In an exclusive interview with HollywoodLife.com, ‘American Idol’ Season 8 winner Kris Allen told us all about why he would never tell anyone about his favorite to win ‘American Idol’ Season 13, what he thinks about Harry Connick Jr. as a judge, whether he’ll perform on one of the results shows, and what it’s like to be on the road while also being a father to his 8-month-old, Oliver.
American Idol Season 8 winner Kris Allen, 28, partnered up with Barefoot Wine & Bubbly and Soles4Souls to head up a benefit concert with Idol Season 7 winner David Cook, 31, in Nashville, Tenn. on April 1 called “A Sole-ful Evening with David Cook and Kris Allen.” In his interview with HollywoodLife.com, we asked Kris about his favorite to win American Idol Season 13 and he wouldn’t tell us! Read on to find out why he’s so secretive about it, what he thinks about Harry Connick Jr. as a judge, and whether we can expect to see him perform on an Idol results show.
Kris Allen: ‘You Want People From The Show To Be On Your Side No Matter What’
Kris was approached by Soles4Souls, a non-profit charity which provides donated new and used shoes to people in need, to head up a benefit concert for which the charity teamed up with Barefoot Wine & Bubbly. The concert went off without a hitch, and accomplished what it endeavored to do — help people in need while putting on a great show! Barefoot Wine and Soles4Souls collected both funds and shoes to outfit more than 1,500 people in need. Even Kris and David donated some shoes!
When HollywoodLife.com spoke with Kris prior to the show, we just had to ask him about American Idol Season 13 and which contestant’s got his vote, but he wouldn’t tell us! He said that he knows all too well what it’s like to be on the show and he doesn’t want to pick favorites or to make anybody feel bad. “You want people from the show to be on your side no matter what,” he explained. (Makes sense, but… it’s Jena Irene, right? Or Malaya Watson? Alex Preston? Come on. Call us back — we’ll never tell.)
On Harry Connick Jr. as a judge, Kris thinks that he knows what Harry is talking about when he doles out criticism. “I remember I saw him live a while back and was so impressed by him and his stage presence, his voice, and the way he connected with the crowd. He’s doing all the right things as a performer.” Kris agreed with us that Harry is certainly not “the new Simon Cowell” as some are purporting him to be. HollywoodLife.com is emphatically Team Harry, if you haven’t already noticed.
Kris Allen On Juggling Performing With Being A Father: ‘The Biggest Problem Is Scheduling’
If the stars align, fans can expect Kris to perform on an upcoming results show — he told us that he’d certainly like to! His schedule is pretty packed these days though, with recording an album while being a touring performer as well as the father of an 8-month-old.
On juggling his duties as a performer with his duties as a father to young Oliver, Kris said that “the main problem is scheduling. You want to be around for every little thing that he does,” but that it’s kind of impossible given the circumstances. Kris brought up the point that he’s been doing the “long distance thing” with his wife, high school sweetheart Katy O’Connell, for a while now, “and [he tries] to make it home as much as possible, but now it’s even more of a priority to get home” to see Oliver’s every milestone.
Recently, Oliver has started to shake his head “no” — and has been using this ability to communicate with great relish. We hear you, Oliver — we’re pretty obstinate, too.
Lastly, Kris teased a little bit of what fans can expect from his upcoming third studio album, due out sometime in 2014. “This album feels the best so far as a whole,” he told us. “It feels different, it feels personal, it feels mature,” and he believes that he has “grown a lot as a songwriter, musician, performer,” and that he couldn’t be more excited about everything they’ve recorded so far.
So, HollywoodLifers, are you looking forward to Kris’ next album? And even though he wouldn’t tell us about his favorite to win American Idol Season 13, who’s yours? Were you in Nashville to catch the concert? Was it awesome? Let us know!
– Amanda Michelle Steiner
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