Access Blogs
Catching Up With Idol's Seven Winners
For the first time ever in "American Idol" history all seven winners gathered together in one place - the happiest place on earth! Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and David Cook all gathered together on stage at the opening of the "American Idol Experience" at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Earlier in the day the winners (minus Kelly) and several other past finalists made their grand entrance on Disney's Hollywood Boulevard via convertibles. Fans inside the park lined the street for a glimpse of their Idol favorites and I was right in the center of it as host of the blue carpet arrivals.
Teaming up with one of the "American Idol's Experience's" hosts, I had the honor of introducing each Idol as they made their way down the carpet and then interviewing them for the crowd inside the park. Besides the winners, several runner-ups attended the event including Justin Guarini, now a host on TV Guide Channel, Diana DeGarmo, Bo Bice and last season's popular favorite David Archuleta. It would have been nice to see Clay Aiken, Katherine McPhee and Blake Lewis at the event but I guess they chose not to make it or had conflicting schedules. Too bad for them because it was a blast!
During the motorcade parade, not surprisingly, David Cook and Carrie Underwood got the loudest screams from the crowd when they arrived. When I asked about this historic gathering of winners Cook told me, "It's weird I feel like, I feel like the new kid in the gang. So I got to, I got to keep up." Of course, he'll be giving up his crown in a few months when a winner is announced for season eight but he's not worried -- "I will always be part of the Idol family, but um, it's also nice to bring in new blood."
Of course, as they always do, all of the former finalists were eager to talk up their latest projects. Underwood told me she is currently writing a lot working on her next album (can't wait for that!) and gearing up for the ACM's where she is nominated for entertainer of the year. Diana DeGarmo is headed out on a national tour for "Oz: The Musical" after recently completing a holiday tour with some fellow Idols. Everyone's favorite velvet teddy bear, Ruben Studdard is a on national tour for "Ain't Misbehavin." Archuleta will kick off his tour in Virginia on February 24.
Season five's Ace Young just signed on to host "American Idol Extra" on the Fox Reality Channel. He also cut off all his hair into a short, spiky 'do. I'm a fan of the shorter locks. Fellow season five alum Lakisha Jones has an album coming out soon. I've heard her first single "So Glad I'm Me" and it's a good one. Mandisa looked absolutely fantastic having recently lost over 70 pounds. She told me she wants to lose thirty pounds more before she goes out to promote her next album.
Season six alums Phil Stacey, Chris Sligh and Sanjaya Malakar have all been busy too. Chris wrote a song that Rascal Flatts recorded. Phil is working on an album of Christian music and of course, Sanjaya wrote that tell-all book.
The event was full of finalists from this past season as well including Brooke White, Syesha Mercado, Michael Johns and Jason Castro who told me his brother Michael will be back next season to audition for "American Idol's" season nine, after he got cut in the Hollywood rounds this year. They also have a little sister, who at 13 is still too young to audition, but in a few years she is planning on it for sure. Carly Smithson finally finished having her famous arm tattoo colored in. Of course, during the run of the show she didn't have time to finish it. When I asked her if it hurt she said, "It hurt like hell!"
Much thanks to the folks at Disney for asking me to host the event. I had a blast (almost as much fun as the Super Bowl... almost) reuniting with all the former contestants. It's such a nice feeling when in front of a crowd of 3,000 plus people Brooke White says to me, "its so nice to see a familiar face out here." It makes all the work I do covering "American Idol" worth it. Now, I'm looking forward to getting to know the next Top 12!
Leave a comment