by Todd Betzold

 

There has been a male-dominance going on for the past five years of American Idol. From David Cook to Scotty McCreery, the guys have taken the title every year. Jessica Sanchez was hoping to buck that trend and bring home a victory for the girls. After 132 million votes were cast, the guys continued their dominance, as Phillip Phillips was named winner of Season 11. I'm sure Jessica is quite content with a second place finish. Today, Jessica spoke with RealityWanted and other reporters in a conference call about Phillip's victory, singing with Jennifer Holliday and much more.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What was it like getting the opportunity to sing with Jennifer Holliday last night...it was an amazing, amazing performance?
A. Jessica: Thank you so much. It was so much fun...I was in the moment and so was she...we were making the most ridiculous faces I know. We were just digging deep into our hearts and singing the heck out of that song.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: What advice have you received throughout this whole process that you are going to carry with you in your music career?
A. Jessica: I got a lot of advice from different people, but something I have always believed in and people tell me here is that keep striving for my dreams and if I can succeed to always stay humble and stay grounded and remember where I came from.

 

 

 

Q. Are you relieved it is over?
A. Jessica: I kind of am, but I am going to miss everything. I'm going to miss the people, I'm going to miss the schedule...just all the craziness, I'm going to miss it.

 

Q. You said in an interview you wanted to do a Beyonce, Rihanna-kind of album. Can you elaborate on that a little bit?
A. Jessica: An urban, R&B...a little bit of pop, but not much. I want to have the gritty side of me come out, not like bubblegum.

 

Q. Is there any song you wanted to sing this season, but for whatever reason, it wasn't right for the week, that you didn't get to?
A. Jessica: I really wanted to sing a Prince song...it's called, "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore." I love that song and I really wanted to do it but Prince isn't clearing any songs for shows right now.

 

Q. Can you talk about what thoughts were going through your head when you were on stage, and Ryan was reading off the results? Were you surprised?
A. Jessica: Not at all...I believed that Phillip was going to win...not because I don't think I'm good, but because he has such a big fan base...we both do. We both thank our fans so much, but he really is an artist artist. He sang so many different songs and every song he sang it sounds like Phillip...it always sounds like him and that's what it take to be a real artist. I am so proud of him and I'm so happy it was him.

 

Q. Was it hard for you to come back from your near elimination and the judges save? Did that affect your confidence at all?
A. Jessica: It really was difficult...it didn't really affect my confidence. It made me push harder. I think it was also a bad thing too, because I think I was pushing too hard and I wasn't really hearing any of my songs. I was just like, I got to prove myself and I was focusing on it too much.

 

Q. Did that go away at some point? Did you feel that sort of taper off?
A. Jessica: It did go away for a little bit. When we had to come to the point where we had to sing songs that the judges picked...it was a big challenge. We didn't have a say in any choices...they just gave us songs.

 

Q. Coming in second place is a good thing. Do you think not winning will hurt your career or do you think it matters if you won or not?
A. Jessica: Not at all...Jennifer Hudson came in like seventh place and she is one of the biggest ones on Idol. I have so much respect for her. I think all 12 of us are going to have successful careers and I can't wait.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

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