What's Up With Bo Bice

Posted 01/08/09, 10:00 AM GMT by Andrew Scott
Categories: Interviews, Life After 'Idol'

He was the original rocker.

During season 4 of 'American Idol,' Bo Bice wowed audiences week after week, infusing the pop-centric show with a much-needed dose of Southern twang. He kept a close race with eventual winner Carrie Underwood, and their final showdown proved to be as nail-biting as Ruben vs. Clay.

Since finishing second on 'Idol,' Bo has released two albums, 'The Real Thing' and 'See the Light,' toured the world and even became a father of two sons, Aidan and Caleb.

Along the way, he faced a number of life-threatening health battles. Diagnosed with intussusception (blockage of the intestine), the singer's been in and out of the hospital several times in his post-'Idol' days. In August 2005, while touring with 'American Idol,' he underwent emergency surgery to remove an intestinal blockage. Later that year, he was hospitalized for coughing up blood, only to have emergency surgery again in 2006.

Luckily, Bo doing a lot better today; he's had a clean bill of health for a year and a half.
Bo recently chatted with AOL TV about his 'Idol' experience, his new CD, his part in all new episodes of 'American Idol Rewind' (premieres Sat., Jan. 31) ... and which judge he'd want on a deserted island.

1.) It's been almost four years since you were a contestant on 'American Idol.' What have you been up to lately?
You know, 'Idol' launched me ... really put me in front of millions of people, and gave me the availability to go and tour, and do things that I've been doing ... We had great success with Clive Davis after 'Idol' with 'The Real Thing,' which a lot of people know that album; it went gold, and almost platinum on that one. And then after that ... I had some health issues, which started to really show when I was on 'Idol.' And I just took some time after [that] ... I had to have about three surgeries; took some time off, just wanted to be a dad and a husband and really recuperate.

2.) How are you feeling today?
We've had a year-and-a-half of a good, clean bill of health; I'm doing a lot better ... But that really set me up to where after the surgeries and stuff -- and then I got dropped from RCA -- I just knew what I was gonna be doing, because I've always done music. This is what I love to do ... so I just immersed myself into the next CD, 'See the Light,' and started my own record label. [Then] we recorded a live album. We started out in Afghanistan at the first of the year with the troops, and then came back and toured the whole [United States]. Then we finished up in Iraq ... We're putting out a live CD next year that's gonna have three or four new studio tracks ... But then it's also gonna also be a live album, so people can experience the Bo Bice show.

3.) Are you happy that a rocker finally won 'American Idol'?
I was so proud of David Cook. He took it home ... did the job Bo couldn't do [laughs] ... I think that David's gonna be the one that makes me proud, man, because he seems like a very genuine person from just meeting him a few times ... I really thought David Archuleta was gonna take it home just because of the votes. And it was so doggone close, and when David [Cook] won, I don't even know if they panned to me or not, but I just jumped up out of my seat ... I was so happy. [But] it's not about being a star. It's about being a stand up dude, and that cat's got it.



4.) Would you ever consider returning to 'Idol' to be a guest judge or mentor?
They ain't gonna let my redneck butt come up there and mentor. Mentor what? Turn people into rednecks like me? [laughs] Goodness gracious. I'd have people standing up and walking up on the judges' tables. You think they'd let me teach them how to do all that stuff? Get out of here. [laughs] ... Would I be a guest judge? Oh, man. If they asked me to be a guest judge on 'Idol,' I would come back in a heartbeat.

5.) Kara DioGuardi, who worked with you on 'The Real Thing,' will be a fourth judge this season. How do you think she'll do?
I think that she, personally, is gonna be an asset to the show ... I think Kara is gonna bring it in and kind of add an even balance ... If you were to put her in line ... she'd have to sit in between Simon and Randy .... She can be brutal like Simon, but she's still got some love like Paula. I think it's gonna add ... more flavor to the mix.

6.) Speaking of changes, do you have any resolutions for 2009?
My New Year's resolution is something I already started working on ... [It's] to let things go a little bit more, because I'm a real high strung; I'm a perfectionist. I don't cuss a lot in public ... because I'm very mindful of my audience and kids. But sometimes when I let my temper get the best of me, I let some choice words fly. And so, that's my other resolution, is to stop ... the derivatives of F-bombs.

7.) Who would you rather be stuck on a deserted island with: Simon, Paula, Randy or Ryan?
I love Ryan. I mean, he's a good guy, so I ain't making fun of him. But I think after two days of not having hair product, Ryan would get a little testy [laughs] ... I'm gonna pick Paula ... she's a beautiful woman, I'm stuck there forever. Who else would you rather be stuck on a deserted island with? ... We'll get Simon and Randy to be the mariachi band [laughs].