“This has been one incredible ride, … It’s so good to be home.”

“Everybody seems to have their arms wide open to me, so that’s been great.”

“I’m not preaching. It’s just a beautiful song I figured a lot of people could relate to whether they believe in God or not. Everybody has had a time in their life when they needed help with something.”

“Instead of going through it all twice, this mashed everything together, I went to a record store this morning and bought my album. … It’s been surreal.”

“I can’t have a dog or cat on tour because of allergic Idols, but when this is over, I’m having an animal in my arms.”

“While on tour we of course have been following the
tragic news relating to Hurricane Katrina … When Simon (Fuller) suggested
the idea of putting on a special charity concert to help those
in need, myself and all the Idols on tour were very happy
to help. Our hearts go out to the many people suffering from
this disaster.”

“It’s a very happy thing that we’re doing to help people. When [executive producer] Simon Fuller suggested the idea of putting on a special charity concert to help those in need, I and all the Idols on tour were happy to help.”

“It’s a very happy thing that we’re doing to help people.”

“Nashville was so great in welcoming me to CMA Music Festival last year, and I am so excited to be coming back again this year.”

“It is so thrilling to be able to get back out and perform for the fans again. We put a band together last year to launch the album with radio and television promotion. We are all itching to get on a bus and really travel across the states and see the real America.”

“It’s been absolutely fabulous. I’ve totally gotten to do everything I ever wanted and then some, and I’m just trying to stay there as long as I can.”

“I was hoping for new female vocalist and that’s all I was really hanging my hopes on. This is a monumental moment for me, a milestone in my life and my career.”

“I saw Kenny in concert when I was 16 years old and it’s now a dream come true to be going on tour with him.”

“Everything has been a complete whirlwind, and I’m just trying to keep my head on straight. It’s important to keep in touch with people who knew me before, and I talk to my mom every day [to stay grounded].”

“I thought about deviating from that and singing other things, but then I thought, ‘Well, if I don’t win … this is what I want to do after the show, so it doesn’t really make sense for me to try to be something that I’m not.’”

“All of us gave it all we’ve got, overcame a whole lot just being on the show and learned a lot about ourselves. We’re just normal people trying to do what we love and follow our dreams.”

“American Idol transcends age, gender, ethnicity, everything”

“As far as talent goes, we had pretty much everything, and I think that’s why this year was so successful.”

“At first, it was hard to sit down and read the things that people were saying. A lot of people would’ve worked their way up to this position and would’ve gotten a thick skin over a few years’ time. For me, though, all this happened in a few months.”

“Being a part of SKECHERS is exciting. It is such a hip company with a great attitude and image.”

“Everybody knows what’s going on. Even if they don’t watch it they know what’s happening.”

“Everything’s completely different, and it’s been hard. Fortunately, I have a lot of wonderful people around me, and I think I’m handling things pretty well.”

“I can’t believe this is happening to me. The weirdest thing is it was just a dream, and now it’s actually real. It’s hard to believe sometimes. ”

“I got to meet some of the best people I’ve ever met, and we all grew as people and as entertainers.”

“I want my permanent address to be in Oklahoma. Someday, when I get married and I have kids, that’s where I want to raise my kids.”

“I want people to think of me as a nice person. I really am so blessed. All of this has been a great experience and I thank the American public so much for putting me in this position. I appreciate every second of it.”

“I wondered how people would take me being a country music singer. I thought about deviating from that and singing other things. But… it doesn’t really make sense for me to try to be something that I’m not.”

“I’m fighting a losing battle here: I’m trying to lose some weight. I love chocolate; that’s one of my biggest downfalls. I haven’t gotten a whole lot of chocolate, thank goodness, because I’d probably be about 300 pounds.”

“I’m not worried. I’m just so grateful to be in the position that I’m in. I’m just going with the flow right now, and I think my album will come together quite nicely because I think everybody is on the same page.”

“I’ve heard all kinds of crazy rumors about myself. I’ve even heard that I’m pregnant! I’ve become real good about laughing things off-I figure I’d better get used to it.”

“I’ve never really been anywhere, and now I get to go everywhere. I just have to make sure there’s enough memory on my computer to hold all my pictures.”

“It’s nice to know you have support. Last night I got a marriage proposal. I just laughed.”

“My very first magazine cover was the National Enquirer.”

“Right afterwards there was a whole, whole lot of press to do, so the week after, all day, every day, was press so I didn’t really get a chance to celebrate.”

“So many people always try to help me carry my luggage and help me do things I can do myself. If I can do it myself, I’m going to do it myself. I’m not going to let other people do it for me, and I think that’s a big part of where I came from. I’m not a real prissy girl.”

“The only other time I’ve been away from home was when I went to college. And that was just an hour away, so I could always go home if I needed to.”

“There’s a lot of things that are said on the American Idol message board. I quit reading them because most of the people are very mean.”

“There’s not ever much of anything going on in my head.”

“We don’t have milk cows. People have so many stereotypes of people from where I come from-Oklahoma. We don’t ride around in covered wagons, either.“