TV Tattler: Celebrity Interviews

'American Idol' Season Six Exit Interviews:
Gina Glocksen

The day after the 'American Idol' hopefuls are voted off the show, they're talking to us. Check back each week for excerpts of press interviews with eliminated contestants. Plus, check out our 'American Idol' full coverage for news, recaps, photos, rumors and more.


Gina Glocksen
Eliminated: April 4
Age: 22
Hometown: Naperville, Ill.

Are you second-guessing your decision to mellow out as much as you did for 'Smile'?
I am not regretting anything. I'm not. I was happy that I had a chance to sing that song, because it kind of showed America that I also have a voice and not just a rocker image. I also have a voice to sing with.

What was it like, having auditioned four times before, finally getting on the show?
It's amazing. I wouldn't have done it any other way. I'm glad that I got cut the previous rounds when I did because they obviously thought that I had things to work on. I did that and I had a couple years to work on it. I think that really came out this year. I did what I had to do, and I think I did it well.

Did you and the other contestants talk about how viewers could be looking for something more than excellent singing?
We talk about it all the time, but we just always came to the same conclusion that we have no idea. Completely clueless of what they want, so we just have to make sure that we take the judges' comments to heart and stay true to who you are, and that's what's going to get you far in the competition.

What was going through your mind at that moment of elimination?
I was really disappointed, because at no point in time on Tuesday night or preparing for Wednesday night, did I think that I'd be going home, not this week. I thought that I had a really good performance on Tuesday, and I was really proud of the song that I chose and the way that I chose to present it. So it was just emotional to know that I was going to be going home. I didn't even have a chance to be in the bottom three ever, and the one time that I was, I'm going home. So it was pretty hard.

Do you consider yourself like a rocker singer, or do you feel that was kind of forced upon you because nobody else fit that genre on the show?
No, actually I love rock music. And if there's anything that I wanted to bring to the show it would be a chick rock singer. I think that the thing about me is that I'm very versatile with the genres. I've been singing in a cover band since I was 16 years old, so I know how to cover each genre pretty well. But I'm more comfortable as a rocker girl.

We read that you were asked not to wear your tongue ring in the beginning of the show. And after a while, we know that you put it back in. Was that a hindrance for the people who were voting for your look and style?
I think they focused on my singing talent and the song choices. And if that was the reason why they didn't follow through with voting for me, then I'm OK with that because I was just continuing to be myself. I've had my tongue ring in for three years, and to take it out for a couple shows, it kind of seemed funny to me. It's who I am, and that's why people like me. It's why people don't and I'm OK with either one.

Do you feel that Simon was tough on you? And was it because he wanted to see you fail?
No. I kind of considered Simon as a parent. I guess maybe like the tough love kind of thing, they'll tell you what you don't want to hear, so you'll do the opposite. And I think he'll say that I had a bad performance, just to make me stronger, because he did like me and he does see something special in me. And I think he just wanted to push me to that next level.

Was it tough to see Sanjaya place higher than the three of you in the bottom?
It's funny that everyone is asking is it tough that Sanjaya did, I mean it's tough that all the other eight people did. It's not just Sanjaya.

But there's a sense that he's not as good as the rest of you.
He's just different. It's not that he's better or worse. He's Sanjaya and Jordin is Jordin and Chris is Chris and Blake is Blake; America, I guess, was through with me, and that's fine. I'm fine with it. I'm going to tour.

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