Crystal Bowersox sings "What’s Up" at Auburn Hills & Summerfest on the Idols Live Tour!

American Idol Season 9 runner-up Crystal Bowersox sings 4 Non Blondes'"What’s Up" (the song many people refer to as "What's Going On") on the American Idols Live Tour! The first video of Crystal is from opening night of Idols LIVE at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit, Michigan; the next is from the second night of the tour, where Crystal and the other Top 10 performed at Milwaukee's Summerfest.

Can't wait for Crystal's solo tour? Then see her 'mini-concert' this summer! Crystal gets more stage time than anyone except Lee! See Crystal Bowersox, Lee Dewyze, and the Top 10 finalists this summer at American Idols LIVE!

Watch Crystal Bowersox'sVideo "Farmer's Daughter"

American Idol's Crystal Bowersox releases her first video, the title track from her new, debut CD, the critically acclaimed "Farmer's Daughter." This autobiographical song was written years ago, and I for one am happy it made the cut and was put on the new album along with other heart-felt, emotional songs Crystal wrote in the past, about her past ~ such as "Holy Toledo" (the only contestant-written song EVER to be performed on American Idol).

Also check out, American Idol winner Lee DeWyze's CD "Live It Up"!

'American Idol': Adam Lambert thinks Crystal Bowersox should win Season 9

'American Idol': Adam Lambert thinks Crystal Bowersox should win Season 9 By Andrea Reiher| Zap2it May 17, 2010

"American Idol" Season 8 runner-up Adam Lambert has picked his winner of Season 9 -- Crystal Bowersox.

Lambert tells Hollywood Life at his Wango Tango concert in Los Angeles, when asked who he thinks should win Season 9, "I think Crystal is great. I love her anti-establishment attitude."

Adam Lambert is about to embark on his Glam Nation tour this summer -- it kicks off June 4 in Wilkes-Barre, PA and continues until Sept. 4 in Rockford, IL. He has said he'd love to come back for the "American Idol" finale, so we wonder if we'll see him there before his tour starts.

The Top 3 of "American Idol" perform the judges' choice songs this week. Ellen DeGeneres chose "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney for Crystal Bowersox. Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson chose "Daughters" by John Mayer for Casey James. Simon Cowell chose "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen for Lee Dewyze, who will probably do a version closer to Jeff Buckley's haunting rendition than Cohen's original.

Crystal Bowersox: Coming in second on 'American Idol' was amazing

By Christopher Rocchio, 05/29/2010, realitytvworld.com
Crystal Bowersox says she never considered herself to be American Idol's ninth-season frontrunner and was simply satisfied to remain in the competition as long as she did.

"I was just happy to get past the stadium and the next week and the next. You never know what's going to happen in a competition like this, and it's really up to the voting public," she told Reality TV World during a Friday media conference call.

"My approach to the whole thing was just to remain true to who I am as a person and an artist and just give my best personal performance each week and whatever the outcome was I was prepared to accept and embrace and move forward in my career. Coming in second is an amazing feat in itself. This whole thing has just been an amazing journey."

The 24-year-old from Toledo, OH was defeated by Lee Dewyze -- who was crowned American Idol's ninth-season winner during Wednesday night's live finale broadcast on Fox.

During the call, Bowersox reiterated that she'd had a feeling that Dewyze was going to win on Wednesday morning.

"I just had an overwhelming sense of peace and acceptance. Just some strange feeling inside of me, I knew Lee was going to win," she told reporters.

"I was fine with that because he's worked so hard. No matter the outcome of this, there's no winner or loser. We're both going to have very successful careers and I couldn't be prouder of him."

Despite her feeling, Bowersox said she still wanted to hear the actual results from American Idol host Ryan Seacrest.

"I wanted to know for sure. I wanted to know if my feeling was right and I wanted to celebrate for Lee. When I saw Lee's face and he was about ready to pass out, I just felt everything he was feeling. We had been together this whole process and understand each other completely and how much we've worked for it," she explained.

"I won vicariously through Lee because I could empathize so much."

While Dewyze is the third straight male to claim the title, Idol's judges had touted the strength of the competition's female contestants prior to the start of the ninth season -- however Bowersox said she hadn't put much stock in their comments.

"I think that American Idol is a competition in a certain way that it really is up to the voting public. Any predictions made at the beginning of the season for a female winner, it's not possible to know," she said.

"When I became the last girl standing, it became clear to me then that it was definitely possible, however it wasn't guaranteed."

Bowersox also reiterated her split from boyfriend Tony Kusian on Tuesday morning before she took the stage for American Idol's final ninth-season performance show was a "mutual" decision.

"Tony's been my rock through all of this," she told reporters. "He's been there for me and he's been amazing. I've got a great amount of respect and love for him."

In addition, Bowersox said there's absolutely nothing romantic between her and Dewyze.

"That wouldn't happen. Lee's like a brother to me," she said. "I love him dearly, but not in that way."

Bowersox added that romance isn't exactly what she's looking for right now.

"I feel like I've got a really good circle of friends and support," she said. "I need really good friends right now. I'm focused on my son and my career right now."

Even before her American Idol journey started, Bowersox said she was aware that it would affect her personal life.

"I'm a pretty smart girl. I knew what I signed up for -- well at least I had a good idea anyway," she explained.

"You never really fully comprehend a situation until you're in it and out of it. I was rolling with the punches. That's what I've done with everything in my life, just go forward and do what feels right and what makes me happy."

Bowersox's American Idol journey wasn't without its bumps, as it almost ended before it even really started when she was nearly forced to miss a semifinalist performance episode and then almost had to withdraw due to a problem with her diabetes.

However she was able to perform and impressed the judges, launching her run to the season's Top 2 finale.

"I never felt so loved in my life," said Bowersox about the medical attention her diabetes received while on the show.

Before she appeared on American Idol, Bowersox said she wasn't very open about her diabetes.

"I played it down as not a big deal," she said. "Every diabetic goes through that denial process."

Now Bowersox said one of her main goals is to be an advocate for people who suffer from diabetes.

"I just realized that through this show that I had a chance to be a role model for kids and just for advocacy to help out the diabetic community in our country and the world," she said.

"So that's the main focus of my career after Idol. I definitely want to do good things."

Another American Idol bump for Bowersox was when a report surfaced in April that she considered quitting the competition because she missed her family until Seacrest stepped in and talked her down.

Bowersox reiterated to reporters she "never really had a true intention of quitting" but added Seacrest was a big help.

"It's a hard process. People don't realize how grueling the show is -- the emotional, physical toll it takes on you. You have moments of not necessarily doubt but you get tired," she explained.

"I missed my son and I just had a nice conversation with Ryan and he was very helpful. I respect him."

Bowersox told reporters that she thinks she handled competing on American Idol as a single mom "very well."

"I balanced it the same way any other does -- to greet each day with love and joy because you have a child in your life," she said. "You wake up, take care of him, go to work, come back home, and at the end of the day that's what any mom would do."

In addition, she said she knows her young son doesn't know what mom has been up to.

"I'm sure he doesn't grasp it; he's 16-months. His favorite word is 'awesome' right now," she said with a laugh. "He's having a good time, he's well taken care of. He's just a happy little guy."

Bowersox said she probably wouldn't have auditioned for American Idol if it hadn't been for the birth of her son.

"For years people had approached me at my shows in Ohio and Chicago saying, 'You should try out for Idol.' I never really thought about it too much just because I didn't feel like I could be that kind of contestant," she said.

"Then when I had my son I was completely ready and needed to make a change. I decided to do it and I don't regret it at all."

American Idol's ninth-season finale doubled as a farewell to Simon Cowell, who has left the show to launch an American edition of his Idol-like British The X Factor reality competition for Fox in 2011.

While there's already been a lot of talk about who will replace Cowell, Bowersox said she doesn't think it's possible.

"Simon is such an epic figure, replace is not a good word for me. I think Simon is irreplaceable in a sense that he's Simon. He's such a figure," she said.

"But whoever takes his position is going to do a great job and bring something new to the show. I think it will keep things interesting. Best of luck to whoever takes his spot and to Simon."

One of the knocks on Bowersox during the season was that she didn't seem very interested in winning, however she told reporters that couldn't be further from the truth.

"I wouldn't have tried out for the show if I didn't think that I had a shot at winning," she explained.

"People might interpret it wrong when I say that no matter what happens it was okay. I definitely had a desire to win, but in any aspect of my life am not going to be let down by something. I believe truly that everything happens for a reason. I accept that and move on. One door closing is a window opening."

Bowersox said competing on American Idol showed her what she's capable of and also taught her how "strong" she can be.

"There were a lot of surprises -- not really what was happening but my reaction to it," she told reporters. "It's not an easy thing to go through, it's emotionally and physically draining. However the most amazing experience of my life."

Bowersox confirmed that she has inked a record deal but doesn't know a lot of the details yet.

"I've actually got a meeting next week," she said. I'm not really sure of all the details yet myself, but I'm ready to start working and get this underway."

Bowersox described her sound as "pretty versatile" and added she has "a lot of songs in different genres and styles."

"I really don't feel like I should be pigeon-holed into any one thing," she explained.

"My influences are pretty straight forward, but I definitely have my own sound and style. It might be a familiar sound, but at the same time my songwriting is -- I don't know how different it is -- but simply songs that people can relate to, enjoy, and hopefully learn something from through my experience."

The voting is over; now, the real voting for Crystal Bowersox begins

Written by Jeff McGinnis | | jmcginnis@toledofreepress.com

I had never watched “American Idol.” Unless the Andrew Z Show asks me to reprise my role as Ironic Idol Reviewer next season, I probably never will again. So why am I so saddened by the results of the finale?

We’ve all heard the commentators discuss how the runners-up on “Idol” often do far better than the winner. The name Adam Lambert has been evoked multiple times. This is correct. So why does it offer little comfort right now?

We’ve heard from Crystal Bowersox that she felt that Lee DeWyze was going to win, he deserved it and she was very happy for him. But why does it still hurt?

It hurts because Bowersox’s efforts on “Idol” were clearly more than just one contestant on some silly reality show. Commentators who criticized the area and its media for becoming so fixated on one entertainer were right, in a way, but also missing the point.

Sure, there are more important issues than Bowersox. But what means more to any of us than our dreams?

We saw this kind-hearted, humble woman from Elliston take to the stage and wow judges who had seen it all. She stood there and defiantly refused to be anything other than what she was. She picked songs that spoke to her. She sang with a voice rich with power and emotion. She owned a stage that most others look as though they’re only borrowing for a short while.

Then on the night of the performance finale, she clearly bested opponent DeWyze in every round of singing, climaxed by her stirring “Up to the Mountain,” coming on the heels of his strained rendition of “Beautiful Day.”

She was the best performer on the show. She won. Until she didn’t.

Who among us can’t relate to that? Who hasn’t felt that bitter disappointment when what you fought for — what you had earned — was lost, for reasons out of your control? Bowersox didn’t lose because she wasn’t talented enough or because she choked or because her opponent was just better. We can only assume she lost because the swing voters picked the cute guy.

It’s unfair. But what isn’t? When I was in college auditioning for shows, a truism among actors was quoted frequently: “Life is unfair. Theater is less fair than life. Humans submit themselves to nothing less fair than the audition.” And what is “Idol,” but the longest, most arbitrary audition ever?

So when Ryan Seacrest announced the winner that night, who among us couldn’t feel the sting of disappointment? This wasn’t just about an artist from our area on that stage. This was about everybody who had ever given it their all, and been told it wasn’t good enough.

That hurts. Hurts like hell. And no amount of consolation or warm wishes can really help that. And in a way, that’s a good thing. Because now, the fake competition is over. The real one has just begun.

Now, Crystal faces an opponent more formidable than DeWyze and the whole panel of judges combined: The marketplace.

We all have heard people defend DeWyze’s victory by saying that, even though Bowersox was more talented, DeWyze was the proper winner because his style is more in tune with what consumers buy, they say. Even if they’re correct, this argument says more about the declining state of American music than anything else.

But there’s no doubt Bowersox faces an uphill climb in reaching out to a wider audience post-“Idol.” She’s unique. She doesn’t fit into a cookie-cutter mold like so many who have come through the “Idol” factory. She already knows who and what she is, and I hope she’ll never change that part of herself.

The most important votes we can cast come now, as fans and consumers. We can get her single on iTunes, as well as the album’s worth of studio recordings of her songs from the season. We can get the full album that will follow. And when the “Idol” tour comes Sept. 2, we can show up in droves, and vote with our hands and voices for who really won.

That’s why the hurt her supporters are feeling can be good. It’ll remind us of the disappointment of that one moment. And, I hope, keep inspiring us to help her prove them wrong.

Crystal Bowersox Wants To Delay Debut Album Until Next Spring

'American Idol' runner-up admits she is dueling with her record label over LP's release date.

"American Idol" season-nine champ Lee DeWyze may be ready to release his debut album this fall, but the same doesn't hold true for runner-up Crystal Bowersox. The soulful singer recently revealed that she's in no rush to release her debut album, even though her record label is pushing for it to come out before the end of 2010.

"The label's saying in the fall [of 2010] and I'm telling them in the spring [of 2011] because I don't want to rush something out just to hit Black Friday sales," she said in an interview with 101.5 The River, a radio station located in her hometown of Toledo, Ohio.

"I don't think that's right. I want ... not just to have a product, but to have a good product, something that I will be proud of in 10, 15, 20 years," she continued. "My debut album on a major label — it's a huge thing, and I don't want to just put something out there that's thrown together to have something to sell. That's just not right."

While Bowersox plans on taking time to perfect her album, the singer is aware that striking while the "Idol" iron is still hot is important. "I got this springboard that I've just jumped off of. I'll either keep flying or go down," she said. "Right now it's very important that work as hard as I possibly can to make this career and life that I want for my son."

Many of the show's runner-up contestants have released their albums during the fourth quarter in order to capitalize on holiday shoppers. But this isn't the first time Bowersox has spoken out about breaking "Idol" tradition.

Back in June, the singer talked to MTV News about embracing her individuality. "Oh yeah, like the fact that I have missing teeth and that I don't comb my hair. I mean ... I think that unique people are really what colors the world," she said. "It's a beautiful thing to be your own individual, and in high school, you get pushed into being the same as everyone, and then, once you're an adult, you look for the differences in people. That's what's interesting about life and humanity."

By James Dinh, MTV

A Chat with Crystal Bowersox

OnMedia: A Chat with Crystal Bowersox

This year's crop of "American Idol" finalists stop at Summerfest during their post-show tour, Idols LIVE.

And the woman who almost won, second-place finisher Crystal Bowersox, tells me she's looking forward to the outdoor venue on a hot summer night, as well as connecting with some Milwaukee friends.

"I'm a summertime girl," she says. "I like the sunshine, I like bein' all sweaty and gross."

It's the kind of answer you'd expect from the 24-year-old Bowersox, who finished just behind Lee DeWyze, the suburban Chicago singer who picked up the ninth "Idol" crown last month. From her audition and through the process that ended just two weeks ago, she's always seemed comfortable with who she is.

"I kind of agree with that statement," she tells me in a phone conversation during a break in rehearsals for the coming tour. "I've been comfortable in my skin for a long time, I know who I am as a human, as a person and a musician."

I follow up with my theory that it's, in fact, better that she finished second. Without an "Idol" recording contract, she'll have more freedom to do her music.

"I don't think by Lee winning that he has any less freedom," she says. Bowersox clearly sees a kindred spirit in the 24-year-old DeWyze.

"We're from the same school of music, singer-songwriter," she says. "I think our voices fit really well together. "

The pair did a memorable duet near the end of the competition, and while she says both are concentrating on their solo careers, she could see performing with him.

For now, she's in the very beginning stages of putting together her own solo album after signing a contract with Jive.

"We've started talks about what songs are gonna be used, what kind of vibe we want," she said.

While she was clearly comfortable on the "Idol" stage, she says her own music might be a little different.

"My original music is more lower-key, a more folky vibe," she explains. The songs are "autobiographical," and her voice is "sweeter" than the raspy tone she did in the big songs she did on the show.

While she was comfortable in those performances, it appeared that she was uncomfortable at times with the competitive nature of "American Idol."

"I would say that's a true statement. To me, music's more about expression. The idea of a competition about music is strange to me."

But she knew what she what the competition was all about when she auditioned. "It's the nature of the beast," she says.

Bowersox's advice for the next crop of "Idol" singers: "Be prepared for a lot of changes in your life. You can't just hang, with a sun-up to sun-down schedule."

Her suggestions for improving "Idol" are few. She would have liked the chance to do her own songs, and "move the band down from the risers and have them on the stage."

Other than that, she admits it's a "well-oiled machine."

After her chat, it was back to rehearsals, including those group numbers. Bowersox always looked uncomfortable in those, but says she actually enjoys them.

"Nobody believes me when I say it," she admits.

source:onmilwaukee.com, By Tim Cuprisin, Media Columnist

Crystal Bowersox lead Idols into Huntington Center for Toledo, Ohio Concert!

Crystal Bowersox celebrated her 25th birthday earlier this month in Tampa, Fla., another stop on the American Idols Live! Tour. There was just one gift she wanted: A visit from her 18-month-old son, Tony.

“I had my son flown to Florida so he was there with me on my birthday, and it was his first time seeing me on the big stage,” she said. “When the television show was on, he was always back in the VIP room; he never saw me perform. So it was really, really cool — had the little ear protectors on him.

“He enjoyed the whole thing, looked at the Jumbotron, looked at mommy on stage. He couldn’t quite figure it out, but he clapped for me.”

Toledo — and Tony — will get another visit with Bowersox when the Idols Tour stops at the Huntington Center on Aug. 29.

This time when her legions of fans gather at the arena, there’ll be clapping. In May, a stunned packed house watched the “American Idol” finale and saw Lee DeWyze named the winner.

“It’s going to be really cool when we get to Toledo and see familiar faces,” Bowersox said during a call before a show in San Diego. “I think [the concert is] a good thing for the whole family. There’s such a variety of music from each of the different contestants.”

Set to take the stage with Bowersox and DeWyze are the rest of the top 10 performers from season nine: Didi Benami, Andrew Garcia, Casey James, Aaron Kelly, Michael Lynche, Siobhan Magnus, Katie Stevens and Tim Urban. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show range from $38.50 to $68.50.

“No guarantees, but something might happen there; I might do something different for the hometown,” Bowersox teased.

Don’t expect to see her signature microphone stand.

“My mic stand is currently retired for now, for the summer. I traded it in for a headset so I could walk around the stage and get as close to the audience as I possibly can,” the Elliston native said.

“It’s really great to get to meet the fans and come to them,” she said. “We’re learning a lot [on the tour], but we’re having fun.”

Trying to learn about the star’s debut disc was tough. Bowersox said she didn’t want to give too much away.

“It will definitely be all-original, if not original, it’ll be co-written. I want to take part in every aspect of the album. I want to co-produce,” she said. “It’s my baby, it’s my art, so I want to be involved. It’s supposed to represent me, so I’m going to try to do that the best I can.”

Bowersox confirmed that local bassist Frankie May will record with her.

When asked if “Holy Toledo” will be on the disc, she replied, “We haven’t decided on songs yet, but songs that are most important to me will be on the album.”

The singer-songwriter then shared the story behind that track: “I was 17 sitting on a friend’s front porch, thinking about moving and wondering what else is out there. I was at a turning point in my life; I was going from, you know, teenager to a woman, and that’s when I moved to Chicago and just kind of started fulfilling my dreams and not really letting anything get in the way. I think it’s a song of hope for something better.”

And yes, she knows how to drive a stick. “When I wrote that song, I actually had a 1972 Volkswagen bus,” she said.

After the tour wraps up Aug. 31, MamaSox will return to Northwest Ohio for a few days and her favorite gig — singing to her son.

“I sing to him whenever I can,” Bowersox said. “He sings, too. He’s picking up on ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,’ and he understands the difference between a low note and a higher note. He’s into it; he’s been around music since he was in the womb.”

She added, “He’s a very, very Zen baby; he’s calm, cool and collected.”

Must get that from his mom, who seems so down-to-earth.

“I grew up lower income, middle class, you know. I’ve lived a long time without much, and I realize that’s not the important stuff in life anyway, really; it’s health and happiness, and I’ve got that so I’m alright."

Source: Vicki L. Kroll, toledofreepress.com

Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze talk about their future plans with YoungHollywood

American Idol Lee DeWyze and runner-up Crystal Bowersox talk about their future and how this is just the beginning for them. Lee tells YH his secret on what he was feeling when he got crowned American Idol as Crystal tells us her musical influences and inspirations ~ like Micheal Franti and Spearhead, Aretha Franklin and Melissa Etheridge. Hosted by Tatiana Diana.

Crystal Bowersox's Secret Songs

Before going on Fox's American Idol, the Crystal Bowersox cut tracks at Englewood studio

Ron Prince got a phone call earlier this year from a friend telling him to turn on the TV. Like, right now.

"He said, 'Ron! Ron! That's your girl on TV! On 'American Idol'!"

When Prince clicked on Fox, he saw Crystal Bowersox, the young woman who used to come by his Englewood home studio, sit on the floor and play her guitar. Prince had been intrigued enough by what he heard that he'd recorded some of her songs -- nine of them, and she said she had 40 ready to go -- and wondered what could be done with them.

That was late in the summer of 2008. Then Bowersox blew town.

"She got pregnant, and she said the kid was going to be her only priority," Prince said Monday at his studio. "So she went back to Toledo. And the next thing I heard, she's on TV."

So Prince now owns an album's worth of recordings by someone who could be the biggest name in music. Like, tomorrow.

On a purely sonic level, he thinks the country, folk and rock tunes have huge potential -- especially now that Bowersox has garnered global acclaim.

But because Bowersox disappeared to another life so quickly and now has been essentially quarantined for several months by "Idol" producers, not to mention crazy busy thanks to rehearsals and a flurry of personal appearances, she hasn't even heard these finished recordings. And Prince hasn't been able to get in touch.

Until she reaches out, he says, these tracks of hers will stay safely tucked away.

"I would like to speak to her first and try to see where her head is at before I start distributing her music," says the 53-year-old Prince, long affiliated with the Gary-rooted blues-funk-reggae band the Kinsey Report as well as his own blues band Ron Prince and Hard Time. "Because I really care about Crystal and it's not just about the money, it's about her trusting me to do this together. Although I footed the whole bill on this, I still want to give her a chance to have some say."

Bowersox couldn't be reached, but her friend Brian Walker, a Chicago musician, confirmed she had worked with Prince. Fox declined comment.

Word of the recordings follows the national release of two locally made CDs of songs by Bowersox's "Idol" rival, Lee DeWyze of Mount Prospect. "So I'm Told" and "Slumberland," by the Lee DeWyze Band, were recorded in Oak Park by the independent WuLi Records.

Prince says he worked with Bowersox "at a time in her life when she was really opening up with her expressiveness, and I just really kind of tapped into something with her."

That something, he adds, was "probably the desperation that she was experiencing here in trying to make it as a musician. I know the story myself. I could just see it in her."

Although Bowersox recorded the songs accompanied only by her acoustic guitar, Prince put "a whole band behind her" during the ensuing production process, bringing in session players to add saxophone, mandolin, piano, strings, horns and backing vocals.

"She likes her music really raw. ... If she had it her way, she would like all of her music to be mostly her and her guitar," Prince says with a laugh. "But I think since she's been on 'Idol' and had a bigger production behind her, she's probably grown a newer perspective. I would hope so."

Asked if he'll ultimately try to sell the songs to a bigger label than his own Ron House Recordings, Prince again defers to Bowersox.

"I would like for Crystal to take a look at them and see if we could, because I think it's really worthy material. It's probably some of her best stuff. I probably heard every song that she'd come up with, and we kind of picked out the cream of the crop."

Source: THOMAS CONNER AND MIKE THOMAS Staff Reporters/Chicago Sun Times

American Idol's Crystal Bowersox blazes her own path

Crystal Bowersox blazes her own path

Crystal Bowersox did not win "American Idol" this year, but that's just fine with her.

The young mom with the blonde dreadlocks won over season nine fans and judges with her heartfelt, soulful takes on classic '60s and '70s songs.

In the end, she lost the title to Lee DeWyze — but got a record deal with 19 Recordings/Jive Records.

So what kind of record does she want to make? Something in the vein of Ray LaMontagne or Melissa Etheridge?

"I don't want it to be like anyone else's," she said in a phone interview from Florida. "I take most of my inspiration from life —I want it to be my words."

She was pegged as a bit of an old soul this season, and that doesn't bother her.

"I listen to all sorts of music and check everything out," she said, "but what I love is kind of limited to what touches me and what moves me."

Staying true to herself an making "real, organic" music is her priority.

"I will not being singing 'Blah, Blah, Blah,' " she said, a reference to the radio-friendly pop of Ke$ha.

Of the other nine finalists she's touring with, she would be most likely to record a duet or track with Casey James, she said.

"I really like Casey's stuff — he's definitely a real musician, and I like his southern rock, country style."

Two of the biggest challenges for her during the tour are managing her type-1 diabetes (she wears an insulin pump 24/7) and
adjusting to life without her 18-month-old son, Tony. She gets to talk to him and see him occasionally, but "it's never enough."

Becoming a household name doesn't seem to have fazed the singer, whom fans lovingly dubbed "Mama Sox."

"I think people need to remember that we're human, we need space and time and you can't please everyone all the time," she said. "You've got to worry about taking care of yourself."

Source: CARY ASPINWALL World Scene Writer/TulsaWorld

Best of Crystal Bowersox comes out at NJ Idols Live show (MTV Review)

American Idols Live! Shows Best of Lee DeWyze, Crystal Bowersox
Casey James, Andrew Garcia, Katie Stevens also sound better on Newark, New Jersey stage than they ever did on TV.

Fans of all ages donned their finest homemade puff-paint T-shirts for the American Idols Live! tour stop at the Prudential Center on Tuesday night. And judging from the excitement in the healthily populated arena, they did not leave disappointed.

Without a TV-friendly two-minute time limit for songs (and without a panel of judges ready to lay into them for any missteps), many of the season-nine performers were well-served by the live setting, particularly winner Lee DeWyze, who smiled more in his five-song set than he did in his entire run on "American Idol."

Also-rans like Didi Benami and Andrew Garcia each delivered sets that reminded the crowd why they emerged as faves during Hollywood Week. In particular, Garcia's take on Paula Abdul's "Straight Up," now with added funked-up fuzzy synths, suggested he may have made it farther had he brought that energy and ear for arrangement to more of his "Idol" performances.

The most-improved award goes to the youngest performers, high school student Aaron Kelly and recent grad Katie Stevens. If a Nashville scout saw the way Kelly owned the stage during uptempo country hits by Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts — and the crowd's warm reception to him — he or she would be insane not to scoop him up and groom him to be a Justin Bieber for the NASCAR crowd.

Meanwhile, Stevens took her "Idol" persona (wear the clothes of a middle-aged secretary, sing like an untrained teen with self-esteem issues) and completely flipped it on its head. She's now dressing her age (in a fun, flirty dress and killer knee-high boots) and singing like a seasoned veteran. Demi Lovato might regret clearing "Here We Go Again" for Katie, because it will never sound this good live again.

For some singers, the "Idol" tour is a shot at redemption. Heartthrob Tim Urban boldly tackled the Goo Goo Dolls' "Better Days," the song that got him eliminated on the show, and then followed it up with an earnest "Viva la Vida." It was a surprisingly serious set from a guy whose greatest asset is his smile and charming personality. When Urban finally did show off his pearly whites, the little girls in Newark shrieked loud enough for folks at the Jersey Shore to hear. Here's hoping it didn't interrupt Snooki from important business.

Speaking of shrieks, Siobhan Magnus delivered her signature wail at the end of "Paint It Black." While the audience appreciated the energy she brought to that Rolling Stones classic and No Doubt's "Spiderwebs," Muse's "Stockholm Syndrome" flew over the heads of the young ticketholders. It was a bit like watching a Tim Burton character stuck in a Ron Howard movie.

Michael Lynche (a.k.a. Big Mike) kicked off the second half of the show with a smooth, mellow R&B set that relied heavily on his falsetto. (He was, after all, performing songs by Kate Bush and India.Arie.) But it was an uptempo Justin Timberlake track, "My Love," that proved to be the most entertaining, if only for his out-of-left-field rap. (Don't worry, T.I., Big Mike ain't stealing your job anytime soon.)

Casey James, often stiff and awkward on "Idol," had one of the more effortless sets of the night. His impressive guitar work on the Black Keys' "I Got Mine" and the Rolling Stones' "It's All Over Now" made many forget they were watching an "Idol" concert.

Season-nine runner-up Crystal Bowersox kept that energy going with a showstopping set that further proved that the dreadlocked singer is more than just your everyday coffeehouse troubadour. If MamaSox can connect this deeply and emotionally with karaoke staples by 4 Non Blondes, Janis Joplin and Melissa Etheridge, (not to mention a chill-inducing "Up on the Mountain" reprise), it's downright scary to imagine how well she'll perform her own self-penned music. We're in for a hell of a debut album this fall, folks.

As much love as Crystal received, there was no question whom the audience was there to see. "Idol" champ Lee DeWyze's entrance caused near hysteria from his New Jersey fans, and not just because his pants' zipper was accidentally down. (Whoops!) The winner appeared to be positively giddy as he darted back and forth from one side of the stage to the other. The singer rarely stopped moving while putting his laid-back, gruff spin on '70s lite-FM staples "Rocket Man," "Hallelujah" and "Treat Her Like a Lady," showing off a looseness rarely seen on "Idol." Like Crystal, Lee gave the impression that his talents would be better displayed by performing originals. On the other hand, then we'd be deprived of a massive audience sing-along of Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody."

Much has been said (often snarkily) about the latest crop of "Idol" finalists, and while the live concert might not turn haters into slobbering fan-girls, it may leave them pleasantly surprised.

Source: Jim Cantiello, MTV

MTV Review: Crystal Bowersox, Lee DeWyze & the Top 10 ~ Good Morning America Concert

'American Idol' Top 10 Begin 'Beautiful Day' With 'Good Morning America'
Lee DeWyze, Crystal Bowersox and company strummed and belted through the rain in Central Park on Friday.

With their signs and banners eagerly clutched in their hands, fans marched into Central Park to see "American Idol" season-nine winner Lee DeWyze and runner-up Crystal Bowersox chat with Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos about "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" before two 12-year-old girls competed and a guy who looked like Santa's older brother competed in an "Idol" trivia quiz. And also to see all of the top 10 Idols perform for the "Good Morning America" Summer Concert Series on Friday (July 9).

Crystal was the first one to perform, singing Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" while strumming her guitar, of course. She did the song justice despite the slight spray of rain.

Next up was Lee, again with a guitar, awaiting his time to shine amid the continuing showers. The crowd shouted their love for him, as he responded to their makeshift banners, wishing happy birthdays and anniversaries.

Asked about the life-changing experience of winning "Idol," he said it was "important to remember where you came from" and managed to plug the October release of his upcoming album. He then performed "Treat Her Like a Lady" by the Cornelius Brothers, to which the audience reacted with more enthusiasm and excitement.

Then all of the top 10 took the stage and the band began the riff for Bon Jovi's "It's My Life." The guys gave their best for the rousing anthem, before the girls took over with "My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson. The rain seemed to bring down the energy of some, Lee in particular, who almost seemed bored at times. But as all 10 sang the song as an ensemble, they gave it a powerful finish.

Before the last song, Lee, Andrew Garcia and Michael Lynche began to beat box and rap for the slightly drenched crowd. But instead of capping off the set with another group performance, Lee went solo for his single, U2's "Beautiful Day" — and fans didn't seem to mind the irony of the bad weather.

Actually, as one fan told MTV News, there's more than one reason to consider it a beautiful day. "It was great to see the American Idols on stage together, and the rain was nice, as it has been so hot!"

Source: Christopher MacAllister, MTV

Crystal Bowersox ~ The Us Magazine Interview, with Lee DeWyze

Days after being crowned the newest American Idol, Lee DeWyze tells UsMagazine.com he was honored to be a part of Simon Cowell’s final season.

"With Simon leaving the way he did...it was a big deal," DeWyze, 24, tells Us. "It was a really big season and a real big honor to be a part of it."

Adds runner-up Crystal Bowersox: "It's a pivotal season for American Idol. It leaves a lot of open-ended things and there's really limitless possibilities for the show," the singer-songwriter, 24, says. "For us, we've got a great launching pad and we're both going to be forever grateful to the show."

Since Wednesday's finale, both have signed record deals and will begin working on their albums while on tour this summer. In the meantime, DeWyze and Bowersox will join the rest of the Top 10 in rehearsals for the American Idol tour, which kicks off July 1 in Auburn Hills, Mich.

"We’re still working on the set and the order I’m gonna do them in, but I’m definitely looking forward to songs that I’ve picked," DeWyze -- who hinted he'll be covering a Kings of Leon song -- says. "It's going to be really fun."

Crystal Bowersox, Lee DeWyze, Casey James & Didi Benami Chat with Fans (Video ~ Recorded Live!)

Good News, Fans! If you missed the Live Chat with Crystal Bowersox, Lee DeWyze, Casey James and Didi Benami, you can watch it now on The Crystal Bowersox Blog! The 2-hour event was recorded live. The Idols answer questions submitted by fans via Twitter.

It's great to see the Idols like this...interacting and having fun with each other, letting down their hair - so to speak, and really letting the fans get to know them. We get a much better sense of who Crystal and Lee really are. They seem so much more natural and at ease sitting around answering questions with their good friends than we've seen in the many one-on-one interviews the Idols have been doing lately.

The Live Chat was organized as a promotion for the American Idol LIVE tour kicking off July 1 in Detroit, Michigan.

The first live chat, held with Tim Urban, Katie Stevens, and Michael Lynche, drew more than 100,000 live responses from engaged fans. The second featured Aaron Kelly, Andrew Garcia and Siobhan Magnus.

American Idol's Crystal Bowersox, Lee DeWyze & Casey James ~ LIVE CHAT TODAY!!

American Idol fans will get to interact with the Top 10 finalists today, Sunday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.. Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox along with other finalists including Casey James and Didi Benami will answer questions from their fans.

This audience - American Idol finalist’s talk is being organized as a promotion for the American Idol live tour starting off on July 1 at Detroit.


Fans will get an excellent opportunity to tweet their questions to #IdolsLive. The audience has a chance to get an answer to all their queries regarding American Idol and its contestants.

The first live chat held with Tim Urban, Katie Stevens, and Michael Lynche drew more than 100,000 live responses from engaged fans. The second featured Aaron Kelly, Andrew Garcia and Siobhan Magnus. Tickets for the Idols Live Tour are for sale.

American Idol's Crystal Bowersox & Lee DeWyze LIVE CHAT on Father's Day

Nothing says, "Thanks, dad" like chatting it up with some "American Idol" singers.

Before the Top 10 finalists from Season 9 kickoff their nationwide tour, a few of them will take to the computer for a live Ustream chat on Sunday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:40 p.m. PT on AmericanIdol.com.

Besides winner Lee DeWyze and runner up Crystal Bowersox, fans will get the opportunity to pose questions like, "What conditioner do you use?" to Casey James and Didi Benami if you so wish.

Just tweet your questions with the hashtag #IdolsLive to submit them for consideration.

The "American Idol Live!" tour starts on July 1 in Detroit.

American Idol's Crystal Bowersox's Debut Album will Sound both "Folky" and "Commercial"

Crystal Bowersox's Album Will Sound Both 'Folky' And 'Commercial,' Says Collaborator Wayne Wilkins

Crystal Bowersox hasn't been any less busy since "American Idol" wrapped up last month. The season nine runner-up has already started recording material for her debut album, and so far, at least one collaborator is highly impressed with what she's bringing to the table.

"She's the real deal," producer/songwriter Wayne Wilkins -- who hit the studio with Bowersox on Wednesday (June 16) -- tells Billboard.com. "I've only worked with a couple of 'Amerian Idol' contestants before, and in terms of songwriting, she's the most developed on that front. She literally could sit in a room with anybody, grab a guitar and start writing."

Wilkins, who has worked on hits with Jordin Sparks ("Battlefield"), Beyoncé ("Sweet Dreams"), David Archuleta and Natasha Bedingfield, says Bowersox arrived to the studio ready to work, with her guitar and lyrics in hand. (Unfortunately, the Ohio native's favorite mic stand from back home did not make it to the session.)

Along with fellow songwriter Priscilla Hamilton, Wilkins and Bowersox came up with "two pretty great ideas" for songs. "We did one song that I wouldn't say was totally pop, but it had slightly more of a commercial edge to it," says Wilkins, who adds that the "Idol" finalist already has "an album's worth" of material that boasts a more "folky" vibe in the Melissa Etheridge vein. "The other song was a bit darker and had a breakbeat on it. They were contrasting but still fit with her genre."

Wilkins hopes to get back into the studio with Bowersox soon to complete the songs, but he'll have to contend with her soon-to-be even busier schedule. Bowersox, "Idol" winner Lee DeWyze and the rest of this year's top 10 kick off their American Idols Live! tour on July 1 in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Bowersox, who signed a record deal with 19 Recordings and Jive Records almost immediately after the "Idol" finale, has been asking her fans for suggestions about her debut album. "Would you all hate it if I sang a pop song?" she asked aloud on Twitter.

No matter which musical direction she takes, Wilkins has no doubt that Bowersox will be successful. "To me, Crystal is potentially one of those people that will have a career way past the 'American Idol' thing," Wilkins says. In three or four years, she'll still be around and have a lot of fans supporting her."


source: Monica Herrera, billboard.com

Crystal Bowersox's Idolatry Interview on dream collaborations (Adam Lambert?), confrontations with judges, and what she'd change about 'Idol' ~ Part 1 & 2

Idolatry
by Michael Slezak

Crystal Bowersox is a fighter by nature, which is why she wasn’t going to let anything — a Hollywood Week put-down from Simon, a semifinal hospital scare, or the finale-night combination of high heels and a steep flight of stairs — get in the way of her American Idol run. Now, in her Idolatry interview, Michael Slezak finally gets to sit down with his favorite Idol. In "Crystalatry," the season 9 runner-up discusses her dreams of co-producing her major-label debut disc, the duet she and Lee DeWyze almost chose over “Falling Slowly,” and what she wishes she’d done differently the night the season 9 Top 12 was announced. We also get Crystal’s thoughts on Tuvan throat singing, dream collaboration (Adam Lambert?), group-performance lip-synching, and that controversial lyric change on Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know.”

Volume 1:NATURALSOX



Volume 2:TOUGH-COOKIESOX

Ford Gives Crystal Bowersox & Lee DeWyze Cars

One of the perks of making it to the American Idol Finale is the gift of a Fiesta from the Ford Motor Company. The Season 9 Top 2, Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze, created custom graphics with the Ford design team. Crystal designed her red Fiesta with large Sunflowers at the front, with petals blowing off and along the doors. Lee's black Fiesta has musical notes down the side, and his favorite fabric pattern - plaid - on the hood.