Interview At www.bestsexycelebs.com

When did you first start to sing?
Before I could talk! Ha! Ha!

Do you have any formal singing training?
No.

What other talents do you have?
Dancing, gymnastics, and shopping for shoes!

If you don't make it on AMERICAN IDOL, what will you do?
I will always try to pursue music!

What are your personal goals in life?
To live a long happy life.

What album would your friends be surprised you own?
I can never surprise my friends.

Who is your AMERICAN IDOL?
My grandma.

Do you have any rituals or things you do each time you perform?
PRAY!

Most embarrassing moments?
Telling Paula, Randy, and Simon that I was sweating so bad that I had to wipe my arm pits.

What has been your proudest moment in life so far?
Overcoming family obstacles.

If you couldn't sing, which talent would you most like to have?
Anything in the music field (play an instrument).

What is your definition of an AMERICAN IDOL?
Kellie Dawn Pickler.

Who is your favourite judge and why?
Ask me when I know them better.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
That I can burp like a man.

How has this changed your life?
It's making my dreams come true.

Do you have any lucky charms?
Bracelet - I'm going to wear it through the show.

Who are your heroes in life?
Grandma and Grandpa.

What's been your toughest obstacle in life?
When my grandma passed and family problems.

Do you think the audition process was fair?
Yes.

If you win, who will you thank first?
God, Grandma, Grandpa, family, friends and American Idol!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interview at www.newsobserver.com

OPERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by and welcome to

the American Idol interview call with Kellie Pickler, American Idol contestant. 

Our first question is from Sabrina Weiss, with TV Guide.

Please go ahead.

SABRINA ROJAS WEISS: Hi, Kellie! How are you?

KELLIE PICKLER: I’m doing great. How are you?

WEISS: Good! I’m really bummed to be talking to you, actually.

PICKLER: [as Weiss continues] Awww.

WEISS: I think the show is going to be not quite as entertaining anymore.

[She laughs.]

PICKLER: [She laughs.] Thank you.

WEISS: So... what do you... I’m not among these
people, but I’ve heard people say that they think
that your banter with the judges and with Ryan
seems to be kind of a calculated act, rather than
your real personality. What do you have to say
that?

PICKLER: Um, you know, I mean, people are going
to believe what they want to believe.
But, um, you know, I’ve started out from the
beginning just being who I am, and, you know,
I've been real from the beginning, honest with my
life and who I am.
I don’t have anything to hide; I don’t have
anything to lie about. You know, it is a little
hurtful to hear those things, and to read about
that stuff in the magazines and stuff. You know,
it does hurt your feelings, because, we’re real
people too and, you know, you have feelings,...

WEISS: [as she continues] Yeah.

PICKLER: You know, you just brush it off and move
forward. You know, what you see is what you get.
It’s so much easier to be yourself than trying to
be something that you're not. So, I've been real
from the start. [indecipherable]

WEISS: So, well,... talking about acting, are you
thinking about it, moving into that at all? I've
heard a lot of people saying you should.

PICKLER: You know, it’s always been something
that I would be interested in. Of course I want
to always pursue music. But you know, I would
love to be involved in TV and film. I think that,
um, and I’m really excited about the different,
um, opportunities that come along and the doors
that open. So I'm really excited.

WEISS: Yeah, had you acted at all in school or
anything like that?

PICKLER: I was actually in theater arts and drama
in high school.

WEISS: Alright.

PICKLER: So, yeah, I am a little drama queen.

WEISS: [She laughs.] Alright, well, good luck,
Kellie.

PICKLER: Thank you so much.

WEISS: Thank you.

OPERATOR: Next, we have Corey Moss with MTV News.
Go ahead, please.

COREY MOSS: Hi, Kellie. Congratulations on making
it this far.

PICKLER: Thank you. How are you?
MOSS: I’m doing well. Now, um, I know that Idol’s
coaches and stuff sort of stress confidence. But
for two weeks, you — you admitted that, uh, you
know, you felt like you had butchered these
songs. I didn’t even think that you did.

PICKLER: [as he continues] Really?
MOSS: Can you explain sort of, you know, why you
had said those things?

PICKLER: Well, you know, I mean, 30, 40 million
people are watching and they see your
performance.
And, you know, they see that you’ve messed up,
and, you know, the judges know that, and I knew
that I did. And what was I going to do, lie and
say, oh, I didn’t mess up and blame it on things?

I think that when you’re just honest about it,
that it’s better, rather than to try to make
excuses for why you... why you didn’t have a good
performance.
You know, I messed up the words on some of them.
I’ve messed up the songs, and I’ve been off key
and pitchy. And you know, you just admit it,
admit your problems, and work on it the next
week.
You know, I mean, if this is as bad as I got it,
I got it good. [laughing] So, um, you know, I’m
happy to be here. I’m sad to leave the
competition, but I’m looking forward to the tour
and the album that’s coming out. So I’m really
excited, really excited.
MOSS: Great, and then, you know, do you regret
any of your, your song choices, over the last two
weeks or throughout the season entirely?

PICKLER: Um, no. I wouldn’t necessarily say I
regret any of the song choices. I regret, um,...
the performances. Some of the performances
obviously the past two weeks have not been my
best so far.
But, um, you know, I can’t change anything, and
so I try not to have regrets. And you know, I’m
just going to live for the future. I’m not living
for the past.
But I hope that that stays in the past, and
people give me a chance. Because, you know, I
mean,... I’m excited about my future and the
opportunities that come along and the doors that
open. So, I’m happy.
MOSS: Well, good luck. I’m sure you’ll be fine.

PICKLER: Thank you.

OPERATOR: Thank you. We’ll now go to Delaina
Dixon, with OK Magazine.

DELAINA DIXON: Hey, Kellie. How you doing?

PICKLER: Good. How are you?

DIXON: I’m fine. Congratulations.

PICKLER: Thank you.
DIXON: Um, just wanted to know were you surprised
that you were voted off last night, or were you
kind of expecting it?

PICKLER: You know, in all honesty, I was not
surprised at all last night.
Because, to tell you the truth, I thought I was
going home last week. But, uh, you know, the fans
voted and kept me in for another week. And you
know, I mean, I deserved to get the boot this
week, because, you know, I had two bad
performances, back to back. And, you know,
there’s no excuse.
So, I mean, I can’t complain about anything,
because that would be really ungrateful. I’m
happy to have made it this far.
I never in a million years thought that when I
was sitting in the Greensboro Coliseum that they
would have given me another look, you know? But
I’m very fortunate to have met the wonderful
people that I’ve met in this competition. I mean,
I couldn’t ask for anything more. It’s been the
most incredible experience of my life.
DIXON: I know. And top six is not so bad.

PICKLER: Yeah, you know, not too shabby.
DIXON: Right. Who will you miss the most from the
show?

PICKLER: Um, I can’t say who I would miss the
most because I’m going to miss everyone so much!
You know, I mean, not only am I going to miss the
contestants... I just try to look at it like,
“We’ve got a tour to look forward to. We’re gonna
be spending the summer together.”
I’m really going to miss, like, the security and
the PAs and the crew.
People don’t realize, um, how many people it
takes to put on a show like American Idol. There
are so many people that don’t get all the credit
that they deserve. You know, the camera crews,
the lighting, the sound technicians, the
directors. You know, they put a lot of hard work
and dedication into not only putting on a great
show, but to making us contestants happy and
trying to make us look our best and sound our
best.
I’m going to miss the whole... the whole crew,
you know?

DIXON: Well, thank you so much.

PICKLER: Thank you.

OPERATOR: Next we have Mark [indecipherable] with
the Soap Opera Weekly. Please go ahead.

MARK: Hi, Kellie. Congratulations on your
success.

PICKLER: Thank you.
MARK: Now, you seem to handle every challenge
well. What was the hardest aspect of starring on
Idol?

PICKLER: The hardest thing about being on Idol I
guess was... you know, never being really able to
catch up on your sleep, for one. [She laughs.]
But, I can’t complain, you know.
Let’s see, I think that standing up on stage and,
you know, knowing that you’re performing in front
of all these people is so great.
But you know how some people can just be really
critical? I think that that’s probably the
hardest thing in the entertainment world, is how
critical some people can be.
And I think that a lot of times people forget
that, you know, we as contestants, we’re real
people too. We have feelings and we have hearts
and, you know, we can have our feelings hurt. And
it’s hard to have people pick you apart each
week, you know?
But it comes with the business. You take the good
with the bad, and you move forward.
Like I said before, if this is as bad as I got
it, I feel like I have it good. So I’m very
grateful. Very thankful.
MARK: That’s great. What did you want American to
learn about country music?

PICKLER: Um, I want people to know... uh, let’s
see, to learn about country music....
About every country song, I feel like most
people... I think everyone can find a country
song and really relate to it.
Every country song is about telling a story. You
know, it’s not all about sad songs, and, you
know, your wife running off and leaving you with
the neighbor. You know, it’s not all about that.
A lot of it’s about having fun. And you know, I
mean, a lot of the country songs are songs you
can get up and dance and tap your feet to. And,
you know, I mean, country music is my heart. You
know, I mean, I hope that I didn’t disappoint
anyone in the country industry, country music
world.

MARK: Oh, you definitely did very well,
especially with “Fancy,” and telling a great
story with that one. [He laughs.]

PICKLER: Thank you. That was a fun performance
for me.

MARK: Definitely. Well, good luck with your
career.

PICKLER: Thank you so much.

OPERATOR: Thank you. And next we have
[indecipherable] Benjamin, with Life and Style
magazine.

BENJAMIN: Hi, Kellie! How are you?

PICKLER: Good. How are you?
BENJAMIN: Good, good. I wanted to ask you, you
had a lot of great outfits on the show. Did you
get to keep any of the clothes?

PICKLER: Yeah, we do get to keep all of the, um,
outfits that we have on the show. We’re very
fortunate to be able to keep all of that. I mean,
American Idol takes such good care of us.
We couldn’t be in better hands, you know. They
take care of our hair and makeup, and, you know,
they pay for our clothes. And, I mean, they
really take good care of us. You know, the
security is so good.
I mean, we’re like one big family, and I cannot
complain about anything, because that would be
really ungrateful. So we’re very well taken care
of and, you know, looked after, and I’m really
going to miss all of the guys. And the girls. I’m
going to miss everyone. My Idol family.
BENJAMIN: That’s great! That’s great. Do you have
anything in the works besides the tour this
summer? Are you... [stops]

PICKLER: Um, right now, we’ve really been
confined to this little American Idol bubble, so
I haven’t had a chance to get out there and see
what opportunities are going to come along and
what doors are gonna open. So I don’t know what’s
up ahead for me in the future.
I hope that I will be able to pursue music, as
well as TV and film. You know, anything that life
throws out at me, I want to take advantage of
every opportunity that I’m given.
I feel like I’m young, I have no strings attached
anywhere, so, I mean, I’m ready to roll.

BENJAMIN: Great! How do you think the show
changed you?

PICKLER: I wouldn’t necessarily say that the show
has changed me at all, because I still feel like
the same Kellie Pickler that I did when I stepped
foot in the coliseum in Greensboro.
So, I wouldn’t say that I’ve changed any; I feel
like I’ve grown as a person. I feel like I’ve
grown in confidence, and, you know, just... I
feel like I’ve touched so many lives and been
given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
And I feel like most of my dreams have come true,
thanks to American Idol.

BENJAMIN: Great! That’s great. Well, I’m actually
from North Carolina also, so....

PICKLER: Really?

BENJAMIN: Yeah, I grew up in Chapel Hill, so...

PICKLER: Wow.

BENJAMIN: ... best of luck to you. Thank you for
answering my questions.

OPERATOR: Thank you. Next, we have Latoya West
with About.com.

LATOYA WEST: Hi, Kellie.

PICKLER: Hey there.
WEST: You were teased a lot by the judges and by
Ryan for being clueless about certain things. So
I was wondering if there was one or a few topics
that you’re an expert on that they would know
nothing about.

PICKLER: Oh, gaw. I don’t know...
I love to fish, and these are city people, so I
don’t know if they go fishing or not. So that
would maybe be one thing I would be more
knowledgeable about than they would.
And good food. The best food is in North
Carolina, just Southern fried foods are the best.
So I’m more knowledgeable on good taste.
WEST: [She laughs.] Alright, okay, cool. And
would you ever do another reality show, and what
kind would you do?

PICKLER: I would do another reality show. I think
it’s fun, because it’s so easy to just be easy
yourself. It’s so much easier to just be Kellie
than to try to be somebody that you’re not. And
so, as long as the reality show that you’re on is
really a reality show, and has not been scripted,
then I would be a part of it.
Because American Idol is not scripted. What you
see is what you get. And, you know, I feel very
honored to have been a part of American Idol, and
I couldn’t think of another reality show that
would be better than American Idol.
I don’t know, it’s the best. And we have the best
people to work with. They take such good care of
us. You couldn’t ask to work with a better group
of people.

WEST: Okay, great. Thank you.

PICKLER: Thank you.

OPERATOR: Our next question is from Linda Stasi,
with the New York Post.

LINDA PARSLEY: Kellie, how are you?

PICKLER: Good, how are you?

PARSLEY: I’m heartbroken.

PICKLER: Oh...

PARSLEY: You were my favorite. I shouldn’t say
that. You were my favorite.

PICKLER: I’m looking forward to coming to New
York. I’ve never been.

PARSLEY: [She laughs.] Who do you think is going to
win?

PICKLER: You know, everyone always asks me, “Who
do you think is going to win?”
And you know what, I have no idea.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been in the
bottom three.
It doesn’t matter if you had the most votes one
week and then the next. It’s all about
consistency.
The top 5 this year is I think the best top 5
that we’ve ever had. I think that America will be
proud and honored to have whoever wins, win.
Because they’re all such great people. Everyone
has their own style and flavor to bring to the
competition.
And I think that when you watch the show, you
can’t flip through the channels and not stop and
watch American Idol. Because you’ve got to find
someone on the show that you like. You know?

PARSLEY: Uh huh.

PICKLER: The talent is so different in all
different kind of music genres. There’s going to
be somebody you like when you watch the show.
And it’s important that you vote like crazy for
the one you love and the one that you want to
win. Because nobody’s safe, you know?
And it’s sad to see somebody go each week, but
that’s the competition, and it is what it is. So
keep on moving. [She laughs.]

PARSLEY: How do you feel the next day? Do you get
off and cry, or do you wake up and say, “Oh,
damn.”
PICKLER: You know, it’s really not like that. And
I know a lot of people... it’s hard for a lot of
people to believe that we’re happy for the people
that are still on the show, and we sincerely love
each other.
It is a competition, but I went into this show as
a non-competitor. I’m not a competitive person
at all. I was j trying to have fun and, just,
live out my dream.
Of course, there’s tears after the show, after
each Wednesday night elimination show, because
I’m going to miss all those guys. I’m going to
miss working with all the people that work for
American Idol, that work --

PARSLEY: So you don’t hang around? You just go
home?

PICKLER: Well, see, right after the show, we have
a little dinner. And it’s kind of like a toast
dinner. And, you know, all of us contestants that
are left, we go and we eat dinner, and all of the
people that work on the show come with us. And we
just talk about memories and good times and all
of the great experiences we’ve had together. It’s
more of like... not a “see you later, you got the
boot” dinner. It’s more all the experiences that
we’ve been together, and looking forward to all
the time we’re going to spend on tour together.
I guess you could say kind of like a kiss off
into the world and preparing you for your career.

PARSLEY: Okay, great. Well, good luck. I will buy
your first album, that’s for sure.

PICKLER: You’re so sweet.

PARSLEY: I will. [She laughs.]

OPERATOR: Thank you. Next, we’ll go to Tara
Merrin, with the Calgary Sun.

TARA MERRIN: Hi, Kellie. How are you?

PICKLER: I’m doing great. How are you?

MERRIN: Congratulations.

PICKLER: Thank you.

MERRIN: You had mentioned that this experience
had helped you come to terms with your life
story. Can you tell us a little about that?

PICKLER: Going into this competition, I was never
really completely open about the different life
obstacles that I’ve had to overcome, because I
was so embarrassed about it.
You know, I got a lot of criticism for crying
about my dad and my mom and my family in the
beginning.
It was really hard for me, because it’s not like
I was used to getting on national TV in front of
40 million people talking about my life.
It was really emotional. It was really hard for
me, because it was embarrassing!
I didn’t want to hurt my dad, but I knew if I
didn’t come out in the beginning, being honest
and open about my life, and realizing that my
life now is an open book, I knew that people
would find out about it anyways.
The most important thing that you do is just to
be honest. I’m not ashamed of myself, of my life
anymore, you know? And for so long I felt like I
was looked down upon because of, you know, my
family.
I don’t feel that way anymore. I’m very proud to
say that I’m Kellie Pickler. I’m very proud to
say where I’ve came from.
I might not have had the best raising, but it
could have been a lot worse.
I’m very grateful to have the people that I do in
my life. And American Idol has helped me be a lot
more confident in myself, and it’s taught me to
hold my head up high. Because, you know, I should
be very proud of myself, as well as the other
contestants. They should be very proud of
themselves as well.

MERRIN: Okay, and there have also been a lot of
rumors flying around, on the air or on the
Internet about your love life, one of which is
that you’re dating Constantine. And the other one
I’ve read is that you’re dating Ace. Is there any
truth to either of those?

PICKLER: Oh, I date Ace now? [She laughs.]
Noooo.
And no to Constantine too. I met Constantine at
the “top 24” launch party, because he was
performing there. And we talked there, we’re
friends, you know. I mean, he’s a great guy. Ace
is a great guy, too.
And, you know, with the contestants dating — in
all honesty, no contestant is dating another
contestant. It’s kind of like gross because we’re
like brother and sister, you know? We live
together and, you know, we... we’re kind of like
one big Idol family. This is the family I never
had.
Ace is a great guy too, whoever he ends up with
will be a lucky girl. But no, there’s no romance
involved. [She laughs.]

MERRIN: Okay.

PICKLER: I still haven’t found my pottery
partner, yet.

MERRIN: [She laughs.] And you had mentioned that
there had been some things you’ve read that had
hurt your feelings. Can you talk about one or two
of the things that hurt you the most?

PICKLER: Um, I think some of the things that have
hurt my feelings were probably when a lot of
people would say that I don’t deserve to be here,
and that I want people’s pity votes.
You know, stuff like... I feel like I’ve really
been made fun of.
It hurts, because I think people forget that just
because we’re contestants on American Idol does
not mean that we’re not real people and we have
feelings too, you know?
It’s hard to read those things, because you get
excited, like, “Wow, I’m in a magazine!”
And then you read it, and it’s like, “Aww, but
it’s really bad!”

MERRIN: [She laughs.]

PICKLER: It does hurt your feelings a little bit.
And some things are lies, but you take the good
with the bad. In this industry, you’re going to
get that. So you just smile and say, “Well, at
least, you know, when they’re talking about me,
they’re giving somebody else a break.”

MERRIN: Well, good luck to you. Thanks very much,
Kellie.

PICKLER: Thank you.

OPERATOR: Thank you, and next we have Eric
Anderson with US Weekly.

ANDERSON: Hey, Kellie. Congratulations.

PICKLER: Hey there.
ANDERSON: So Simon had pegged you last month to
be in the top three. I was just wondering if he
had any words of wisdom for you last night, if
after the show ended he talked to you, said any
words of encouragement?

PICKLER: Yeah, well, after the show, all three of
the judges gave — we didn’t really have much time
to talk, but I’m sure that we all will in the
future.
But, you know, they told me to never give up and
that I have a huge career ahead of me — which I
hope is true.

ANDERSON: Oh, it definitely is.

PICKLER: Thank you. And, you know, just... they
give words of encouragement as far as, like, “We
love you, Kellie. You’re great.” You know,
“You’re gonna go far.”

ANDERSON: But nothing specific.

PICKLER: Do what?

ANDERSON: Nothing specific about, you know --

PICKLER: Well, you know, I know that if I ever
needed advice, they’re there to help me in any
way that they can. We really don’t have a lot of
time right after the show...

ANDERSON: Oh, sure.

PICKLER: ... to really talk about that because
we’re kind of pushed for interviews and stuff.

ANDERSON: And I also understand, I was talking to
the Idol stylist and he said that Simon’s comment
— when he, you know, said something about “Dolly
Parton school” — it kind of freaked you out and
made you want to stick to jeans, wearing jeans. I
was wondering if you could talk a little bit
about that, like how you didn’t want to, kind of,
wear any dresses.

PICKLER: Oh, you know what? That’s completely
fabricated too.

ANDERSON: Oh, it is? Okay.

PICKLER: Yeah, because, I mean, I didn’t see the
resemblance with Dolly. Which I completely took
it as a compliment, because Dolly Parton is a
legend. And I mentioned when I was on stage that
night, that... well, “Mini Me” without the
assets, you know?
[ANDERSON laughs.]
What they say... I’ve just learned to just laugh
at myself.
You have to have a personality and a sense of
humor and joke around and just not take things so
personally. I personally took it as a compliment,
because I think Dolly Parton is a legend...

ANDERSON: Oh, she is.

PICKLER: ... and she is the one I would have
chosen to sing with on the finale, had I made it
that far. So, more power to you. Compare me to
Dolly all you want! Because it makes me feel
good.

ANDERSON: Good. Well, thank you very much,
Kellie.

OPERATOR: Our next question is from Mark Washburn
with the Charlotte Observer.

PICKLER: Oh, great.
WASHBURN: Good morning, Kellie.

PICKLER: Good morning! Charlotte Observer, all
right! [Washburn laughs.] Hometown.
WASHBURN: Real quick, tell us what you’ve got
planned for the next week, and when you’re coming
back to Albemarle?

PICKLER: Let’s see, next week. I am booked for
interviews for like a week now. I’m flying to New
York Sunday.
I’m gonna do the Regis and Kelly, and TRL and
VH1, and just all those cool shows that I never
thought I would ever be on. I’m booked the rest
of this weekend.
I think I’m doing Jay Leno and The Ellen
DeGeneres Show, which is like my favorite show,
so I’m so excited to go and dance on her show.
They’ve just got me really busy for the next week
or two. So, um, I’m looking forward to coming
back to North Carolina and seeing all you guys
and just all my friends and family that supported
me. I couldn’t thank North Carolina enough for
all the love and support and votes and really
sincerely caring for me.

WASHBURN: Okay, very good. Now, um, you were very
upfront about your family from the very
beginning, and I thought handled that really
well.
I’m just wondering — I assume your mom is out
there somewhere and I assume she knows about
you...

PICKLER: I don’t know.

WASHBURN: ... and I assume that she’s been
watching this. But if you had a chance to say
something to her at this point, what would it be?

PICKLER: Oh, you’re the first person that’s asked
me that.
Um, let’s see. In all honesty, I don’t know if
she watches the show. It’s kind of weird to think
that maybe my mom’s out there watching it and
sees me on there.
I’m curious to what she thinks. I’m curious to
what she.. you know, her feelings towards me. But
I think for so long, I resented her and I had so
many hard feelings toward her. And I think at
this point right now,one thing that is so
important in life is we learn to forgive others.
You know, I ask the Lord every day to forgive me
for my sins and for the things that I’ve done
wrong. And who am I not to forgive someone for
what they’ve done? Because, you know, am I so
holy that I can’t forgive you for mistakes that
you’ve done, but I can ask God to forgive me?
I have forgiven her.
I know that I haven’t spoken to her in years and
haven’t seen her. And I probably wouldn’t know
her if I saw her.
But she’s my mother, and she’s a person, and God
tells us to love everyone. And I love her. She’s
my mother.
And in all honesty, I don’t even know what I
would say if I were to see her. I think I’ll have
to cross that bridge if it ever comes this way,
you know?

WASHBURN: Yeah. And with your dad, are you
planning to go down to Florida, or is he coming
up?

PICKLER: Actually, my grandpa is leaving for
Florida tomorrow to work out everything with the
lawyers. Hopefully, my dad is going to be getting
out in a few weeks. So, it’ll be my first time
seeing him in over three and a half years.
I’m really excited. I haven’t even spoken to him
on the phone. So, in spite of everything that my
dad and I have been through, I love him. He’s my
dad. I’ve always been a daddy’s girl.
And, you know, he’s made a lot of mistakes in
life, but who hasn’t? I think he’s learned from
them, and we’re going to leave the past in the
past and live for the future.

WASHBURN: Pleasure talking to you, Kellie. Good
luck.

PICKLER: [inaudible] Thank you.

OPERATOR: Thank you. We’ll now go to Jim Lisk,
with the Stanly News and Press.

JIM LISK: Hey, Kellie.

PICKLER: He-ey!

LISK: How are you? Long time, no talk to.

PICKLER: I know.

LISK: Albemarle is extremely proud of you.

PICKLER: I know.

LISK: You’ve represented our town and community
so very, very well. We just want you to know
we’re proud of you. I understand the Nashville
promoters are ringing you up constantly. What
does Nashville look like for you, and what’s your
plans in that direction?

PICKLER: Well, I’ve really been confined to this
bubble, American Idol bubble. So I don’t really
know what opportunities and what doors are going
to open for me yet.
I would love nothing more than to have Nashville
ringing my phone off the hook wanting to give me
many offers. Hopefully, producers are calling my
house right now and wanting to sign me on to a
label in Nashville. I’d love to move there and
start recording.
I’d love to always pursue music and, like I said,
be involved in TV and film. So I’m anxious to see
what opportunities are going to come my way.

LISK: [inaudible] Miller was telling me the other
day about a year ago to the date that you were in
Nashville, Tennessee, with Grandpa Ken at the
Grand Ole Opry. It was the first time you had
been there...

PICKLER: Yeah.

LISK: You were the last to leave, you cried your
heart out, and you felt like you were supposed to
be there. Tell me about that story.

PICKLER: Yeah, you know, I can’t say that I’ve
always wanted to be on American Idol, because
American Idol hasn’t always been here.
However, as soon as the show started, I did want
to be on it.
But the space I’ve always wanted to perform on,
because it’s been here my whole life, is the
Grand Ole Opry. So I hope and I pray that one day
I will have the opportunity to sing on that
stage, where all those legendary country artists
sung.
So that’s definitely my next... It’s always been
my dream, but hopefully it will be my next dream
come true.

LISK: Kellie, thank you. You know we all love
you. You’re a sweetheart.

PICKLER: Thank you. An tell everybody I said
hello.

LISK: I will do it.

PICKLER: Thank you.

MODERATOR: Let’s take one last question please.

PICKLER: Okay.

OPERATOR: That will come from Aaron Parsley with
Teen People.

PARSLEY: Hi, Kellie, just barely made it to
get to talk to you!

PICKLER: You too.

PARSLEY: How are you?

PICKLER: I’m doing good.

PARSLEY: My question is I’m just wondering what
was your favorite part — or what you enjoyed
about the Hollywood lifestyle? You know, you’ve
got access to a stylist, you’ve got the busy
schedule, seeing yourself in the papers, on TV,
being recognized. What did you enjoy about all
that?

PICKLER: Well, the whole experience is just
incredible. It’s crazy, you know, to turn on the
TV and see yourself on there.
You know, one day I’m flipping burgers at Sonic,
and the next day I’m in everybody’s living room
set. Or, uh, TV set.
I think that it’s absolutely overwhelming to
think that you go out in public and have people
want your autograph or their picture taken with
you.
It’s crazy to think that people are actually
interested in you, you know?
But it’s been one heck of a roller coaster ride
that I never wanted to get off of. It’s just been
the most incredible experience I’ve ever had in
my life.
And I think... the best part about the whole
experience is all the relationships I’ve been
able to build with all the people that work on
the show.
You know, all the contestants. I feel like I have
a family. You know, I mean, I’m so very grateful.
I couldn’t express that enough.

PARSLEY: Yeah, that’s great. Um, I’ve read in the
papers or in the media some comparisons — and I
think because of your bubbly personality —
between you and Jessica Simpson. I’m wondering if
you could ever imagine or if you would ever want
to be a star on that sort of level.

PICKLER: Um, well.. Oh, gaw, that’s like a huge
compliment, because she’s absolutely gorgeous and
so talented. I would have never compared us,
because I don’t feel like I fit up to par with
her.
She’s incredible, and for somebody to compare me
to her, I take it as a compliment. Of course, I
think we all wish to be... if we’re in this
business, we all want to be as successful as her.
And she deserves all of the success that she has,
because she’s worked very, very hard to get
there.
I do think it’s really hard... It’s harder when
you become as successful as her, because you
really have to deal with a lot of criticism. But
that’s part of the business.
And, you know, if that’s as bad as we’ve got it,
then we’ve got it good. So I take it as a huge
compliment.

PARSLEY: Great. Thank you so much, Kellie. Best
of luck to you. We’ll miss you.

OPERATOR: Thank you. Kellie, do you have any
final remarks?

PICKLER: I just... I mean, I hope that I’ve
answered all of you guys’ questions well, and I
thank you guys so much for wonderful interviews.
And maybe one day we can all sit down and have a
more intimate interview. [She laughs.]

OPERATOR: Okay, thank you, then. Ladies and
gentlemen, this conference will be available for
replay after 11:45 a.m. today.