by Gina Scarpa

Adam Lambert may not be performing on New Year's Eve, following his racy performance on the American Music Awards but two fellow American Idol contestants ARE on the guest list come December 31.  Season 8 winner Kris Allen and contestant Allison Iraheta will perform on Billboard's New Year's Eve bash, hosted by Carmen Electra.  Eva Longoria Parker and Kim Kardashian will also be appearing at the event, which will be held at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.  Today, Kris and Allison talked to reporters in a press conference call about their upcoming performance and look back on the year that changed their lives.

Q. What was some of your favorite music from the last year?
A. Allison: I have to say Kings of Leon.
A. Kris: I would have to agree and throw Mayer's CD in there too.

Q. Do you have a New Year's resolution?
A. Kris: Work harder on music stuff... writing and performing and all that.  That's my resolution.
A. Allison: I don't have a resolution.  My New Year's resolution is not to have one.

Q.What made you want to perform live as the clock ticks down instead of celebrating with friends and family?
A. Kris: I'm excited.  I've never been to Vegas.  This is going to be fun for me.
A. Allison: Who wouldn't wanna be in Vegas performing?  It's the experience of a lifetime for me, for both of us.

Q. Do you know your set list yet for New Year's?
A. Kris: I'm playing a couple songs from the album.
A. Allison: Same here.  I haven't chosen what songs yet.

Q. Why is speaking to the fans through Twitter such an important forum for you?
A. Allison: It's an easier way to get in touch with them.
A. Kris: Fans see a different side of you.  For me, I think that there's a lot of stupid crap that goes on in my head and Twitter's a good way to get that out.  People get to see that side, which is cool.

Q. What is your take on Adam's headlines?  Are you surprised?
A. Kris: Anybody who knows him isn't going to be surprised at all.  It's not going to hurt him.

Q. Has anything changed about your music since you left Idol?
A. Kris: I think, for me, I'm going through this whole process of learning.  I feel I'm starting to learn who exactly I want to be as an artist.
A. Allison: The whole process of being on Idol has helped all of us find who we really are.  It opened more doors to new music for me.  I've been listening to new stuff that I wasn't listening to back then.

Q. What advice would you give to Idol hopefuls?
A. Kris: Just rock, you know?  There's only one thing you can tell people and that's to do your best. 


Billboard's New Year's Eve Live airs Thursday, December 31st from 11:00pm-12:30am ET on FOX.

(Image courtesy of FOX)

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