by Gina Scarpa

 

Ashton Jones may have carried herself with all the confidence in the world this season on American Idol, but she couldn't win America over. First, they didn't vote her into the Top 13 and then, they sent her packing the very next week. Today, she spoke to RealityWanted and reporters in a press conference call about her Idol journey and her future musical plans.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You were one of my favorites during Hollywood week. What do you think America was missing about you during the Top 24 round?
A. Ashton: I don't know! I was wondering the same thing! I just wanted people to see my personality. I don't think that the show really showed that personality as much as I wanted to. Everything happens for a reason. I'm kind of glad that the judges saw that personality of a diva but I didn't want the world to see me as a diva, like I think I'm all that. I wanted them to see that the confidence came from God. I have faith and confidence in myself. I was never timid on stage. I performed back home and I always liked to engage the crowd.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: A lot was made of your song choice but "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" is not as obscure as songs that other contestants chose. If you could go back, would you have chosen a different Diana Ross song?
A. Ashton: Looking back on it now... at first, I was like, "I shouldn't have chosen that song." I chose that song for a reason. That song spoke to me. I related it to my life and my experience and my faith and the love that I have around me. As I was singing it, the lyrics are what spoke to me. You know how when you listen to Mariah Carey's "Hero"? It was the same feeling. I didn't understand why that song wasn't a big hit. I couldn't wait to get on the stage. America didn't really feel like I did. Hopefully, now that it's on iTunes, people will start to feel it like I did.

 

Q. We didn't get a chance to hear much of your back story. Can we get short version and what turned your life around?
A. Ashton: I had a lot of things going on in my life when I was younger. My father that I knew from birth passed away when I was 14. I left home and was gone for probably over 2 ½ years. It was life changing. When I finally got back to my family, I got saved and became a Christian and turned my life around. I immediately started doing more positive things. That experience has made me a stronger person. That's just the tip of the iceberg of what I've been through. I never wear that on my shoulders though.

 

Q. Will you go back to your job as a store manager in Nashville?
A. Ashton: No. I left it there and I left it there to stay. I've worked all my life and now, it's time for me to be the artist and performer that God put in me a long time ago. Hopefully, opportunities are waiting for me. I'm very excited about what's to come. I have no idea but I feel in my spirit

 

Q. What's the best piece of advice that you got from the judges?
A. Ashton: I would say it's from Jennifer Lopez but Randy did tell me some great things. Jennifer always had some great things to say that came from her spirit. She always told me that I was amazing and that I would go far and not to stop. She would say, "I see it, I see it." She said to make sure a song is a hit before you put it out as a record. It was the best advice that she could give.

 

Q. If you could describe Steven Tyler in one word, what would it be?
A. Ashton: Fabulous! He was fabulous from his clothes to his shoes to everything. He did not care what he said. He said exactly what he felt and for the most part, everything was true, and he was amazing. Behind the scenes, he was humble.

 

Q. You spent a lot of time with the other singers. What kind of personal relationships formed there?
A. Ashton: I'm gonna stay in contact with them! I have their numbers. We were best friends. I never thought I could have so many best friends. We're literally best friends. I lift them up, they lift me up. That's what a best friend is and that's what it's all about - having people around you that are positive. My advice to everyone is just to never look at the blogs or read any negative comments. It's gonna discourage you. I learned that. You have to stay focused and you have to have people around you that are positive.

 

Q. Are there any specific producers or artists that you want to work with?
A. Ashton: I enjoyed working with Rodney Jerkins and Jimmy Iovine. They had me singing notes that I couldn't even hit before. When you're bringing the best out of someone... I just think they could be great producers I could work with. I would love to meet Barry Gordon. If he had anything for me to do, I don't care. I would do it and I would be happy doing it.

 

Q. You looked like you were in so much pain when you were leaving last night.
A. Ashton: It was not pain but it was more so leaving the stage and my friends that I had made. I just had to let it out. I always hold stuff in. I'm a very, very strong person. The things I've been through have made me strong. Sometimes, you have to let it out. You've gotta show your emotion. I'm a real person. I'm just Ashton from Nashville. I cried because of all of the things that I went through on the show. I couldn't believe that I had made it so far.

 

American Idol airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8/7c on FOX.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa