AMERICAN IDOL - THE FINAL SEASON

I missed it but I am watching the video now. Trent just makes me happy. There's so much soul in his voice. It sends shivers up my spine. The emotion is there in everything he sings. Love him.

Bummer about Dalton. I was so looking forward to it.

Yes Teddy Trent was wonderful.

I watched some of Trent, but I got notification that MacKenzie was live on Periscope and I got to watch it! He was beyond adorable! 

Later I will put what he had to say in his thread!

I just found these over at mj's.

From Archie

Quote :

During rehearsals and being around everyone that I had worked with and worked for before, It was funny in a way to think of how 8 years ago as a 16/17 year-old I let it really get to me and I prioritized what they all thought of me. Now I’ve become my own person and have higher priorities than pleasing heads and producers of shows, record labels, and companies. I realized how much we all had grown up—how much I had grown up. I was grateful for the growth from the show as a performer and person, and for the more uplifting growth I’ve had since.

Before our opening number, “One Voice”, I was feeling anxious. I tried breathing to calm myself down. There were a lot of people backstage and a lot of noise with everyone talking, which all triggers my feelings of anxiety. Everyone was excited, but I was quiet. I usually am in those kinds of situations to not get overwhelmed.

Jordin Sparks was behind me, and asked with her bubbly energy that she always has, “Do you want to say a prayer?” I said, “yes!” She shouted around her “K, everybody! We’re going to say a prayer if you want to join us!!” No one could really hear. Colton Dixon and Danny Gokey came over to join us along with Blake Lewis, and Jordin started praying. During the prayer I felt my fears calm down. Prayers usually do calm my fears. It’s interesting how that works. When we finished the prayer and said “amen” I heard a lot more amens then I expected. I looked up and saw that just about everyone of the group on our side of the stage had huddled around us to join us. It was a special moment. I’m glad that Jordin was willing to be mindful of quiet little me, and also wasn’t afraid to get all of us together like that. It was a unifying experience, which is one of the many powers of prayer—it brings people together and unifies us in a higher purpose with God.

Near the end, we watched from side stage that last moment of Trent Harmon being crowned as the final winner of Season 15. It was an emotional moment for all of us past contestants and all of the crew. We were all a part of this legacy and had worked hard to make it as good as we could. I had to work hard to keep my tears back. We all went out on stage to congratulate Trent and say goodbye to everyone. There were a lot of hugs, tears, and phones filming. (I always automatically avoid the phones and snapchats. It’s just 2nd nature for me for some reason.)

American Idol was probably the most difficult thing I ever had to do in my life. The most draining, emotional, challenging, overwhelming times in these first 25 years I’ve had. A lot of people told me my 2-year mission in Chile would be. It really wasn’t though. Nothing challenged my character more than American Idol. Never did I feel so alone, never was I so tempted in my life. Never had I had such a drastic change. Never was I surrounded by so many superficial things and people. Never had I had so many people talking so much good and so much bad about me, having cameras follow me around and making stories up about my life just for the sake of more unwanted attention. I can’t tell you what that did for an introverted person who had always considered himself a recluse, lol. But it has definitely made me stronger. I owe so much of who I am today to my experience on that show. I learned to get over my camera phobia quickly. I learned how to carry conversations with people. I learned how to accept both criticism and compliments—To be honest it was harder to learn how to accept compliments. I had to learn to be gracious and say “thank you.”

Being there for that final show helped me gain closure for a lot of unresolved feelings I had about that whole experience being a naive, oblivious teenager in a crazy world of the Entertainment Industry. American Idol was the opportunity of a lifetime. I tell people it was a once in a lifetime experience, not only because I don’t have the desire to do all of that again but because it brought me to places I never would have even dreamed of going to, and experiencing things I never imagined I’d experience. I thank God for prompting me to go. It was a prompting that I needed to go to learn something. I thank my dad for motivating me to keep going because I would have been fine just stopping after the first audition. He sure did get a lot of flack from the media, but none of you would know who I was today had he not continued motivating me and telling me there was more in me than I gave myself credit for.

From Brooke

Quote :

A big hug and a thank you to all of you who reached out last night. Nope, I was not at the last Finale in Idol History. I’d hoped I would be, but never got the call. Why? No idea. Was I bummed? Surely. BUT…

The Idol experience is a mixed bag: high highs and low lows, triumphs and embarrassments, moments when producers are calling you darling and giving you cheek kisses and then moments when you feel utterly invisible. Moments of pride and moments of humility. You do something right, then you get it all wrong. Everyone knows your name, then they forget. One second you’re flying first class, next minute your back in the van. But that’s life in the spotlight. It’s on, then it’s off. BUT…

With all that, what Idol was, and has been for so many of us, is OPPORTUNITY. Opportunity to be seen, to be heard, to connect and to be refined. It’s was an education, a university. A place to be schooled with the best of the best, To be mentored by literal legends and to play on a stage with a well oiled machine. It was a family. Contestants and crew, and drivers and PA’s and people that you grow to love. It wouldn’t and couldn’t guarantee a lifetime of fame and fortune and success thereafter, but it definitely gave you a shot, to see how far you could take it. It allowed you to see how badly you wanted it, and to find out what you would and wouldn’t do for it. It gave you experience.

That’s what it gave me and then some. And it was once in a lifetime. It was some of the hardest fun I’ve ever had. It forced me to face my demons. I barely survived but it was an absolute honor to play in your living rooms for a season.

So I wasn’t there last night, to reunite, and hug the “family” and say my goodbyes. Would have loved to. But that’s okay, because I couldn’t ask for more than what I got.

So if my last memory of the finale is sitting on a stage next to THE Graham Nash singing Teach Your Children barefoot on the guitar 8 years ago, that’s A-OK ?

Idol brought me to so many of you. To those who’ve stuck with me through the years, I love you, I appreciate you. And to my idol family, I love you and appreciate you. – Thanks for everything. And the beat goes on…

Wow, I had no idea Archie had such a hard time on idol.

Thanks for sharing Teddy

Aw Archie ........... another one of the kind, gentle souls.

Jordin sounds like such an awesome person. She had a profound impact on Dalton that day at the doctor's office.

I was thinking the same thing Canear that Jordan senses when she is needed and takes action. Very giving of her.

Hathor wrote:

Wow, I had no idea Archie had such a hard time on idol.

Thanks for sharing Teddy

David had these same issues when he was on Star Search when he was 11 so reading this it makes me sad because I hoped he would of been able to get over some of that. I am glad he see's that doing idol was a good thing in the long run and that he learned a lot and that he is greatful,(sp?), for all it afforded him to do.

Eta: I am glad he was able to do his 2 year mission because I believe it helped him to really clear his head, to become his own person and to do as he said really grow.  He is no longer a yes man and just doing what everybody wants him to do.  The mission helped him to really see what is important in life. I think him doing his mission helped him to open his eyes about Idol more and helped him to see what a gift he was given being to be on there and reach people in a good way even if he did have some problems.

On the Prayer that jordan had got started I am not surprised David heard a lot of Amens. Besides Jordan,Danny and Colton we have Kris, George, Candace, Fantasia, Ruben, Melinda and Clay who are all religious.  I believe Diana, Ace, Latoya and Chris are but do not know for sure and for the others I honestly do not know.

So Jordan starting the prayer to help out David was very cool and it was a great thing to do to get everybody calm and in a good place!

Shannon

Angel yes Chris is but didn't want to do the Christian mud root. He has a tattoo of Christ on the Cross.

canuckadamfan4eva wrote:

Angel yes Chris is but didn't want to do the Christian mud root. He has a tattoo of Christ on the Cross.

I thought he was so that is why I put him in the second list which was the people I swear were religious but wasn't totally sure.

Shannon

Yes Chris is very religious.  While he wasn't there Jason Castro is also very religious.

I never knew David had such a hard time on Idol either. I've always known he's very quiet and has such a gentle soul. It was interesting to read that and I thought some of you would be struck by it too. Yes thank goodness for Jordin. She's always seemed like such a caring and beautiful person who looks out for others. I am happy she was there for David and was able to calm him in that moment. I'm not sure what the story is behind her and Dalton but I'm glad she was there for him too.

Dalton talks about how sick he was during AI in the Sleezak interview in Daltons thread.  Jordan encouraged him and went to the hospital with him.

Well, MacK put a link up to buy his handmade, signed and worn Roses T-shirts.  They were $50.  I was ready and waiting and jumped on the link and put one in my cart.  But didn't proceed.  I know there were a TON of sweet young girl begging for these and I figured - I am 61.  I don't need this, won't wear it.  Let the young ones have it.

They sold out in less than 2 mins!!!  How exciting for him and all the young fans who got one.  Some old ones probably did too.

I tweeted to him that I hope he makes an album soon and we can buy that up right away!!  Now that I will jump on and go through with check out!! 

What a sweet project he did for his fans.  I know some of you don't follow him or watch his Perisopes but this boy cannot tell his fans enough how much he loves them and appreciates them.  He is a total sweetheart!

FC I think all 3 boys are sweethearts.   Trent, Dalton and Mac all care about their fans.

Indeed, but I know some here don't follow MacK at all.  So I wanted to say it!!   I know that I have never followed anyone before who was constantly expressing his love and gratitude like MacK does.  He keeps saying he will work hard for us and he won't let us down he promises and he gets up and Tweets his love etc.  And then the handmade shirts!  He is too adorable!

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