American Idol

Justin Guarini and Kimberly Caldwell attend the Top 12 party for Season 7 of American Idol. Caldwell, a Season 2 finalist, will be a mentor at Idol Camp this summer.

Kimberly Caldwell has a little bit of a crush on a certain Season 7 American Idol finalist. And she’s not too shy about it, either.

“I’m obsessed David Cook,” Caldwell told me during a phone interview last week. “I want to make out with him … a lot. And probably will.” (Check out my last interview with Kimberly Caldwell.)

Maybe she’s joking. Maybe she’s not. But, either way, the Season 2 Idol finalist certainly will have her chance at many meetings with the current contestant and his competitors. As a host of several TV Guide Channel programs, Caldwell has kept plenty busy since finishing in seventh place on Season 2 of the FOX reality series. A native of Katy, Texas, Caldwell says she is thrilled with her career. But she still has a few regrets about how she responded to the pressures of Idol.

“I wish that I would have soaked it up,” Caldwell, now 26, says. “I was 20 years old, and I turned 21 when I was on the show. I was so caught up with being 21 and being young. I really, really wish I would have been focused more. I felt like I wasn’t focused on what the prize was.”

Even though she still hasn’t been able to complete a full-length CD in the last five years, Caldwell said she’s still focused on that goal. And she’s quick to let fans know she’s not just sitting around, being a TV host and giving up on her music career.

“Even though I’m not selling a bunch of albums right now, I perform almost every other weekend,” she says. “Hosting is kind of my day job.”

Still, Caldwell said she plans to return to the studio as early as this week to focus some more energy on the CD. She just wants to make sure she’s giving her best to those fans who have stuck with her since she was thrust into the spotlight.

“My fans have been so patient,” Caldwell says. “I don’t want to give them something that’s not 100 percent.”

Recently, Caldwell was one of a handful of former Idol contestants to record a track for a limited edition CD for Edy’s/Dreyer’s Ice Cream. She recorded an original song, Gave Yourself Away, for the disc, which also features her TV Guide Channel co-host and Season 1 Idol runner-up, Justin Guarini. So, what’s it like going to that “day job” with Guarini?

“We are absolutely insane and obnoxious off screen,” Caldwell says, noting she also shares a lot of laughs with co-host Rosanna Tavarez.

This summer, Caldwell will spend a little time sharing her talents with wannabe performers at the second-annual Idol Camp. The former daycare teacher — “that was the only job, aside from hosting, I was able to keep” — says the advice she has to share with campers is the advice she gives herself.

“My main thing, and I preach this to myself as well, all the time, is to be the best they can be,” she says. “Don’t try to mimick people.”

Back to this year’s finalists, who Caldwell has met through her work with TV Guide Channel, and the host admits there’s some pretty tough competition. “They all seem like solo artists,” she says, adding, aside from David Cook, she also is drawn to Carly Smithson and, of course, David Archuleta.

“Everybody’s already tired of it, but David Archuleta is flawless and amazing,” she says. “He’s that freakin’ sweet. He looks like he’s just about to pop, he’s so excited.”

So, what else is new for Ms. Caldwell?

“I just got booked for L.A. Pride, opening for Joss Stone,” the singer gushes. “I love performing anyway, but you put me in a gay club performing anywhere, and I’m probably the happiest person in the world.”

American Idol, Kimberly Caldwell, Justin Guarini, TV Guide Channel, Idol Camp

Jon Peter Lewis performs for Idol Camp participants last summer. The Season 3 American Idol finalist is releasing a new single, Break the Silence, on Tuesday.

Jon Peter Lewis has come a long way since his days as a finalist on American Idol Season 3. Heck, he’s come a long way since my interview with him last year.

Now, as he prepares for Tuesday’s release of his latest single, Break the Silence, he takes some time to talk about life in Hollywood, working with teenagers at Idol Camp, joining the circus and, of course, who he thinks has a shot at winning this season’s title.

“It’s much different now than when I was on,” Lewis told me, pointing out the fact producers and judges say year after year the current season has the best talent. Even though he says he understands the motives behind saying such things, “There’s an Oscar winner on my season, and that’s pretty hard to beat.”

That Oscar winner, of course, if Jennifer Hudson. Lewis also was joined in Season 3 by winner Fantasia Barrino and runner-up Diana DeGarmo, who both have made a name for themselves on the Broadway stage. And that’s just the most-remembered names.

Lewis also is working on making a name for himself. On June 3, he will release the entire Break the Silence CD, a follow-up to his Stories From Hollywood. Already, the video for Break the Silence has been released. And fans are responding positively. Fans on his MySpace page are leaving comments like, “Love the new song! You are, hands down, my favorite male vocalist. Love the new music video, too! It’s a treat for all of us who haven’t gotten to see you live for a bit. Keep up the great work. You’re an amazing talent.” And simply, “I love the new video!”

Breaking the Silence certainly is a new sound for Lewis. It’s more mature, a little more heartfelt and definitely a long stretch from his hip-swiveling Elvis impersonations during his run on Idol. Compared to his last release, Lewis says this release is more about the melodies. It’s more about “a singer singing songs.”

“It’s more melodic,” he says. “The whole record itself is definitely moodier. It’s optimistic in a lot of ways … filled with relationship-based songs.”

Lewis, who recently returned to Los Angeles after a trip to Austin’s SXSW, is gearing up for the upcoming release and months of touring behind it. He also is promoting this summer’s Idol Camp, which is set to begin June 15 with two-week sessions planned through Aug. 23. Last year’s inaugural camp was in Massachusetts, and this year the camps for 10- to 15-year-olds are moving to Pali Mountain in Running Springs, Calif.

“These people want to be there, and they’re excited about music,” Lewis says about the teens who attended Idol Camp, in which he was a mentor last year. “It’s really nice to be in an environment with these people with their whole lives in front of them.”

While working with Idol Camp students, Lewis shares his experience and stories about life after Idol. He said it’s important to help the students understand Idol contestants and other celebrities “put their pants on one leg at a time, too.” He shares a post-Idol story of his own that took him by surprise. It goes back to his first major post-show purchase, in which he went to a Guitar Center to buy home recording equipment to begin work on his first debut.

“I go down there, and the manager comes down and says, ‘Jon Peter Lewis, I love your work,’” Lewis says. “I remember looking up at him and thinking, ‘What work? I’m a karaoke singer.’

“I remember feeling really, really awkward,” Lewis continues. “I was thinking, ‘I haven’t done anything other than be on television. I didn’t feel like I was worthy of people liking me. I wanted to do something.”

That something was get started on recording his first CD. And now, with another full-length CD on the horizon, he still is working hard to make a name for himself as a credible musician.

“I couldn’t ever see myself trying to be like a Paris Hilton and be famous for nothing,” he said. “I don’t have the money for it.”

Just like the rest of us, Lewis still is a big fan of the show that helped launch his music career. So, just what does JPL think of the Season 7 contestants?

“I like to listen to Brooke White sing. I like her vibe,” Lewis says. “I really like Michael Johns; I think he’s kind of cool … I don’t think he’s opened up, though. Simon’s right.”

Then there’s frontrunner, David Archuleta. “I’m kind of rooting for him,” Lewis admits.

So, is there anything else going on with the most famous “pen salesman” from Idol?

“I joined the circus,” Lewis jokes, proving he still has his sense of humor. “They’ve been shooting me out of the cannon on a regular basis.”

MORE ABOUT IDOL CAMP: See what Jon Peter Lewis has to say about Idol Camp by watching his promotional video.

American Idol, Jon Peter Lewis, Idol Camp

American Idol Season 2 finalist Trenyce Cobbins, now 27, is rumored to be dating R&B singer R. Kelly.

You may remember Trenyce Cobbins from being an American Idol finalist on Season 2. And R. Kelly, well, these days the R&B singer is making headlines for being on trial for having sex with a minor.

What you may not know is the two allegedly have been having a long-distance relationship since April. According to reports, the two met through mutual friends and have been flying across the country to spend time together since meeting.

Trenyce was a top 5 finalist during Season 2, which Ruben Studdard won. R. Kelly currently is promoting a new CD, Double Up, which comes after his Trapped In the Closet series.

American Idol, Trenyce, Trenyce Cobbins, Ruben Studdard, R. Kelly

It’s official (well, not really). If you make it far on “American Idol,” you’re pretty much guaranteed a singing career. No, you may not be the next big pop star — that’s not out of the question, though — but you are certain to land a stage roll in a Broadway show.

Clay Aiken is the latest “Idol” alum to join the growing roster of Broadway performers that already includes Fantasia, Frenchie Davis, LaKisha Jones, Constantine Maroulis, Diana DeGarmo, Amy Adams and on and on and on. The list is seriously long at this point.

Aiken, who was a fan favorite in Season 2, will join the cast of “Monty Python’s Spamalot” on Jan. 18. The already successful pop singer will portray leading role Sir Robin in the Tony Award-winning musical.

“I really couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful group of people to work with,” Aiken told The Associated Press. “Let’s not lie, the chance to work with legendary creative minds like Mike Nichols and Eric Idle is, on its own, a reason to jump at this opportunity.”

Aiken’s run on the Broadway stage will continue through May 4 with the musical show based on the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

Aiken’s latest CD, “A Thousand Different Ways,” was released in 2006. That disc was the follow-up to 2004’s holiday release, “Merry Christmas With Love,” and his 2003 full-length debut, “Measure of a Man.”

The singer, whose fans are affectionately known as Claymates, has a handful of tour dates planned in November and December throughout the United States.

Earlier this month, it was announced Season 6 “Idol” finalist LaKisha Jones would join the cast of “The Color Purple,” which also currently stars Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino.

Anwar Robinson also recently was announced to play the role of Tom Collins in the national tour of “Rent.”

American Idol, Clay Aiken, Spamalot

Almost a year after he self-released his debut CD, “Stories From Hollywood,” Jon Peter Lewis is teaming up with Authentic Records to promote the disc.

Lewis, the Season 3 “American Idol” finalists dubbed “The Pen Salesman” and later JPL, may have been best known for his Elvis performance on the reality series, but his debut is much more sophisticated.

“It’s not a traditional rock record,” Lewis told watchingamericanidol.com earlier this year. “It has a lot of diversity on the record, there’s some soul stuff, some acoustic numbers and some big production pop/rock songs.”

Authentic Records is based in Des Moines, Iowa, and also is the label for national acts The Nadas and The Josh Davis Band. Lewis will spend the next several months touring with these Authentic bands to promote “Stories From Hollywood,” which the label will re-release.

Lewis has been living in Los Angeles since his time on “Idol,” and he will begin his tour at the nearby Roxy Theatre on Nov. 1.

Other upcoming shows include:

Nov. 15 — The Hub; Cedar Falls, Iowa
Nov. 16 — Redstone Room; Davenport, Iowa
Nov. 18 — AK O’Connors; Des Moines

JPL also will be touring in Nebraska, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, California, Florida, Pennsylvania and New York, according to the label.

“Stories From Hollywood” includes the title track, as well as singles such as “If I Go Away,” “Boy Next Door” and “Man From Amsterdam,” the song Lewis said is most representative of the entire collection.

Aside from his “A Little Less Conversation” performance on “Idol,” judge Simon Cowell at one point called him “the dark horse to win the competition.” The singer ended up finishing in eighth place on Season 3 of “Idol,” which Fantasia Barrino won.

Jon Peter Lewis, American Idol, Authentic Records, JPL

Sarah Burgess sings for the judges during the “American Idol” Season 6 auditions. Burgess has signed a record deal and already has started work on her debut CD.

If you remember the highlights of the early auditions, you remember Sarah Burgess. Her story was intriguing. He look was nearly flawless. Her voice? Not quite good enough.

Well, that was not the opinion of everyone. Burgess, just a few days after her “Idol” contract ended, signed a contract with PME Records. The singer already has opened for Chris Daughtry — on Aug. 29 — at the Colorado State Fair.

Burgess’ first single, “Didn’t that Matter,” is expected to be released Sept. 20. Burgess’ solo CD, “One,” is set for a Nov. 30 release. It will be interesting to see if “Idol” passed on a good one this time.

Find out more about Sarah Burgess at her official Web site, www.sarahburgessmusic.com. Check out the music, because I think you may be impressed.

Sarah Burgess, American Idol

Just as he was doing before “American Idol” made him a pop culture icon, Taylor Hicks is as busy as ever touring and making music.

The Season 5 “Idol” winner took time from his busy schedule to chat with me on the phone earlier this week. You could almost hear the exhaustion in his voice.

He released his book, “Heart Full of Soul,” earlier this year, and his concert schedule has taken him to just about every corner of the United States since he released his major label debut at the end of 2006.

“It is important to stay working as a musician,” he said. “If you’re not working, you’re not getting paid. You can say that for anybody.”

Taylor said his fans — who now range from quite young to quite old — can expect a new CD out sometime next year. He said he’s been working on some new music, and he’s excited to get it out there.

And, while he certainly is appreciative of his time on “Idol,” as with many contestants, Taylor is hoping his music can stand on its own. That doesn’t mean he has forgotten about the experience that launched his career on a much more national level.

“We talk every now and then, some of us,” Taylor said of his fellow contestants and those he worked with on “Idol.” “It’s always nice to go back on the show and say hello to everybody.”

For more of my interview with Taylor, visit theadvertiser.com on Friday. Once there, do a search for “Taylor Hicks.”

Taylor Hicks, American Idol

Season 1 “American Idol” finalist Tamyra Gray will appear in “Rent” on Broadway beginning May 29.

She become more known for her acting than singing after becoming a Season 1 “American Idol” finalist, and now Tamyra Gray is combine her acting and singing talents for her second Broadway show.

Gray will portray Mimi starting May 29 in “Rent” at the Nederlander Theatre in New York. This comes after the singer and actress made her Broadway stage debut in “Bombay Dreams.” She also has appeared on the small screen in a number of shows, including the recurring part of Aisha Clemens on “Boston Public.” She also has had guest roles on “Half & Half,” “Tru Calling,” “What I Like About You” and “Las Vegas.”

“Rent,” which also has starred “Idol” finalist Frenchie Davis, will welcome back original cast members Adam Pascal (Roger) and Anthony Rapp (Mark) for a six-week run beginning July 30. Find out more about Gray at www.tamyra-gray.com or more about “Rent” at www.siteforrent.com.

Tamyra Gray, Rent, Broadway, American Idol, Frenchie Davis, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp

Kevin Covais has been to “College.”

Now the 17-year-old is back in high school, wrapping up the final weeks of his senior year and hoping to make a career in acting. The Season 5 “American Idol” finalist just finished about two months of filming in New Orleans, La., for the upcoming “College.” The Lionsgate comedy is expected to be released in September.

“I think people came to know me as a personality while I was on the show,” Kevin said. “And that wasn’t a bad thing.”

The singer, who may better be known by his nickname, Chicken Little, said there was post-”Idol” interest in his singing, but he also started getting a lot of scripts for roles agents thought fit his personality. “College” was the first one Kevin said he thought was right for him.

“Immediately, I thought it was one of the funniest things I’d read,” he said. Already having missed much of his junior year for “Idol,” Kevin left Island Trees High School once again for filming. He plays Morris Hooper in the story about three high school seniors who visit a college as potential freshmen. Kevin stars alongside Drake Bell (”Drake & Josh”) and Andrew Caldwell.

“These last two years of high school have been really crazy,” Kevin said. While on the set of both “Idol” and “College,” he had to squeeze in a few hours of school on weekdays. The “College” experience was a little different, though. “It was pretty much the same deal as with ‘Idol,’ but there was no Lisa, no Paris,” he said, referring to fellow “Idol” finalists Lisa Tucker and Paris Bennett.

Speaking of Paris, who is credited for giving Kevin his nickname, the two still are friends. Kevin even is featured on “Lemme Rap,” an interlude track on Paris’ debut CD, “Princess P.”

“We do a little rap talk, and we do a little singing on the chorus,” he said. “She, to this day, is one of my best friends. She’s incredible.”

Kevin said he also still talks regularly to Lisa Tucker, as well as several other contestants from his season. He said he has made several special appearances alongside Melissa McGhee since his season finished.

“As far as the others, I still talk to Ace (Young),” he said. “He was an older brother to me. Having said that, Mandisa, she was like an older sister to me.”

In late May, Kevin turns 18. He’ll graduate in June, and this fall he expects to go to a college near his hometown of Levittown, New York. “Had it not been like this, odds are I would have gone away to school,” he said. “Given the events that have happened, it’s definitely important for me to stay close to home.”

“Idol” served as his college experience, he said. Now he’s just trying to make the most of what’s left of high school.

“It’s so incredibly tough,” he said. “I try my hardest to make it be normal, but it’s really impossible.”

So, what about Season 6? The Sanjaya Malakar comparisons?

“Whenever a young male has had success on this show, there’s always people talking about it,” Kevin said. “There are always people talking about why we’re there.”

Still, he said he completely understands the comparisons of Sanjaya with himself. “Sanjaya has a lot of courage,” he said. “People don’t understand how much pressure and how much courage it takes to get on that stage and perform in front of millions and millions of people.”

At 17, it seems Kevin certainly understands a lot more about the entertainment business than many, much older entertainers. But what about the music?

“For grown men, I know your voice doesn’t fully develop until you’re 22,” he said. “So I’m in no big hurry for that.”

He does still perform on Long Island with a band, and he said his fans still are there.

“The fans always come out,” he said, noting it often includes the “12-year-old girls.” “They’re very supportive.”

That’s OK with him, too.

“It’s good to be remembered,” he said. “The nickname helps.”

To find out more about Chicken Little, er, Kevin Covais, visit his official Web site at www.kevcovais.com.

Kevin Covais with fellow “Idol” finalist Mandisa. Kevin said Mandisa was like an older sister.

FIVE QUICK QUESTIONS WITH KEVIN COVAIS
1. What word or phrase do you catch yourself saying far too often?
“I don’t know. Maybe Holy Cow.”

2. If you had to survive on just one food, what would it be?
“KC Masterpiece Lays. Love them.”

3. What CD have you been listening to lately?
“Let me say The Fray.”

4. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?
“My girlfriend made me go see ‘In the Land of Women.’ … And it wasn’t half bad.”

5. Who is the musician you most admire?
“I gotta say, especially after having the privilege of meeting him, I gotta say Stevie Wonder.”

American Idol, Kevin Covais, Paris Bennett, Lisa Tucker, Ace Young, Mandisa

Season 5 finalists Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covington both are busy with tours that take them through the summer months.

Even though it’s meant to find the next big pop singer, “American Idol” has turned out a handful of successful country artists. They’ve sold plenty of CDs, and they’re all touring like no other (except for that darn Carrie Underwood, who just wrapped up a big tour).

In the spirit of country music week coming next, here are a list of tour dates from four of the best-known “Idol” finalists-turned-country stars. You may want to check them out if they’re in your neighborhood.

BUCKY COVINGTON
April 12 — Council Bluffs, IA, Horseshoe Casino/Whiskey Roadhouse
April 13 — Chicago, IL, Joe’s Sports Bar
May 5 — Cherokee, NC, Harrah’s Cherokee Pavilion
May 6 — Hershey, PA, Hersheypark Amphitheatre
May 26 — Zellwood, FL, Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival
May 27 — San Bernardino, CA, Branding Iron
May 29 — Solana Beach, CA, Belly Up Tavern
July 12 — Afton, NY, Afton Fair
July 14 — Altamont, NY, WGNA Country Fest
July 28 — East Falmouth, MA, Barnstable County Fairgrounds
Aug. 10 — Belpre, OH, Belpre Homecoming
Aug. 29 — Hickory, NC, American Legion Fair
Aug. 31 — Anderson, SC, Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center
Oct. 1 — Coshocton, OH, Coshocton County Fair
Oct. 13 — Maryville, TN, venue TBA

CARRIE UNDERWOOD
July 15 — Craven, SK, Country Jamboree
Sept. 8 — York, PA, York Fair

KELLIE PICKLER (appearing with Brad Paisley)
April 26 — Chattanooga, TN, McKenzie Arena
April 27 — Statesboro, GA, Paulson Stadium
April 28 — Columbus, GA , Columbus Civic Center
May 3 — Evansville, IN, Roberts Stadium
May 4 — Moline, IL, Mark Of The Quad Cities
May 6 — Champaign, IL, Assembly Hall
May 10 — Maryland Heights, MO, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
May 11 — Bonner Springs, KS, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
May 12 — Dallas, TX, Smirnoff Music Centre
May 17 — Bakersfield, CA, Rabobank Arena
May 18 — Mountain View, CA, Shoreline Amphitheatre
May 19 — Marysville, CA, Sleep Train Amphitheatre
May 22 — Vancouver, BC, General Motors Place
May 24 — Spokane, WA, Spokane Arena
May 25 — Ridgefield, WA, The Amphitheater at Clark County
May 26 — Auburn, WA, White River Amphitheatre
June 7 — Noblesville, IN, Verizon Wireless Music Center
June 8 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Blossom Music Center
June 9 — Mansfield, MA, Tweeter Center
June 10 — Darien Center, NY, Darien Lake Six Flags P.A.C.
June 22 — Grand Junction, CO, Country Jam USA*
June 22 — Greeley, CO, Island Grove Park*
June 24 — Albuquerque, NM, Journal Pavilion
June 29 — Chula Vista, CA, Coors Amphitheatre
June 30 — Devore, CA, Hyundai Pavilion of Glen Helen
July 1 — Phoenix, AZ, Cricket Pavilion
July 19 — Morristown, OH, Jamboree in the Hills
July 20 — Raleigh, NC, Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
July 25 — Harrington, DE, Deleware State Fair
July 27 — Bethel NY, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
July 28 — Hershey, PA, Giant Center
Aug. 3 — Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Aug. 4 — Atlanta, GA, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Aug. 5 — Clarkston, MI, DTE Energy Music Theatre
Aug. 9 — Biloxi, MS, Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Aug. 10 — Pelham, AL, Verizon Wireless Center Birmingham
Aug. 23 — St. Paul, MN, Minnesota State Fair
*Not appearing with Brad Paisley

JOSH GRACIN
April 21 — Fort Worth, TX, Billy Bob’s Texas
April 27 — Mount Pleasant, MI, Soaring Eagle Casino
May 3 — Baltimore, MD, Rams Head Live!
May 5 — Burgettstown, PA, Pepsi Cola Roadhouse
May 6 — Utica, NY, The Bogie
May 12 — Sparta, KY, Kentucky Speedway
May 19 — Detroit, MI, Hart Plaza
May 25 — Kennesaw, GA, Cowboy’s Concert Hall
May 26 — Simpsonville, SC, Freedom Weekend Aloft
June 3 — Rossville, GA, Lake Winnepesaukah
June 9 — Davenport, IA, Le Claire Park Riverfront
June 20 — Oshkosh, WI, Country USA / Sunnyview Expo Center
June 21 — Cadott, WI, Chippewa Valley Festival Grounds (Chippewa Valley Country Festival
June 22 — Richland Center, WI, Star Spangled Celebration
June 24 — Rowlett, TX, Pecan Grove Park
July 13 — Santa Maria, CA, Santa Barbara County Fair
July 17 — Merced, CA, Merced County Fair
July 18 — Central Point, OR, Jackson County Fair
July 20 — Susanville, CA, Lassen County Fair
July 21 — Albany, OR, Linn County Fair
July 26 — Hastings, NE, Adams County Fair
July 29 — Janesville, WI, Rock County 4-H Fair
Aug. 4 — Gilford, NH, Meadowbrook Musical Arts Center
Aug. 17 — Des Moines, IA, Iowa State Fairgrounds
Aug. 19 — Greenville, OH, Darke County Fair
Aug. 24 — Columbus, GA , Columbus Civic Center
Sept. 8 — Fayetteville, TN, Lincoln County Fair
Sept. 10 — York, PA, York Fair
Sept. 11 — Allegan, MI, Allegan County Fair (appearing with Trace Adkins)
Sept. 14 — Old Washington, OH, Guernsey County Fair
Sept. 15 — Abingdon, VA, Washington County Fair
Sept. 19 — Ashland, OH, Ashland County Fair
Sept. 21 — Ocean City, MD, Inlet Beach

American Idol, Kellie Pickler, Bucky Covington, Carrie Underwood, Josh Gracin, Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley

After he was eliminated from “American Idol: Season 4,” Anwar Robinson wanted to use his newfound fame for a different reason.

“I thought it was more important for me to serve,” Robinson said, referring to giving back to his community instead of immediately putting out a CD and asking others to support him by buying it.

He served as co-chairman of the United Way of Essex/West Hudson County Celebrity Read Program, and he still makes many appearances at schools. It’s something that’s close to the heart of Robinson, a former music teacher from New Jersey who returned to his home state after the show.

“I do quite a few appearances just as far as schools, I do sing in churches quite a bit,” he said. “I absolutely love gospel music.”

The music still has been a focus for Robinson, who completed a CD of cover songs and also lent his voice to a compilation disc, “inSpiration.” A sophomore effort is in the works.

“I’m actually working on some original songs,” Robinson said. “I don’t have a record deal, so all of this is being done on my own. This is basically just music I’ve been working on on my own to make sure I have the right package to represent myself.”

Like many others who have been on the show, Robinson said he took what he could from the experience and has tried to make it work in his favor. He finished in seventh place on his season, which Carrie Underwood won, after performing Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September.”

“‘American Idol’ takes you from zero to 180 miles per hour in like two seconds,” Robinson said. “It’s like being in a Porsche and stepping on the accelerator.”

Aside from his music and other appearances, Robinson also is dedicating his time to starting a business that is a supplement to the arts in school. He, for one, knows the importance of integrating artistic teaching into everyday education and how it benefits students in other subjects, including math and science.

“There’s a push for better test scores with No Child Left Behind, so I just want to make sure the arts don’t get left behind,” he said. “Music especially helps some of the other disciplines.”

Bonding with other “Idol” finalists is something Robinson also has been able to do since wrapping up the post-show tour across the nation. He said he has met and/or worked with finalists including George Huff, LaToya London, Justin Guarini and Ruben Studdard, among others, in the last couple of years.

“I talk to Vonzell Solomon almost every other week,” he said. “It’s just really cool. There is a sense of comradery.”

So, is he watching this season?

“As a matter of fact, I made it my business to watch more this season than I did last season,” Robinson said. “I wish them the best. I make sure I always try to remember what it was like for me, going through those emotions, when I watch.”

Sometimes it’s a little tough, especially during the elimination rounds.

“It is quite a path,” he said. “There are so many different dynamics and a lot of good singers that go through the process.”

FIVE QUICK QUESTIONS WITH ANWAR ROBINSON
1. What word or phrase do you catch yourself saying far too often?
“I think it’s the word hmmm.”

2. If you had to survive on just one food, what would it be?
“On one food? I’m thinking about what’s healthy. That’s a hard one. They say you can survive on potatoes and milk alone, but that’s not a very pleasing diet. I’d have to say smoked salmon.”

3. What CD have you been listening to the most lately?
“I think it’s ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ from Stevie Wonder.”

4. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?
“Dreamgirls.”

5. Who is the musician you most admire?
“It’s a tie between Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin.”

FIND OUT MORE: Keep updated with Anwar’s career at his fan site, or check him out on MySpace.

Anwar Robinson, American Idol, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin

Season 3 “Idol” finalist Amy Adams and her husband, Ross.

When Amy Adams talks about her singing career, she’s quick to focus on the other parts of the business. At 27, the Season 3 contestant from “American Idol” has shifted her priorities. In fact, she has to take a break from talking to me to quiet her son, Harrison Varner.

“FIrst and foremost, I’m being a mom,” Adams said of her post-”Idol” life. “I love that. That is the best feeling in the world.”

Singing is far from absent in her life, though. Adams recently completed a national Broadway tour as Narrator in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” The touring cast also included Patrick Cassidy, someone Adams said she enjoyed working with at promotional events.

“We were lucky enough to get to go out into children’s hospitals and bring the show and sing songs,” she said. “It was a really great thing.”

Adams, a native of Bakersfield, Calif., is back home with her husband, Ross; their son, Harrison; and a daughter Ross had from a previous relationship.

“Doing the Broadway stuff has made me refocus,” Adams said of her career. The “Joseph” tour ended in July.

As far as upcoming singing gigs, Adams is looking at another possible Broadway tour. She’s been working on recording a country-inspired CD, but the theater work proved to be more rewarding than she imagined. “I am being submitted for a lot of different shows,” she said, but “it really would have to work out for my family.”

Even though she has enjoyed some time on stage since being eliminated from the third season of “Idol,” Adams said she has struggled a little bit to find her place in the industry. During the “Joseph” tour, the singer experienced some difficulties with keeping her voice prepared for the demanding role. “The hard part is you have no training, but you have a name,” she said.

While she waits for the next big gig to come along, Adams is far from giving up on her “Idol”-sized dreams. “I think the main thing I’ve learned is that everything and everybody is a connection in this business,” she said.

“Twenty years down the road, I’ll hopefully be doing movies consistently. The real phenomenon right now, especially with movie musicals, I think that’s great. Hopefully that grows into something more so it gives people like us, like me, an outlet to share that craft with the world.”

Adams said she regrets not being able to showcase her voice more on “Idol.” She said she wishes America could hear her now, after the theater work helped her train and develop her voice far beyond her performance of “Dancing in the Street,” the song she performed before her elimination from the Fox series.

“If you look at ‘American Idol’ and, if you look at what ‘American Idol’ is … I think it’s really like a popularity contest gone bad,” Adams said.

It’s not that she means to come off sounding negative about the show or what it has done for so many people. In fact, it was “Idol” representatives who recommended her for the “Joseph” role. And she does have good things to say about the show’s winners, including people she said embody what today’s idol is all about.

“The ultimate ‘American Idol’ is like Carrie Underwood. Or Kelly Clarkson. She’s really remained true to herself,” Adams said.

When I ask Adams if she’d like to add anything else before we ended the interview, she throws in a subtle joke. But, even though she’s laughing, she’s being serious.

“I lost my virginity when I was 18,” she said. “So, keep it clean, girls.”

Amy Adams

FIVE QUICK QUESTIONS WITH AMY ADAMS:
1. What word or phrase can you not go a day without saying?
“I always say ‘hot little mess.’”

2. What is in your CD player right now?
“What is in my CD player? I have Jewel’s new album in my CD player.”

3. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?
“Dreamgirls. It was fantastic. It’s so weird because I know how talented Jennifer is, and it was great to see her have her outlet. I was like a proud mom.”

4. How did you ring in 2007?
“With my next door neighbors and my family. We were just together, and it was the best feeling in the world.”

5. What was the last thing you ate?
“This morning I ate flack seed cereal with some maple granola.”

Season 2 “American Idol” finalist Kimberly Caldwell

Singing. Hosting. Acting. Modeling.

Kimberly Caldwell is taking on the entertainment world one job at a time. She’s become one of the most successful contestants from “American Idol.” And she’s loving every minute of it.

“I just try to make sure I do a little bit of everything every week,” Caldwell said. “I just try to take it week by week.”

While Caldwell, a Season 2 finalist on “Idol,” has continued to stay busy with hosting jobs for TV Guide Channel since her season, she certainly has had her eyes on entertainment for much longer. She started singing when she was 5, and she appeared on both “Star Search” and the 2001 reality show “Popstars” before “Idol” pushed her even further into the spotlight.

These days she splits her time between Los Angeles and her native Katy, Texas, fitting in weekend performances and appearances on talk shows such as Larry King Live. Caldwell, whose main gig on the TV Guide Channel revolves around “Idol” reporting, said Season 1 runner-up Justin Guarini will be joining her this season as a correspondent. She continues to stay well-connected with other former “Idol” finalists, including Lisa Tucker, Jon Peter Lewis, Trenyce, Rickey Smith, Lindsey Cardinale, Ruben Studdard and Ace Young, all of whom she has performed with at various concerts and events.

“Going through that experience and being in the top 10 or top 12, you really do have appreciation for the other people who did it because you know how crazy it was,” she said.

Caldwell said this year she will be focusing on finishing up the CD she has been working on with Diane Warren. That, of course, comes after the release of the horror film “Wrong Turn 2.” In the movie, which took the cast to Canada for filming, Caldwell said she plays a character loosely based on herself. Very loosely.

“It was based on a girl who is trying to make it in Hollywood,” Caldwell said of the character, who also is named Kimberly. “Her personality is definitely not me. It’s more of a bitchy me.”

At 5-foot-4 — “5-foot-5 on a good day” — Caldwell said she never considered herself model material. That also recently changed when she started doing charity and celebrity runway and modeling gigs, including a recent fashion show with models from the Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency. The multi-talented entertainer also is the spokesperson for Michael Antonio shoe collections, which she said include “the hottest modern pumps.”

“I just didn’t know I’d really enjoy the other aspects of the entertainment industry,” Caldwell said. And even with a hectic schedule, she can’t imagine doing anything else.

“Everybody goes through hard days,” she said. “At the end of the day, I never have a question of where I want to go or what I want to do.”

So, with all this work, is there ever any time for play?

“I try to make at least one or two nights a week for the people who keep me sane,” she said.

FIVE QUICK QUESTIONS WITH KIMBERLY CALDWELL
1. What word or phrase can you not go a day without saying?
“‘Work it’ is probably it my favorite.”

2. What is in your CD player right now?
“Annie Lennox and Etta James”

3. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?
“I think it was ‘Happy Feet’. The first four and a half hours are really cute.”

4. How did you ring in 2007?
“I was in Hollywood. We were at a big Paramount Pictures party, and the Killers were performing.”

5. What was the last thing you ate?
Apple Jacks with Bananas
“I love cereal with bananas. I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

Kimberly Caldwell performs the National Anthem at the inaugural Texas Bowl on Dec. 28 in Houston.

FIND OUT MORE
Find a list of upcoming appearances and more news and updates about Kimberly Caldwell at her official Web site.

Season 3 finalist Jon Peter Lewis

Jon Peter Lewis no longer is a hip-shaking Elvis impersonator. These days his music sounds a lot more Jack Johnson meets Ben Folds.

“That is more the direction I wanted to go in during ‘American Idol,’” Lewis said Tuesday in a phone interview from his home in Los Angeles. “It’s a huge undertaking. We are slowly but surely getting a few more fans who are saying, ‘Wow, I didn’t expect this from you.’”

Lewis — the contestant known as The Pen Salesman from Season 3 of “Idol” — has started to break away from the pop prince image he was forced to fit into during the TV competition. He has been living in Los Angeles since his season wrapped, hence the name of his full-length CD, “Stories From Hollywood,” which was released at several online venues in November. The singer/songwriter is playing gigs at the famed Viper Room, soaking up Los Angeles and weighing options for a national tour later this year.

“The touring this year, we have a lot of options open to us,” he said. “We’ve spoken to some bands; we have just a lot of different ideas, but we haven’t solidified anything yet. It will be before the fall. At the latest, it will be the summertime.”

On “Idol,” Lewis, who fans know better simply as JPL, made a name for himself with his performance of “A Little Less Conversation.” At one point judge Simon Cowell even called him “the dark horse to win the competition.” The music Lewis writes and sings these days has less of a pop edge and a much more bluesy-soulful sound. On his MySpace page, he lists The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Billy Joel, Bob Marley, Ben Folds, Beck and Sublime among his many influences.

Lewis said his favorite song from “Stories From Hollywood” is “Man From Amsterdam.”

“If I was to pick one song that was representative of the entire record, I’d probably pick Man From Amsterdam,” he said. “It’s not a traditional rock record. It has a lot of diversity on the record, there’s some soul stuff, some acoustic numbers and some big production pop/rock songs.”

“I can give it to my grandma, and she’ll pick out some of the softer stuff and say, ‘These are my favorites.’ If I give it to my nieces, they have completely different favorites.”

Even though it may sound like Lewis has done a lot to shake his “Idol” image, he knows the show helped in more ways than it hurt.

“It does have stigmas, but it’s propelled me a lot farther forward than it held me back,” he said. “When people hear Jon Peter Lewis, if they recognize my name, they most likely are thinking ‘American Idol.’ Eliminating that isn’t an easy task.”

In fact, later this season, Lewis will be working with MTV to create commentary about this season’s episodes for Overdrive, one of the network’s online sites. He also frequently performs gigs with other former “Idol” contestants. He even watched Tuesday’s premiere with his manager and Season 4 finalist Mikalah Gordon.

“It seems like I’ve become closer friends with people who aren’t in my season,” Lewis said, adding he also recently performed a show with Kimberly Caldwell and Lindsey Cardinale.

Lewis, who has a lot of family living in the Los Angeles area, said he feels good about where he is and what is coming in his music career.

“I’m not intimidated by the business out here,” he said. “I think a lot of it is really strange. It’s kind of a land of fake, plastic people. And that’s kind of odd sometimes. I just like being kind of close to it all.”

5 QUICK QUESTIONS WITH JON PETER LEWIS:

1. What word or phrase can you not go a day without saying?
“I don’t really have a catchphrase. I do say like a lot.”

2. What is in your CD player right now?
“I actually was listening to The Who last night while I was typing.”

3. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?
“I think it was like that sci-fi movie ‘Eragon.’”

4. How did you ring in 2007?
“I was partying like a crazy man. I was hanging out with like eight chicks and just me.”

5. What was the last thing you ate?
“Enchiladas last night.”