Reuniting the 'American Idol' family
The singers' musical backgrounds are as varied as Sanjaya's hairstyles, but when they're all together it's "like one big happy family," says Haley Scarnato, who was voted off the TV show on April 11.
The program's stressful nature, which thrust the young performers into the public eye beginning in January, was a bonding experience for the contestants, Scarnato says. All but one of the artists faced disappointment as they were each voted off the show week by week after receiving the fewest votes. Seventeen-year-old Jordin Sparks was the winning contestant.
Scarnato is originally from Texas and says she's always known she wanted to pursue a career in music. Her first professional work came when she was 15, singing in a wedding band. Now 24, she says her recent experiences have reaffirmed her ambition to keep performing despite the pressures that come with it.
"Being on the show was stressful but was the most incredible opportunity ever," she says.
The singer considers Celine Dion, Elvis Presley and Martina McBride her inspirations. Being the fifth of 12 finalists voted off was disappointing, though she says she was especially upset that she didn't get to receive coaching from McBride, who guest-judged the show the following week.
For now, though, she says it's good to be back performing with her old friends. "It's our second family. ... My home away from home."
The American Idol Tour, like the TV show, requires a lot of the singers, she says. The performers had a two-week break following the show's season finale in May, and when they returned to Los Angeles they started seven-hour rehearsals — hammering out choreography and vocals.
"We all just kind of joined heads and put the show together," Scarnato says.
The group will perform 56 concerts in the United States and Canada, with press conferences at each stop. The long drives and fast pace make Scarnato "really glad we're going together."
Although the tour is in full swing, life outside of "American Idol" hasn't stopped moving, says the singer, who is in the midst of planning her wedding. "It's hard to be away from home because I know there's a lot of stuff I need to be doing there."
However, she says it's a huge comfort to know her friends, family and fiance are "supporting me and pulling for me."
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