MAR. 23, 2006
WHEN YOU WATCH THE FINALISTS, ARE THERE MOMENTS THAT YOU'RE REMINDED OF YOUR OWN EARLY BEGINNINGS?
Heck yeah! Especially Kristen McNamara -- she reminds me of myself when I was her age. I was 18 when I signed with RCA Records and now one of these folks will get a record deal with RCA! There are so many interesting connections, I tell ya!
I'm really proud of this group. I keep saying, "THIS IS SO INTENSE." Three weeks in a row, I've said that!
You know, I'm trying really hard to be calm, cool and collected. But these are my friends up on that stage now, I care about them. I SO relate to them all. And it's hard to not be nervous when they're nervous.
I almost started crying when it was revealed that Shy was leaving us this week. He is a child of God and was so brave when Troy called his name.
Our warm embrace at the end was so real. I could just feel his spirit. THAT WAS REAL. Shy (and my husband Roach) and I truly connected from the beginning, and I know our paths will cross again.
God is not done with Mr. Shy Blakeman.
There were a lot of funny moments on the set this week as well. I loved having Gretchen there. Randy Owen from Alabama and Little Jimmy Dickens were also backstage ... what a hoot!
Larry the Cable Guy got me so distracted -- I love that guy. He came up to my dressing room after the show and we called my mom (Naomi). He did that crazy voice that I love so much, telling her that he and I had been involved in some kind of glue gun accident. It was comedy brilliance.
We traded phone numbers and laughed our way out the door. He promised to help me with a charity auction that I am involved in at my kids' school. He brought a really great spirit to the show.
Can I just end by offering a few more heartfelt praises for these contestants? These guys are unbelievable. They're really confiding in me and telling me what they really feel. One of them even suggested last night that they had made a mistake with their song choice.
My job is to help them, and I take that very seriously. I don't have an agenda to go on and sell a million records from this experience. I am trying to connect and be helpful when I know that I can be. There is so much room for them to receive positive feedback, which I yearn for myself, but I am able to give it to them because of the peace in my heart.
Pray for them. They are trying so hard. They are being told a million different things. I just tell them that I love them, because I do, and that they are each uniquely worthy to win this thing.
They're all already winners, look at how far they've already come!
My kids are coming next week. Elijah is going to pee in his pants when he meets John Cena! And I can't wait to see Kenny Rogers.
Can you believe it? Wow!
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