Clay's Questions and Answers

*Taken from Clay's page off the Official American Idol Website*

Do you have a job?
A: CAP MR/DD worker. I work with a 13 year-old young man with autism.

Do you have any formal singing training?
A: Occasional coaching for auditions

Where have you performed before?
A: School functions in high school. Host of the North Carolina Music Connection.

When did you first start to sing?
A: I've been singing for as long as I can remember. My mother would say I've been singing since 18 months.

What is your favorite song to sing?
A: "Unchained Melody".

What is the first concert you went to?
A: I don't really know.

What is the last concert you went to?
A: James Taylor.

What other talents do you have?
A: I can turn both of my feet around backwards.

If you don't make it on AMERICAN IDOL, what will you do?
A: Prepare for graduation and a career teaching students with special needs.

What are your goals in life?
A: Success, happiness, stability. I would love to be known as a generous and selfless person.

What album would your friends be surprised you own?
A: My tastes are pretty eclectic. I can't think much would surprise them.

What is the first CD you ever bought?
A: Don't know.

What is in your CD player right now?
A: "This Is Who I Am" by Jody McBrayer.

Who is your AMERICAN IDOL?
A: My mother is the strongest person I know.

What is your favorite type of music?
A: I love music with strong melodies where the singer really has to sing. I like jazz, some slow R&B and pop/country ballads.

What is your favorite song?
A: Don't know.

Favorite male pop artist?
A: Jon Secada or Peter Cetera.

Favorite female pop artist?
A: Country crossovers like Shania Twain and Faith Hill.

Favorite album?
A: I LOVE James Taylor's "Hourglass."

Who in the music world do you think your style is most like?
A: A little Harry Connick, Jr., a little Elton John, a little Jon Secada.

Most embarrassing moment?
A: Goodness, I've gotten so used to embarrassing myself that I don't really get embarrassed that often.

If you couldn't sing, which talent would you most like to have?
A: I wish I could draw like my friend Meredith. Even her handwriting is art!

What has been your proudest moment in life so far?
A: I'm pretty dang proud of being in the final 32 of AMERICAN IDOL.

What is your definition of an AMERICAN IDOL?*
A: Someone with a talent that leaves a mark on American society and inspires people to think, feel, love, act.

Why do you want to be an AMERICAN IDOL?
A: American celebrities have an amazing amount of influence on the way America thinks, feels and acts. I think that such influences should be used in the most positive way possible.

Do you think the audition process was fair?
A: Tough, but fair. I probably would have voted a different way a few times, but the judges' jobs were very tough. VERY.

Who is your favorite judge and why?
A: Randy. He is probably the best at giving truly constructive criticism.

Who is your least favorite judge and why?
A: I'm not stupid enough to answer this question.

What advice do you have for other hopefuls?
A: Believe in yourself and practice, practice, practice.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
A: I don't really hide much. Not many surprises here.

Who did you think was going to win last season?
A: Probably Tamyra.

If you could be a performer from any era, which would you choose and why?
A: Big band in the 1940s. Music really brought people together during that era.

Wanna leave?

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