CBS) It's been a whirlwind week for Taylor Hicks since he became the latest "American Idol."
He signed a record deal Wednesday, and he's gearing up to headline a sold-out summer concert tour with the other "Idol" finalists.
But he vows nothing that's happened or in the works will change him.
During the competition, the soulful singer charmed fans with his salt and pepper hair and his funky dance moves, and he defied early critics, including "Idol" judge Simon Cowell, to come out on top in the show's fifth season.
On The Early Show Thursday, Hicks told co-anchor Hannah Storm his win is beginning to sink in.
"I've had a couple of days off, and I rolled over and I think I just jumped up and down and freaked out for a while," he said. "So, it's slowly sinking in, and I'm just very fortunate. And thanks to (the viewers who) voted for me. You know, if it wasn't for the folks at home, then I wouldn't be here."
Hicks racked up 63 million votes.
"It's an amazing show," he said. "And it's allowed people like me to get out there and have my voice heard."
Asked by Storm how the "Soul Patrol" started, Hicks said: "It was a fan sort of thing, you know, from the beginning of the Las Vegas auditions, and it's just kind of, you know, gained steam ever since and, you know, I'm true to who I am as an artist and a musician, and I think that's stuck with me so far."
Hicks says he won't stray from his soulful ways in his first album.
"It's going to be very rootsy, very soulful, and I'm gonna 'Taylor-ize' it," he remarked to Storm.
"I'm not going to change for anything," he insisted, whether it's his musical style or his salt and pepper hair. "I'm just who I am. I'm the same guy that I am now as when I started the competition."
And when he started, Cowell, the notoriously critical judge, was very critical of Hicks, saying he sounded like a karaoke singer, and putting down his dance moves.
"He said I'd never make it," Hick recalled. "But, thanks to (viewers and fans), I'm here. I'm the 'American Idol.' "
Hicks admits it was gratifying to prove Cowell wrong, but added: "I got to shake hands with Simon. … He was a nice guy, and very cordial. And you know, it was an interesting season, you know, him and I going back and forth. And you know, I'm just very — it's an American TV show, you know, so I'm very grateful for the opportunity."
Storm wondered what it was like during those moments leading up the naming of the winner.
"I was just telling myself not to fall over, you know, and not for my knees to buckle," Hicks said. "You know, here I am. And I'm just very grateful that I'm living this dream."
Hicks says he began to think it was possible that he'd win during the last couple of weeks, which he said "were very comfortable for me, for some reason. You know, I was just very comfortable with the music I was singing."
No matter what, fame and fortune changes everyone. He may know it yet or even realize it when it happens, but dude is having his life turned upside down and inside out. The trick is to just try and keep the boat as strait and narrow as possible.
Success changes everyone. It's inevitable. Being famous... having a lot of money... women, etc... he will change. But, who knows how much. It might be minimal.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
Exactly, it's the measure of a man. He seems like a stand up dude, but that's the TV persona, he could be some uptight meeva (male diva) for all we know.
Lawless said this in post #5 : You can portray yourself to be anyone when you need to. But, let's just hope that he doesn't lose that sweetness that he puts forth.
There's a rumor going around that Taylor and Kat are a little more than friends!!!
Kat has a boyfriend. She said on Ryan's radio show that she did not find ANY of the guys attractive. She then proceeded to hit on Ryan big time.
"I'm looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love." - Carrie Bradshaw
"The danger of an adventure is worth a thousand days of ease and comfort" - Paulo Coehlo
Live your life like it's your last day on earth
Life is not how many breaths you take, but how many moments take your breath away.
Yeah, isn't that that tool's name? The guy last season with the curly hair who was all swoony?
"I'm looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love." - Carrie Bradshaw
"The danger of an adventure is worth a thousand days of ease and comfort" - Paulo Coehlo
Live your life like it's your last day on earth
Life is not how many breaths you take, but how many moments take your breath away.
Never heard of him, didn't watch last season. Well if he can put up with the nuggets of ignorance that squirt from The Pickle's speakhole, all the power to him.
06-01-2006 06:21 PM
