The day after getting their tickets punched to the top 12, Alexis Grace, Michael Sarver and Danny Gokey took some time to talk to me and other writers across the country about the crazy turn their lives have just taken.

I asked Alexis about her style choices and Michael talked about his working-man appeal. The toughest question of the call was when I asked Danny about how he is going to handle the story of his wife's passing and try to avoid having people view him as a sympathy vote.

He handled it incredibly well and said, among other things, "this is a sob story I don't want."

Keep reading to see what they had to say.

Alexis Grace:
At just about 5-feet and slightly under 100 pounds, Alexis Grace packs a mighty large voice in a small package. She wowed the judges on Tuesday and cruised into the top 12 last night. She talked about leaving her daughter behind, where her blues inspiration comes from, and what it was like for the judges to compare her to Kelly Clarkson.

On how much input the singers have in creating the arrangements...
The thing about "American Idol" is that it's a show that helps form you as an artist and we've got the best people working on the show to help you. You should really just listen and take their advice because they know what they're talking about. Ricky Minor has a big to do with the arrangements, but, yeah, you have input.

On whether her daughter understands that her mom is a singer on TV...
I would hope that she'd understand. That'd be really cool if she did. She watches the show with my family when it comes on, and when I come on the TV, she points at it and she screams, "Mommy!"

On whether she's nervous about leaving her daughter behind...
I am nervous, any mom would be nervous because, you know, it's their kid and they are attached to their child. But it's only for a little time and this little time apart, as long as I work hard and stay dedicated to it, it will be worthwhile. This is all to better our lives.

On who picks her wardrobe and what kind of style she wants to portray...
I kind of like the old '60s soul, cocktail dress kind of vibe. I have a lot of input into my wardrobe, and I like to go shopping and try to work on it as a product, almost. Not a product, but trying to really form my look together. Especially as an artist, people want to be able to identify with you that way.

On where her bluesy sound comes from...
From my hometown, Memphis. You hear blues all the time. My dad is a big influence and my mom, too, plays it. When you grow up playing it all the time, that's what you end up sounding like.

On her decision to take on an Aretha Franklin song Tuesday night...
I knew that I could sing in that range, for one thing. That's my range, I'm pretty comfortable with that. But, I don't know, I feel connected to her music, somehow. I feel like that's just my style, so I went with it.

On the judges comparing her to Kelly Clarkson...
It's more than flattering. It really just shook my world when they said that, in a good way. Now I'm just going to really step up my game and prove to them that they're right.

On her experience with Tatiana del Toro...
Honestly, Tatiana and I never really talked a whole bunch just because I kind of kept to myself a little bit. But you know what I can tell you about Tatiana, she is determined and she is going to be something someday. She's hilarious.

On which mentors she would most like to work with...
I don't have one I would want to work with most, but I have a few: Aretha Franklin, Fleetwood Mac, I would love, and Bruce Springsteen.
 
Michael Sarver:
Michael Sarver used to work on an oil rig, in case you didn't. His likability and smooth, slightly twangy voice pushed him just ahead of Anoop Desai into the top 12. He was asked about his screen time and whether than was an advantage, as well as what it meant for him to have Simon Cowell say he hoped the voters would give him another chance.

On whether there were surprises from the real experience compared to what he expected...
Something unique that I didn't expect about "American Idol" is how close you get to the people you work with and the other contestants. You find yourself watching and go, "Oh, c'mon, you can't be that close. It's a competition!" But I really have been compeltely pleasantly surprised by the relationships that I've experienced.

On whether Simon's plea on Tuesday, hoping voters would put Michael through, helped him...
I can't deny that I think that could have had something to do with it. Simon making a plea for me, on my behalf, I don't take that lightly at all. I really take that as a compliment. I have no doubt it had an impact and I appreciate it.

On whether his working-man persona is a unique advantage...
I can acknowledge that the "hard-working American" is part of the appeal. People can relate to me, especially with the economy the way it is. Maybe people see in my story that someone can rise from the ashes. Not that my life is bad, but things are tough.

On whether getting more air time than other contestants was a factor...
You definitely can't deny that extra exposure helps. It definitely tells people who you are. It's one of the main things that we try to get across. It definitely got people a little closer to me.

On whether anyone else's story has touched him...
Another story that really hits me is Danny Gokey, because my wife is my absolute best friend and I'll tell you if she did pass away, I don't know how I would get up the next day. I have mad, mad respect for Danny Gokey.

On his reaction to the judges saying he'd lost his original soul...
I don't remember the exact words, but I don't feel they were trying to portray that I'd lost something, as much as telling me not to step away from it. I actually felt it was a compliment rather than a criticism, because it means that they expect more from me.
 
Danny Gokey:
There's no denying Danny Gokey's voice and sheer talent propelled him to the top 12, but some people are already wondering if he is getting sympathy votes on the heels of the story that his wife passed away just before he auditioned for the show. He talked about that and his friend, Jamar Rogers, who gained plenty of fan support of his own but was eliminated by the judges before he reached the top 36.

On what it's like getting so much support so early in the competition...
I'm honored. I'm first of all honored that people support me. I think very highly of everyone who supports me. I just hope that I can keep them through, all the way through the competition.

On the reaction his friend, Jamar Rogers, received after being eliminated before the top 36...
As you could see from the show they aired it on, I was mad. I had a pretty upset look on my face, because I expected him to go through. I even said, "I'll see you in the top 36." I was just so confident that he showed his ability and what it takes to get there. That disappointment was completely in my mind and heart. But I think especially because of the way people have responded, he has a bright future.

On how he'll balance the story of his wife and avoid the appearance of looking for sympathy votes...
People coming in from the outside view probably will think it's too much (discussion of my wife), but it has only been seven months since she passed. It's not that I throw it in people's faces, but everybody wants to hear what I have to say about it. It weighs on my mind a lot, but, honestly, this is a sob story I don't want. I don't want this story, but it's shaping my life and it's causing hope for for a lot of people and it's causing hope for my life.

I didn't want to live anymore after she passed. But now I have my mission set in stone. I don't have to portray myself as anybody aside from being me. There is a fun side to me that's going to come out. I apologize to everybody if they feel like it's shoved in people's face, but it's so fresh in my mind.

His thoughts on standing there at the end with Tatiana del Toro...
With Tatiana, you expect the unexpected, but she really is a great person. She wants it so bad and you see the desire and the passion in her and I think at times that can maybe hurt her image on TV.

On what he would like to improve...
I want to clean up my vocals. I notice when I'm singing, I sometimes hit a flat or a sharp here. But on the other hand, I like taking risks when I'm singing. I like being able to jump off the bridge and somehow land on my feet. But that really is my strategy, to clean up become more professional.

On what his wife might be doing if she were around to see his experience...
My wife would just be telling all her friends. She would be going to the store trying to buy clothes and trying to get herself all cute and telling people she was going to go watch the show. She would be so happy. She would just be so happy.

On whether he's noticed how much attention he's received on the show...
Honestly, I do feel like I was highlighted. There's no getting around that. I didn't do anything to get that. I can say this, I'm grateful that they would do that. I have no control over it. Unfortunately, it's a bummer when people are really mad about it. But there's nothing I can do about it.

On whether he sees himself as a Christian artist or mainstream artist after the show is over...
Honestly, I don't know yet. But the answer I'm leaning toward is that it would be out in the mainstream market. There's a lot of good Christian singers, but I can just go out and do something outside my box. I believe that I can just be a singer who's a Christian.

*** Click here to comment! What do you think about what the singers had to say?



Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 02-19-2009 07:10 PM