On the Scene at the 2012 ‘American Idol’ Finale
Winner, American Idol Season 11
How do you feel?
I don't know. I don't really feel anything. It's crazy. I feel numb. This whole situation is so unbelievable!
Did you think you were going to win?
No. Did you see Jessica's last performance? It's so unreal man; it hasn't sunk in yet! It's such a blessing and I am trying to comprehend it all.
What was your favorite performance?
Of mine? Definitely with John Fogerty. We had a blast. He is such a nice guy! Being up on that stage with him and all those people, it's just crazy!
Did you think you'd be standing here when you first auditioned?
Honestly, I didn't think I would make it to see the judges. I have no shame in saying I'm not a great singer. I just love having fun on stage jamming with the guys and just playing good music, man, get the crowd into it. Music is fun. It takes away a lot of things that are going around.
Are you all cried out?
I might end up crying some more. I hate crying, but I'll probably end up crying some more. It feels good a times.
Reporting by Nicole Pajer
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Jessica Sanchez
Second Place, American Idol Season 11
How did it feel when they announced the winner?
When they announced that it was Phillip, I was so happy, and I knew it already. That's why I gave him a big hug and I was smiling the whole time. I was like, "This fool is going to win and I love him so much!" He deserved it. Like, literally, he has worked harder than all of us. We've all been working hard, but he's been having to deal with his health issues, with his kidneys, and I think he's been through a lot more than us mentally and physically.Did you really think Phillip was going to win?
I did! I mean, I told him during Top Three results that it was going to be him and Joshua and I literally thought that Phillip was going to win the whole thingHow do you see yourself as an artist?
I want to be more like a Rihanna, Beyoncé kind of thing, but I don't want to compare myself to anybody, because I want to be somebody new, too.What was the most outstanding moment in this whole journey?
I think tonight, the best moment for me was seeing Phillip win, of course, and then performing with Jennifer Holliday was amazing. I love her so much. She's the sweetest and she is a monster of a singer.Did you get to talk to the judges?
They just said, "Do you." Going back into the whole pop single kind of thing – "Do you. Don't let anybody tell you what to do. This doesn't mean it's the end of your career. You'll have a successful career." They're really excited for me and I'm excited too! -
Aerosmith
What was your reaction to Phillip winning?
Steven Tyler: I think he's real. We watched him come from a guy who was pulling himself out of his soul to a guy that can actually sing up there after four months, and sing a melody without feeling uncomfortable about himself. He's just really evolved and he's been vulnerable, and I think America loves that.What do you think about Jessica's future?
Steven Tyler: The last two, of course, have a future beyond belief. They have record deals and she sings so beautiful and with the right person and songs, she'll be on her way.Joey Kramer: She didn't have to win. She got enough exposure for as good as she is up until that time. It didn't matter if she won or not. She won anyway.
Tom Hamilton: She'll make a great bass player.
Steven Tyler: She'll have a great career.
Do you think it was Jessica's original song that did her in?
Steven Tyler: Oh, I don't really want to put my finger on that. It wasn't her best song. It didn't show her voice off. You've got to realize the rules of the show are, every time you've got to bring it. And whatever it was they loved the last time, you've got to move them that way. However, the guy that won didn't care! And I think America loves that. He just don't care and that's beautiful. I said from the first, I thought he'd win, only because he's so vulnerable. I also think he's going to be a movie star. I don't know why, but I just think that. I look at his face and I see James Dean. -
Jimmy Iovine
Why do you think Phillip won over Jessica?
They're both great, but they both do two very different things and appeal to completely different audiences. There were more [Phillip fans] than there were Jessica fans at this point, and that's probably what happened. He worked really hard and won a lot of people's hearts this year.What was the highlight performance for you this season?
I think it was Jessica's "I Will Always Love You," probably. And there was one of Phillips that I really liked but my brain is gone again and I'm going to call him Jessica in about a minute [Laughs].Did anyone else stand out for you this season?
You know Joshua [Ledet] is very talented, Skylar [Laine] is really talented. There are a bunch of kids; they just need work. This is the crazy thing – you go to a stadium, you audition and then you'll turn into this. And the hard part right now for Jessica and Phillip and Joshua is to leave this behind you. You have to leave this behind you and make your first album.Have you talked about who is going to work on Phillip's album with him?
I will meet with Phillip when I have some time and pick a producer. It will probably be the one producer. He wants to do a singer-songwriter album, so we got to find the right producer that's the best for him for that.Phillip has always been a little stubborn throughout the competition. Is that a good or bad thing when it comes to recording an album?
I've never met a musician who is not stubborn. It's a good thing. But you got to have a bit of give-and-take in the studio. This is a show and it's different to making a record.If you auditioned for Idol what would you sing?
"Happy Birthday." -
John Fogerty
What do you think of Phillip?
I love Phillip. He's very enthusiastic and I really think he's going to have a great career in music and show business.How did you pick the song you guys sang and put the arrangement together?
There was a list of a few songs and I wanted to do "Have You Ever Seen The Rain," even though they had done it recently. For some reason they have done a lot of my songs the last couple of months, which is a coincidence, but I loved it. So we had to avoid those, and we came up with "Bad Moon Rising."Have you been watching Idol much this season? What performances have you liked?
I have a ten-year-old daughter, and she loves the show and she picks her own favorites. I know she loved Hollie.As a music veteran, what advice would you give to people like Jessica and Phillip?
They are both really talented. I think they are going to do really well in show business. My first mantra is practice. Get really good at what you're trying to do.If you were just staring out today, would you audition for a show like this?
Absolutely. It would sure be a way to get to the front of the door real quick. Yeah, I would knock on those doors.What song would you sing?
I'd probably end up doing something like "Midnight Hour." I don't know if that's the right thing to say these days. -
Chaka Khan
What was it like performing with the Idol ladies?
Fabulous. Wonderful. I'm looking for new blood all the time. It's my 40th anniversary in the business and I'm working on a CD right now.Who were you rooting for?
Jessica.Would you do a duet with her?
I would love to. I wouldn't touch "I Would Always Love You," though. -
Janice Dickinson
Have you been watching Idol?
I've been watching Idol all season. My favorite is Phillip Phillips. I was here [Tuesday] night and I saw Jessica Sanchez blow it out of the park, but I'm confused on the way they are dressing her and the advice they are giving her. I would tell her to just be hip, modern, young and herself. They are making her look like a 50-year-old housewife. She doesn't even look like she's going to the prom. She looks like some stylist threw a piece on her and she's trooping around in it. Her voice overdoes everything. I love Jessica Sanchez. Love, love, love. She's bringing great hope for the Filipino nation and that's like a beautiful thing.Did you watch the recent SNL with Mick Jagger impersonating Steven Tyler?
You mean my ex-boyfriend who was Steven Tyler impersonating me? Because we all look alike with these lips. Holler back!Did he do it justice?
Yeah, Mick always rules everything. Sir Mick. You know, he was an ex of mine. We had fun back in the day. In the hay and the day.In the hay, too?
Yeah, we rolled around a lot. -
Julianne Hough
Who have you been rooting for?
If you follow my tweets, I think you'd get an idea who I'm liking. I'm crushing on Phillip. That song that he sang at the very end [Tuesday] night ["Home"] is a smash, no matter what. He's so unique, and he's so true to who he is.What was your favorite performance this year on the show?
I loved when Joshua Ledet sang "When a Man Loves a Woman." I was in New Orleans, which of course is where he's from, and I was just like, "Go Joshua. I'm here, I'm rooting for you from your hometown." That gave me chills. -
Haley Reinhart
Third Place, American Idol Season 10
What's been going on with your career since Idol?
It's been amazing. I just dropped my album, Listen Up!, yesterday and it's been wonderful. It was #5 [Tuesday] night on iTunes and getting really great reviews. It's a pleasure hearing all the great feedback on material that I wrote and put a lot of hard work into.What was your favorite performance this year on the show?
I think that Jessica took a big risk doing "I Will Always Love You," and I think that she nailed it. She's such a young singer – it was pretty incredible.If J.Lo doesn't come back next year, what would you miss most about her?
Her clothes. No, I'm just kidding. She's given me a lot of great input, and she shed a new light to the show and had a good dynamic with Steven and Randy. It would be sad to see her go so soon.Who would you like to replace her?
The person that comes to mind is Prince. Maybe him or Elton John. We already have Steven, which is amazing, so it would be cool to get another crooner in there.Did you see the SNL with Mick Jagger impersonating Steven?
No, but that sounds amazing. I'll have to check it out. I always thought that mouth was way too similar. -
Casey Abrams
Sixth Place, American Idol Season 10
What was your favorite performance this year on the show?
When Phillip did "The Stone," the Dave Matthews song.Have you been voting for Phillip, then?
I forgot to vote for him.What have you been up to since Idol?
I've been making some music, actually. I have an album coming out on the 26th of June. It's got some fun tracks on it. It's called Casey Abrams. It's as simple as that. -
Didi Benami
10th Place, American Idol Season 9
Who do you think is going to win tonight?
I really want to see a girl win – but as much as I want to see a girl win, I want to see a real artist do something amazing, and I think that Phillip is that. I think he's the next big thing.If Jennifer Lopez doesn't come back next season, what will you miss most about watching the show without her on it?
The support that she gives to the contestants is unreal. That's what's been missing from the show for so many years, I feel, is the support. When you're getting up on stage for the first time in front of millions of people like that and you've never done that kind of thing before, you need to have people rooting for you and be able to give you construction criticism and she does that really really well.Who should replace her if she leaves?
I think that it should be a woman, because I think the whole motherly vibe should be part of the show. I think that's what she brings to it, and a realness that is spectacular. Somebody was talking about Katy Perry earlier. Rihanna would be a good judge. She's been on the show so many times, so it might be good for her to come back and do it. -
Jacob Lusk
Fifth Place, American Idol Season 10
There are rumors that J.Lo won't come back next year. Who do you think should replace her?
I think J.Lo should replace herself. I think she should come back and cut her hair and wear a bikini.What have you been up to since Idol?
I have a new single dropping at the end of the summer. Gladys Knight's team is managing me and R. Kelly and his crew are producing the album, which should be out [next year]. -
Jonathan Mangum
Star of ABC's new improv comedy show with Wayne Brady (premiering on July 10th)
Who would you like to see win?
They're both great. I like Phillip Phillips just because he has two names that are the same. I'm thinking about changing mine to Jonathan Jonathans. But you know, the guitar thing. I like that. I like to hear that acoustic thing and I like the sound of his voice.But the two names thing is what really sold you?
It is. Wilson Phillips Phillips would be nice. I'm trying to think of other two name combinations that would work.