Imoved to Georgia in late 2003 and I decided to be a waitress. I had worked really hard to try and break into the music industry and I just wanted to get away from it and love it again.
It started to become something that was out of my reach for so long. I needed to leave it to love it more. I left for a while and was a waitress from 2003 until I moved to San Diego and started working at a bar in 2005. I started singing at the bar and I started to want it really bad again.
I never told anyone I worked with that I sang, I was just the waitress. I had so much fun that I was like, ‘I need to do this again. I miss music so much.'
Music to me is everything. Whether I’m singing in my living room or on stage for Idol, I love every minute of it. It’s a great gift I’ve been given, and Idol has given me the gift to show the world.
Facing The Backlash Of My Previous Recording Experience
I think I started out on the show with some bad press, and I don’t think it helped me much. I think early on people accumulate their fan base. Every week I gave all I could, and I enjoyed every moment on the show I really did.
Women vote for this show, and they vote for the boys. The boys are adorable. I definitely feel that the girls had more of a struggle this year getting the popularity vote. I think the boys are definitely charming the females. Everyone is very talented but I think it was a struggle for the ladies.
A Few Moments With Andrew Lloyd Webber
Every contestant has nothing but high, high words for Andrew Lloyd Webber. He took so much time with us and really cared about every song we were doing and the choices we made. I just feel so grateful for this entire experience to be able to learn what I’ve learned.
That song was last minute. When I sang for Andrew, I had learned the other song, ‘All I Ask of you’. There are a lot of words in 'Jesus Christ Superstar' so I fumbled on a few of the lyrics. Coming up to the performance I was talking to Andrew in the back. I knew all of the words at the moment, but I knew as soon as I got on stage I was going to fumble a few.
Can't Please 'Em All
I think Simon had a different idea for me in mind. I’m not sure he really wanted me to be who I am. I don’t think they like the pop/rock idea I have about myself. I can’t please everybody and he’s only one person.
He said to me that he truly believes in me and he has high hopes for me. All of his criticism wasn’t necessarily negative. I think he just really wanted me to do well. I gave it everything I could, I made it to sixth place. I’m truly happy with that, I really am. It’s fantastic.
*****
Check out all the Orato.com special series:
Hell’s Kitchen Chopping Block [1]
Song Over For American Idols [2]
People In Peril [4]
