Michael Johns Elimination Interview

American Idol' Exit Q&A: Michael Goes Home

Your exit performance was perhaps your best. What were you thinking?
I wasn't thinking; I was feeling. I would be lying if I said I wasn't shocked. I hadn't been in the bottom three and I thought the last two or three weeks had been my strongest. But we're in this competition and stuff can happen and it did.

Fox

Fans booed after your elimination. How do you feel about that reaction?
It means that I struck a nerve somewhere. I definitely was aware of [the booing], it was pretty loud. It made me feel really special, actually. I've been getting letters and flowers and all sorts of gifts and stuff. Thank you and I'll see you on tour. And I'm going to give you guys a good record by next year.

Fox

How'd you feel when Ryan gave you false hope about an 'Idol Gives Back' reprieve?
I get the television aspect of this competition, but it was tough. I'm thinking, "Oh wait a second, I'm not going home, maybe they're just having a good laugh." But then reality set in and Ryan gave me a look as if to say, "I am so sorry I had to do that." I don't hold it against Ryan.

Fox

Do you regret any of your song choices?
Absolutely no regrets at all. [Simon] wanted me to sing soul/blues stuff every week and you can't. I'm going to be a rock-soul singer, I'm going to make that kind of record and I'm glad I've stayed true to that throughout the entire competition.

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People consider you the Chris Daughtry of this season. What do you think?
I've been hearing that. Chris is an amazing artist and a great guy above that. I got to meet him a few times and everyone has nothing but good things to say about him. So to be put in that category, I feel very fortunate.

You have a goofy personality offstage. Why didn't you show it during the show?
When I perform, I go into a zone, even in dress rehearsals. I don't know what comes out of me sometimes. Offstage, I'm a whole different person, I'm just Michael. I like to have fun and cut it up. But on stage is where I go to work, you know?

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

What did you learn from this experience?
How to deal with no sleep [laughs]. I'm really proud of the fact that my friends and family -- from every interview they've seen, any quotes they've read -- have seen that I've been me through the whole process. Just because it's an enormous machine doesn't mean you have to change with it.

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Did you hear from your idol, Dolly Parton?
I was on the line with 'Fox and Friends,' doing an interview. And they were doing an interview with Dolly. Then all of a sudden, Dolly was saying, "Michael, I couldn't believe you got voted off." And the fact that she loved what I did to ['It's All Wrong, But It's All Right'] ... was amazing. Then she said she would love to write [for me]and maybe do a duet one of these days. That was pretty cool.

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You seemed really into the group numbers. What was that about?
Dave Cook and I tried to bring as much light to it as [we] could. If you take that stuff too seriously, you end up looking like an idiot. We went the other way with it -- just trying to have fun with it and laugh. I actually really enjoyed Wednesdays. Not Thursdays, but Wednesdays! [laughs]

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Some famous Aussies have contacted you. Who were they and what did they say?
I got a reach-out from Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman saying that I was their favorite and they watched every week. It's just amazing how far this show reaches.

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