TV Tattler: Celebrity Interviews

It's a 'Soul Thing' for 'Idol' Winner Taylor Hicks

Related Links 'American Idol' News, Photos & More More About Taylor Hicks

Jan. 29 -- Only someone as smooth as Taylor Hicks would describe his recent success as "cool."

True to form, the blue-eyed soul belter is taking his 'American Idol' win in stride. His recently released self-titled CD was certified platinum, and he's preparing to take his show on the road -- great news for his Soul Patrol faithful.

In an exclusive interview with AOL Television editor Geoff Bennett, Hicks weighed-in on his new music, his thoughts on 'Idol' season six and Simon Cowell's relentless trash talk.

Congrats ... I heard you were recently certified platinum.
Yeah -- recently -- that's real cool.

You've been working toward that type of success for about a decade. So how is it different from what you imagined?
Well, there's a lot more work, which I'm really happy about. The more work, the better. When the phone stops ringing, then you have problems. So, I'm glad that things are working out right now. I just have to stay true to the music and keep going.

Speaking of your music, what's your favorite track on the CD?
I like how 'Soul Thing' came out. You know, that's off my earlier two albums that I released -- 'In Your Time' and 'Under the Radar.' I just had a vision for that song, and that vision came true on this album.

Is your album any different than it would have been if you weren't on 'Idol' and had influence from people involved with the show?
I tried to keep the hands out of the pot as much as possible with this album -- one producer, one A&R, one artist. I think that helps to really keep the focus on the direction the artist wants to go.

Is there any real benefit to winning 'American Idol'? I asked Katharine McPhee that same question, and she didn't think there was. I mean, Chris Daughtry's CD came out before yours.
Publicity-wise it definitely helps. In this day and age, a new artist coming out definitely needs as much publicity as possible, and winning definitely helps.

What role will 'Idol' play in your future? Do you plan to distance yourself or move on?
I'll definitely go back this year. I'm watching a little bit of it now when I can and definitely like being a viewer.

Do you buy into the controversy that the judges are meaner and more insulting to the contestants this year?
No, everybody gets their opportunity to sing. And if you feel like you've got that opportunity, you gotta take it.

Simon Cowell was on 'Oprah' a couple weeks ago and said you wouldn't have won if it weren't for your gray hair. Do you get tired of hearing him talk trash -- even now after you've won and released an album?
(Laughs) I don't think I'll ever hear the end of it. But that's OK, you know. It's tit for tat. We've always been like that.


So you don't think there's any malice involved?
I think it's just Simon being Simon.

What was the first thing you splurged on after you got your deal?
I bought a camera -- a Cannon EOS 30. It's a really nice camera. I wanted to document all that's going on, and I got to with this camera.

I hear you have a book coming out. What's it about?
It's called 'Heart Full of Soul.' It's a memoir about the story of Taylor Hicks. It's got a little bit of 'Idol' stuff in it and some stuff that people can take with them.

A question about your journey to 'Idol': I was reading the story about how you got one of the last cab rides out of New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina hit and ended up flying to Las Vegas, where you auditioned. You said it was a 15-hour ride, right?
(Laughs) Yeah.

Now how much does a ride like that cost?
(Laughs) Right ... well, me and my girlfriend split it at the time, and I probably paid $200.

A well-spent $200 for sure.
Yeah, and at that particular time, the cab ride fares from New Orleans to Baton Rouge -- which was 30 minutes away -- were going for $1,500 by the time we got there.

Your tour starts soon, right? How is that going to be different than what we've seen on the show and the 'Idol' summer tour?
The tour starts Feb. 21 in Jacksonville, Fla. But I'm an instrumentalist -- I play guitar and harmonica. I think things are going to be a lot looser and musical.

Any collaborations you'd like to do?
Yeah, on the road possibly with some different talent in the towns I go into. I might pull some local famous musicians that live in that town. Maybe the Tower of Power or something like that when I go through San Francisco.

What does your old band think of your success?
A couple of them are on my tour, and then a couple are keeping their own bands going, like the Little Memphis Blues Orchestra. They're keeping it moving, keeping the ball rolling.

Now a question submitted by an AOL user: Hazel Parrish of Carolina Beach, N.C. wants to know if you feel your popularity has changed you? If so, in what ways?
My situations have changed, but I haven't. I spent 29 years being a nobody, so I'm pretty good about who I am as a person, and I'm not going to change that.

When word of this interview got out, I learned firsthand that your Soul Patrol is pretty hardcore. So do you have any wild fan stories?
I got chased out of an airport, which was pretty cool. It was interesting to say the least. But any fan is a good fan in my opinion.


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