TV Tattler: Celebrity Interviews

'American Idol' Season Six Exit Interviews:
Stephanie Edwards and Brandon Rogers

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.



Stephanie Edwards
Eliminated: March 21
Age: 19
Hometown: Savannah, Ga.

A lot of us were stunned to see the pairing of you and Chris in the bottom two. On a scale from one to 10, how shocked were you?
I was probably about a five, just because of my performance from the night before the results. I think I just had a feeling that I was going to be in the bottom because of what the judges said about my performance. And I was right.

If you had it to do all over again, would you have done anything differently this week?
I would have definitely chosen an upbeat, faster song, just because the judges said they like me singing upbeat songs better, so I would have done that differently -- definitely.

The judges said they thought you lost a little steam. Did you agree with them?
I just felt that I kind of lost myself in the mix of them comparing me to other contestants. I was trying to please the judges, and I should have just pleased myself and pleased America obviously, because they're the ones who are voting. It was up to them in the end. I just lost myself, I think. That's the only thing I can say really.

Did you ever feel like you were having trouble competing with Lakisha, Melinda and Jordin with the whole "diva" category?
Yes -- I don't know, not so much Jordin I think, but the judges did definitely compare me to Lakisha and Melinda. I think that's where I kind of started trying to sing ballads and show off more vocals. I should have just stuck to what I do best, which is put on a show and just perform more and not so much of all the belting and everything. So I think I just kind of lost myself in that whole mix of being compared to them. I just never quite found it in time before America voted me off.

Do you think it was fair for them to constantly compare the three of you?
I don't, but they are going to say what they feel, so whether I thought it was fair or not, they can do that basically. They are able to compare whoever they want to compare; they're the judges.

What was the most encouraging comment or advice you received during this competition?
I think it was Randy who just kind of told me to find Stephanie. When I sang Beyonce, he thought I sounded like Beyonce, but I get that a lot. But the best advice I think was when he told me to just make sure I find Stephanie amongst everything.

How was it the past two weeks, working with the musical guests that they had on the show?
Yes, it was great working with the musical guests. I loved working with Diana Ross and I loved working with Lulu. They both were very fun and very personable. They just made it easy for us to sing for them, we didn't feel intimidated. They gave us great advice. Diana Ross told me to be more sexy on my song, because she sang it and she told me that she was sexy when she sang it. And Lulu thought the song I did this week was great. She thought there was nothing she could change about it. So it's kind of weird that's the week I go home, but.

Which judge was the most helpful in their critiques and commentary?
It would be Simon. He's just very honest. You need someone to be honest with you and to me he was the most honest. The other judges were honest, but he's just always honest and he's blunt, he gets right to the point. Even though sometimes people think it's rude, I respect his honesty.



Brandon Rogers
Eliminated: March 14
Age: 28
Hometown: North Hollywood, Calif.

What was going through your mind when you got voted off?
I absolutely knew it was coming. I really felt at peace with the decision.

You weren't surprised that it was you and not Sanjaya who was voted off?
No, you sort of get a feeling when it's about time for you to go. I messed up my words and I hadn't created enough momentum musically to sustain a mistake like that.

How did you feel about losing to Sanjaya?
I didn't lose to anybody. I just got the least amount of votes.

What would you have done differently?
I would probably have picked better songs that showed the range of some of the bigger qualities of my voice. I think I would have done a better job of making myself stand out vocally like some people were waiting for me to do. I picked songs that I liked, but not songs that could have showed off my voice.

Why did you forget the lyrics?
I wish I could chalk it up to nerves or pressure. But honestly it was me having too good of a time. I went out there, had a great time, did my little dance -- my little hip shimmy -- and the crowd screamed. And I was like, "Wow! This is awesome. What the heck are the words?"

What is next for you?
A slow but sure takeover of the world: (Laughs) I honestly feel like the sky is the limit. I am so proud to be in the Top 12 and I hope I can use it to help kick-start my career and music.

Do you think performing first worked against you?
I think going first is a double-edged sword. If I'd have gone out there and knocked it out the park, it would have been a great thing for me. But you can't be the first one to go out and forget your words and not have the fan base to be your parachute.

How was your experience with Diana Ross?
She's an absolute sweetheart but incredibly intimidating -- not by anything she says or does, but just by her presence. It made me so nervous. She told me nerves are the same as excitement. She told me to find my center and concentrate on finding my peace in performance.

Who was your roommate?
My roommate for the most of the show had been Phil. We changed locations, and it had become Chris Sligh. Phil and I had become really close. And I had only been living with Sligh for a week, but we're all friends and we're all close. It's like trying to pick your favorite sibling. Inside the 'Idol' bubble, you're sort of closed off from the outside world.

You sang back-up for Christina Aguilera, Anastacia and Usher. Have you heard from any of them?
Anastacia -- I've been singing with her the longest, and we're the closest of all the people I worked for. She's just so loving and so supportive of what I'm doing. She's always told me that I can go beyond being a background singer. So it was really nice to hear from her.

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