In Alphabetical Order by their first names, with excerpts from their Idol interviews.
Read their full interviews at AmericanIdol.com
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AJ Tabaldo
Age: 22
Hometown: Santa Maria, CA
Audition City: Los Angeles
What other talents do you have?I cut my own hair. LOL
Do you think the audition process was fair?
Yes…but there were a lot of good people who didn’t make it.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I’m an ethnic mutt! I’m part Filipino and Portuguese with Spanish, French, Italian and Chinese.
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Alaina Alexander
Age: 24
Hometown: West Hollywood, CA
Audition City: Los Angeles
What other talents do you have?I’m also a songwriter and I can burp really good.
If you don’t make it on AMERICAN IDOL, what will you do?
Maybe go to school, I don’t really know.
Do you think the audition process was fair?
I don’t think a lot of it was fair, but life in general isn’t really fair.
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Amy Krebs
Age: 22
Hometown: Federal Way, WA
Audition City: Seattle
Do you have any formal singing training?AMDA – musical theatre training in New York
If you don’t make it on AMERICAN IDOL, what will you do?
Keep working on getting an album put together.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I lived in Germany for 3 years and speak German.
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Antonella Barba
Age: 20
Hometown: Point Pleasant, NJ
Audition City: New York
If you don’t make it on AMERICAN IDOL, what will you do?Finish school.
Who is your AMERICAN IDOL?
Amanda, cuz she gave me the encouragement and support to get here.
Do you have any lucky charms?
Only with milk.
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Blake Lewis
Age: 25
Hometown: Bothell, WA
Audition City: Seattle
Do you have any formal singing training?Yes
Who is your AMERICAN IDOL?
Chris Sligh, Rudy Cardenas
How has this changed your life?
Ask me again in a year.
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Brandon Rogers
Age: 28
Hometown: North Hollywood, CA
Audition City: Los Angeles
Do you have any formal singing training?Lessons in college.
If you couldn’t sing, which talent would you most like to have?
Acting.
What’s been your toughest obstacle in life?
Getting back on my feet after my boyband disbanded. [*snort*]
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Chris Richardson
Age: 22
Hometown: Chesapeake, VA
Audition City: New York
What other talents do you have?Guitar, drums, piano, drawings, songwriter, poetry.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
Very self-conscious about myself, but hide it well.
Do you think the audition process was fair?
Really don’t know what’s fair and unfair in this competition b/c there’s so much talent here and everywhere else, it’s hard to choose everyone. But as for the people here, awesome choices.
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Chris Sligh
Age: 28
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Audition City: Birmingham
Do you have any formal singing training?Yes-3 credits shy of degree in vocal performance.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I’m chubby.
Do you have any lucky charms?
Yes, they’re magically delicious.
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Gina Glocksen
Age: 22
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Audition City: Memphis
When did you first start to sing?In the womb – Haha. No, about 7 years old.
Most embarrassing moments?
Oh geez… I was about—I won’t tell you how old I was—but I had a habit of peeing in my pants.
What is your definition of AMERICAN IDOL?
Someone who will follow their dream and will anything to succeed.
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Haley Scarnato
Age: 24
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Audition City: San Antonio
What are your personal goals in life?Career in music and live my life fully through God.
What is your definition of AMERICAN IDOL?
All around talent with awesome attitude that shines through performances.
If you win, who will you thank first?
God, of course.
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Jared Cotter
Age: 25
Hometown: Kew Gardens, NY
Audition City: New York
What are your personal goals in life?To be successful and make myself and my family proud.
Who are your heroes in life?
Jesus and my dad.
If you win, who will you thank first?
My mother for telling me to audition.
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Jordin Sparks
Age: 17
Hometown: Glendale, AZ
Audition City: Seattle
Who is your AMERICAN IDOL?Tony Dungy because he’s gone through so much and still holds his head high.
Who are your heroes in life?
My heroes are just everyday people who work hard, are honest and have integrity.
Do you think the audition process was fair?
Yes. Everyone knows what they’re getting into.
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Lakisha Jones
Age: 27
Hometown: Fort Meade, MD
Audition City: New York
What has been your proudest moment in life so far?When I gave birth to my daughter (Brionne)
What is your definition of AMERICAN IDOL?
A leader
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
Not much. What you see is what you get.
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Leslie Hunt
Age: 24
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Audition City: Los Angeles
What other talents do you have?I can write one heck of an essay. Oh yeah, and I compose music.
If you don’t make it on AMERICAN IDOL, what will you do?
I will continue on this path like my hair’s on fire!
What’s been your toughest obstacle in life?
Living my life with lupus.
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Melinda Doolittle
Age: 29
Hometown: Brentwood, TN
Audition City: Memphis
Do you have any formal singing training?Yes – college (Music Major) and vocal lessons ever since
What are your personal goals in life?
To represent Christ well and do everything 150%
How has this changed your life?
I’m singing lead now. Who knew?!
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Nicholas Pedro
Age: 25
Hometown: Taunton, MA
Audition City: New York
If you couldn’t sing, which talent would you most like to have?Pro baseball player.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
That I’m a formally trained artist.
What’s been your toughest obstacle in life?
Self doubt.
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Nicole Tranquillo
Age: 20
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Audition City: Memphis
Do you have any formal singing training?Yes – 10 years
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I am an avid hip hop dancer and sometimes teach hip hop on the side.
Do you think the audition process was fair?
Absolutely. I think the judges have enough experience to know who the next American Idol could be.
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Paul Kim
Age: 25
Hometown: Saratoga, CA
Audition City: Los Angeles
What other talents do you have?Horticulture expert, I cut my own hair, I play basketball, I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
How has this changed your life?
I like the fact that I haven’t had to go back to my day jobs.
Do you think the audition process was fair?
Yes, but so many amazing singers went home.
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Phil Stacey
Age: 29
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Audition City: Memphis
When did you first start to sing?I’m a pastors kid, so Mom and Dad had me singing in church as soon as I could.
If you don’t make it on AMERICAN IDOL, what will you do?
I don’t even know—probably just curl up in a big ball and cry myself to sleep.
Do you think the audition process was fair?
There are moments that seemed jacked up to me, but overall, it is absolutely the best way to conduct a competition on this scale.
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Rudy Cardenas
Age: 28
Hometown: North Hollywood, CA
Audition City: Seattle
What are your personal goals in life?To unconditionally love my wife, family, friends and myself. To put out real, inspired, smart music.
If you couldn’t sing, which talent would you most like to have?
Quarterback for the Denver Broncos.
Who is your favorite judge and why?
Randy because he is an incredible bass player.
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Sabrina Sloan
Age: 27
Hometown: Studio City, CA
Audition City: Minneapolis
Do you have any formal singing training?Yes – Private lessons and voice coaches training at Northwestern University
What’s been your toughest obstacle in life?
Moving to NY a week after 9/11 into a cockroach-infested closet apartment to pursue singing.
If you win, who will you thank first?
My husband, Chip for his patience, support, encouragement and unchanging love.
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Sanjaya Malakar
Age: 17
Hometown: Federal Way, WA
Audition City: Seattle
Who is your AMERICAN IDOL?Stevie Wonder.
What’s been your toughest obstacle in life?
Overcoming shyness.
Do you think the audition process was fair?
Yes, grueling but fair.
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Stephanie Edwards
Age: 19
Hometown: Savannah, GA
Audition City: Memphis
What are your personal goals in life?To live a life that I won’t regret after I’m in Heaven.
Who is your AMERICAN IDOL?
Fantasia.
What has been your proudest moment in life so far?
Winning the title of “Savannah Star” 2005.
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Sundance Head
Age: 28
Hometown: Porter, TX
Audition City: Memphis
What other talents do you have?I play guitar, bass guitar, piano, write songs, and record well on tape.
Who is your AMERICAN IDOL?
My dad, Roy Head-the gold record hanging in the hallway of our house gives me the motivation and dream to become successful in the music business.
What has been your proudest moment in life so far?
Watching my son being born--his name is Levi Aron Head-born Nov. 22, 2006.
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There are also hi-res photos of the top 24 available at yahoo.com
