" was a very good thing.

Harley Rhodes, a 2014 graduate of Hot Springs County High School, recently tried out for "The Voice" in Oklahoma City.

"I really just did it for the fun of it," Rhodes said. He had heard about the auditions from a friend and decided to go for it.

"It was different than I expected," he said. "I got up at 4:30 in the morning and got there at 6:30. When I got there the line was already half way around the block. I didn't think I'd even get in."

Rhodes said everybody was warming up and there were all kinds of notes flying around that didn't mesh together, making it feel very strange.

He figured they'd each go before the judges one at a time, so he was surprised when they went into a room in groups of 10.

"There were two girls that went before me," he said. "They didn't get to move on. They were really good, too."

Rhodes introduced himself, told the judge he'd be singing "Trouble With Girls" by Scotty McCreery, got 10 words into it and she stopped him.

Red card.

In this case, the red card is a good thing.

Rhodes had been selected for a call back, based on just those 10 words.

His call back was on Wednesday, July 8 (after press deadline), so we don't know how he did, but he had to have four different songs prepared, had to play an instrument with one of them and had to have his back-story prepared.

"This has been the most intense four weeks of my entire life," he said on the phone Monday afternoon. "It's been a real roller coaster ride.

"I've always dreamed of being the person to accomplish everything I've wanted to. I've always tried to be successful while still doing things for others.

"And now here I am. There are others out there with great voices and that's scary, but I'm still excited."

Rhodes has been living in Stillwater, Okla. doing musical theatre. He'll be starting college classes in the fall, plays on a men's volleyball team and works at a clothing store, all at the same time.

"I have been so blessed," he said.