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‘I definitely got distracted by the cameras and the fact that the judges were going to criticize me in front of 30 million people on live TV,’ he says. By Katie Byrne John Park Photo: Fox His “American Idol” journey might have come to an end Thursday, but John Park will always have Shania Twain. The guest judge made Park’s audition one of the most memorable of the season, with her borderline-inappropriate comments about his “bottom end.” The Northbrook, Illinois, college student never quite lived up to his initial promise, however, and he was sent packing , along with Jermaine Sellers , Haeley Vaughn and Michelle Delamor. We caught up with the 21-year-old Friday (March 5) to talk about the judges’ harsh comments, his early front-runner status and what’s next. Q : After your performance this week, Simon made a comment about your college a cappella group getting their lead singer back. What were you thinking when he said that? A : He was basically saying that I might go home this week. He, of course, dramatized it so that people at home watch it and they can get a kick out of it. I don’t really mind it, because I understand where he’s coming from. That’s just how he is on TV. After the elimination happened and I sang my last song, he came up to me and shook my hand and said, “Good job for coming this far.” He’s not that mean of a guy, actually. Q : It seemed like you and Andrew Garcia have been dogged from the start with the early front-runner status. Do you think that held you back at all? A : I think it was mostly song choice and nerves. I definitely got distracted by the cameras and the fact that the judges were going to criticize me in front of 30 million people on live TV, so I think that kind of took away from my concentration on just singing the song honestly. I couldn’t do my best to interpret the song my own way. Q : The judges got on your case about not showing them what kind of artist you would be. What type of music do you see yourself making? A : I think it would be more pop, neo-soul. Kind of like a John Mayer, John Legend, Gavin DeGraw kind of feel to it. Q : Were there past “American Idol” contestants who inspired you to try out for the show? A : My favorite “Idol” winner was Kelly Clarkson. I just vividly remember her finale show, when she sang “A Moment Like This,” and she was crying onstage. It was just an incredible moment for me when I was a kid. Were you sad to see John go? Did you think the judges were overly hard on him? Let us know below! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season Nine Performances The ‘American Idol’ Season 9 Top 24
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John Park Got Caught Up With ‘Nerves’ On ‘American Idol’
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‘I’m a really big fan of Disney and Disney Channel, so hopefully there’s something there that I can work on,’ she says. By Katie Byrne Haeley Vaughn Photo: Fox Haeley Vaughn’s smile was infectious, but her uneven singing left the “American Idol” judges (and fans) frustrated. After her shaky performance of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb,” Vaughn was eliminated Thursday, along with Jermaine Sellers , John Park and Michelle Delamor. Will the 16-year-old’s country/pop dreams still come true? We talked to the high-schooler from Fort Collins, Colorado, on Friday (March 5) to talk about that and more. Q : What did you think when Kara suggested you take a year to strengthen your vocal skills? A : I kind of agreed with her. I think that more experience and more time working on my vocals would be good. I think experience is always better, especially since I’m only 16 and this is the first big thing that I’ve done ever. I’ve never performed in front of millions of people before; I’ve never even performed in front of 100. I think it’s always good to get more experience and work on the things that I need to work on. Q : The contestants seem to be particularly nervous this year. Is the anxiety level really high? A : The first week was really tough. We were all super nervous and scared and worried about our song choice. The first week, we were all just freaking out and trying to pick the right songs and make sure America would like them. Nerves are always gonna play a huge factor in what we do on the show. Q : Why didn’t you sing any country songs during your first two semifinal performances? A : The songs I chose, I made them kind of pop/country. I wanted to not have to sing Martina McBride every week just because I wanted to be a country artist. When Carrie Underwood was on her season, she didn’t sing only country songs. She was very versatile, and she chose songs of a different genre and she made them fit her country style. And that was my whole thing that I did too. Q : Do you think the judges have been particularly rough this year? A : Simon was definitely really harsh this season. But, I mean, he has reason to be. … Sometimes he should soften the blow a little bit, but that’s Simon Cowell. He’s been like that for nine years. Q : Are you going to go back to school or focus on your career? A : I’m definitely gonna keep working on my career. I’m gonna keep singing. Hopefully, doors will open up for me. I’m a really big fan of Disney and Disney Channel, so hopefully there’s something there that I can work on. I’m just gonna keep working on my career and doing what I love to do. Q : What kind of career do you see yourself having? A : Miley Cyrus is one of my icons. Oh my gosh, I love her…. Country music is definitely my genre, pop/country. And playing my guitar is awesome. Yeah, if I were given the chance to do that, I would definitely jump on it. Q : Have you had a chance to talk to any “American Idol” alumni to get advice? A : I talked to Allison [Iraheta] for a bit when she came and she performed the first week. And she just told me to stay true to who I am and keep doing my thing and keep doing one genre of music and just be really strong and confident. Were you sad to see Haeley go? Do you think she should have performed some more country songs? Let us know below! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season Nine Performances The ‘American Idol’ Season 9 Top 24 Related Artists Miley Cyrus
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‘American Idol’ Castoff Haeley Vaughn Says Miley Cyrus Is An ‘Icon’
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Tagged artists, Career, drake, electronica, green, haeley vaughn, Hollywood, jason-merritt, mind, Mtv, news article, power, says-the-record, statik-selektah
‘I love this record,’ DJ Khaled says. By Shaheem Reid Drake Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images Although Drake has had a string of hits on radio and in the club, from his own “Best I Ever Had” to collaborations like “Forever” and “Say Something,” the pressure was on for the first official single from Thank Me Later to deliver. And, judging from the reaction he’s getting from some of hip-hop’s biggest tastemakers, Drizzy has another smash on his hands with “Over.” ” ‘Over’ is real dope,” DJ Statik Selektah said. “He could have chose to run with a soft, candy-coated record, but he didn’t. The beat is crazy. I’m looking forward to his album!” “I love this record,” DJ Khaled told MTV News. “It’s amazing! It’s special! Drake did it again! It’s a hit!” “I think Drake’s record is dope,” said host of MTV2’s “Sucker Free” and Power 105.1 on-air personality DJ Envy. “I know he had a lot of pressure and the world staring at him, but I think he delivered. He did it his way — outside the box. Drake’s song talks about how he’s dealing with his fame since coming on the scene last year. “On a couple of different levels, it’s not what you might think somebody would do,” DJ Green Lantern said. “Its not like, ‘Let me make “Best I Ever Had” Part 2.’ It’s an everybody type of record.” “I put him in the box with Kanye, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne — artists that love the craft,” Envy added. “As I’m listening [to the song], I’m like, ‘Yeah man. It’s dope,” Green Lantern said. “In the sense of the general straight-listener sense, it’s a catchy song. It’s a catchy song that will stick in your mind, be on repeat and connect to people. ‘I’m doing me.’ That was the first part that stuck out to me. The ‘hood is gonna love the ‘I’m doing me. I’m doing me.’ That’s the ‘hood right there.” Green says the record has ‘hood and pop appeal — it’s universal. “As Drake said before, the hipsters and the hood f—s with him, so his single has to be across the board. The Jay Electronica lovers f— with Drake and the Lil Wayne/Gucci Mane lovers f— with Drake, so his single has to go across the board. It’s not a lot of people that could do that. Technically, the beat is different too — it’s a sample. I’m like, ‘This sh– is dope.’ ” Related Artists Drake
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Drake’s New Single ‘Over’ Is ‘Real Dope,’ According To DJs
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Tagged drake, electronica, green, Hollywood, jason-merritt, mind, Mtv, news article, outside-the-box, power, says-the-record, single, statik-selektah
Last year’s runner-up also tweets support for Casey James and Andrew Garcia. By Hillary Crosley Adam Lambert Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images Not one for holding his tongue , “American Idol” alum Adam Lambert tweeted about his favorite contestant of the new season: Todrick Hall . “[Todrick is] def gonna surprise us!! Mad talent!! Def the full package,” Lambert tweeted . And the “Whataya Want From Me” singer didn’t stop before congratulating competitors Casey James and Andrew Garcia as well. “Casey is def the real deal. Authentic. Andrew Garcia’s too,” he added. While each of the contestants has their own strengths, Hall and Lambert come from the same musical-theater background. Lambert brought his performance experience from the Los Angeles cast of “Wicked” to “American Idol.” On the other hand, Hall, a 24-year-old “actor/playwright” from Arlington, Texas, acted beside “Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino in Oprah Winfrey’s “The Color Purple” and was part of the Disney World productions of “High School Musical 2” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Lambert’s Twitter support is also a bit nostalgic, considering “Idol” alumni like Kelly Clarkson joined Team Lambert last year. Season-five finalist Chris Daughtry also put in his two cents about the men on Twitter , simply writing, “Ouch…that’s all,” after Wednesday night’s live-performance show. Lambert’s opinion on Hall didn’t quite match our top 12 men’s report card . Instead, James’ acoustic version of Bryan Adams’ “Heaven” put him on top. We voted Hall’s take on Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” as satisfactory, but the kid showed guts. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Artists Adam Lambert
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Adam Lambert Picks His ‘American Idol’ Favorite: Todrick Hall
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Tagged artists, casey-james, Hollywood, jason-merritt, Mtv, Music, news article, oprah-winfrey, performance, school, TMZ, tweets
‘Every day is another curveball, but now I know how to handle it,’ she tells Ryan Seacrest. By Jocelyn Vena Rihanna Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images While Rihanna is happy that the media’s focus is on her new album, Rated R, instead of Chris Brown ‘s much-publicized assault, she said things will never be the same for her.
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Rihanna Says Her life Is ‘More Intense’ Now
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Tagged Album, Getty Images, jason-merritt, jocelyn-vena, Mtv, Music, news article, radio
‘It’s warm and welcoming, and everyone’s screaming,’ Leighton Meester says of awards show’s high-energy crowd. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Larry Carroll Leighton Meester at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images On “Gossip Girl,” Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick play star-crossed lovers Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass, battling for supremacy in the game of love. But in real life, the co-stars and occasional musicians are two very grateful actors after their Teen Choice Awards wins Sunday night
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‘Gossip Girl’ Stars Reflect On ‘Electric’ Teen Choice Awards
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Tagged Actress, blair-waldorf, choice-awards, Game, gossip-girl, Hollywood, Images, jason-merritt, loves-the-show, meester, Music, news article, Photos, Videos
‘[Simon Cowell] misses me already,’ Abdul says.
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Paula Abdul Discusses ‘American Idol’ Departure
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Designer Nicole Richie attends the House of Harlow, Clandestine Industries and Switch Boutique Fashion Show held at Boulevard3 on June 4, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for MMA) Remember when Nicole Richie used to hit up LA nightclubs with Paris Hilton and take every opportunity to say something scandalous
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Tagged designer, Fashion Show, Getty Images, House, Images, jason-merritt, joel-400x338, nicole, nicole richie, richie, second-child, switch-boutique, the-beach, time, weekend
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