Well, you can take the boy out of the south, but you can’t take the south out of the boy. So true is this statement in talking about recent ‘American Idol‘ winner Phillip Phillips, who decided to fork over his ‘AI’ gift directly to his parents. Mama must be proud.

Forget the rock star lifestyle and party mentality of the usual musician. This country boy wants nothing of it. Aside from the fame and opportunity that comes along with taking the crown in the hit FOX televised contest, Phillip was given a brand new 2013 Ford Fusion, which is valued at $25,000. But why take that? He’s already got a car, his 2001 Ford Ranger truck, which he is perfectly happy driving. So after getting the Fusion, Phillip wasted no time in handing the keys over to mom and dad.

Poor Phil probably won’t be driving for a few weeks anyway. The ‘Idol’ champ is slated for kidney surgery tomorrow (May 29) and will be recovering in a Malibu mansion for six weeks.

Still, we gotta say — what a good southern boy!

More From 104.7 KISS-FM