Anoop Desai greeted about 400 fans and signed autographs for two hours at The Franklin Hotel at 311 W. Franklin St. Sunday.

Fans of varying ages, and species, stood in 85-degree heat to give the singer a hero’s welcome. Most wore Carolina-blue pins with slogans that said what the large crowd made clear: “Chapel Hill Loves Anoop.”

Even a Bedlington terrier attended the meet-and-greet, wearing a Carolina-blue bandana labeled “An Anoop Dog.”

Desai, 22, gave himself the nickname during one of his first auditions for "American Idol," the show that has made him famous. Desai finished sixth in the top-rated competition, in which aspiring singers vie for a recording contract.

A Chapel Hill native, Desai graduated from East Chapel Hill High in 2004 and UNC in 2006, and attended graduate school here before announcing that he was dropping out to pursue a music career.

Town pride has been a major draw for fans. Desai referred to Chapel Hill several times on the show. On the anniversary of his friend Eve Carson’s death, he called it a “difficult day” for his hometown.

“I think it was really cool that such a great singer is representing Chapel Hill,” said 12-year-old fan Sarah McMahon. “It was like he was talking to us over the television.”

She voted for Desai 15 times via text message because her parents didn’t want her to incur charges for telephone calls, and said she was outraged when Desai was voted off the show.

“I was really mad,” McMahon said. “They didn’t make the right decision.”

Annie Mayo of Raleigh, UNC employee who attended the meet-and-greet to support a friend, said another part of Desai’s appeal is his personality.

“He sees like he’s down-to-earth and intelligent,” she said. “He’s not cocky.”

Her friend would not identify herself because she had made up an excuse to leave work to meet her idol.

McMahon and friends Neely and Maggie Holroyde, sisters, said they think it would be “really cool” if Desai has a successful music career.

“It’s gonna be awesome,” McMahon said. “I think he should because his voice is unique in a really good way. He makes music his own.”