I would be lying to say that I wasn’t shocked to be eliminated. I hadn’t been in the bottom three and I thought the last two or three weeks had been my strongest. We’re in this competition...stuff can happen, and it did. It’s been a whirlwind.
Dream On
I’ve never chosen a song based on what the competition is doing. I think I pick songs that mean something to me lyrically and emotionally. Singing “Dream On” by Aerosmith with a 20-piece orchestra...that’s amazing.
I’m living my dream. That song is all about how they can struggle and overcome things, and I’ve done that for the last 10 years. Living in America, this is my dream. Dream on until the dreams come true, and they’re coming true right now. That’s why I chose that song for sure.
Simon Says
Sometimes Simon is off the mark, to be honest. Most times he’s on, and I respect his opinion a lot, but he wanted me to sing that soul blues stuff every week.
I’m a rock soul singer. I like to do both genres, so I wasn’t necessarily going to always hand it to what the judges said every week. Some weeks they loved it, some weeks they didn’t.
A Season In The Stars
It has been written in the press that this is the best Top 12. Of any season that I could have been on, to be a part of this one was just really special. The fact that there was no laughingstock, there were no jokers. I think we had a lot of respect in the public eye, and that’s something I can be very proud of.
A Call From Nicole Kidman And Keith Urban
It was a message passed on to me at an event we went to on Wednesday night after Idol Gives Back. It was the last thing I was expecting to hear, but any time you can get two great Australians saying that to you, I was very, very honored.
Not America's Idol, But America's Nonetheless
I live here in America now. Will I live in Australia again maybe when I’m older? I don’t know. For me, my life and career are here. I love it here. My whole adult life has been here. Obviously, I’m not American, but I don’t really feel Australian anymore so much.
It’s weird. If you left America at 18 and your only memories are from high school...That’s how I feel. I’m going to be living here for the rest of my life.
Where Did That Dolly Parton T-Shirt Come From?
We were backstage getting dressed for the show. We were putting on our outfits and one of the stylists just hung up this vintage Dolly Parton t-shirt on the door for a gag. I said, “What is that?”
He said, “Well, it’s Dolly Parton.” I said, “Can I wear it.” He goes, “No, no. It’s just a gag.” I said, “No, I’m going on TV and wearing that” just to try to lighten it up a little bit. He gave me a look as if to say, “Man, you are crazy.” It was all worth it.
*****
Check out all the Orato.com special series:
Hell’s Kitchen Chopping Block [1]
Song Over For American Idols [2]
People In Peril [4]
