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As the 'A.I.' tour continues, Melinda Doolittle looks to the future

By Lori Hoffman

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Sep. 6, 2007

Melinda Doolittle

Your American Idol is coming to town at Boardwalk Hall this Saturday. The season six winner, bubbly 17 year-old Jordin Sparks, and her smooth, beat-boxing runner-up, Blake Lewis, topline a diverse group that includes the amazing vocal prowess of Melinda Doolittle, the belting style of LaKisha Jones, the good looks and sound of Chris Richardson, the likable baldy Phil Stacy and the teenager making the most of his unexpected 15 minutes of fame, 17-year-old Sanjaya Malakar.

Speaking of Ms. Doolittle, never has a third place finish looked so good. When she was booted off American Idol in favor of the youth-oriented, teen dream duo of Sparks and Lewis, Simon Cowell expressed his disappointment. Passionate Idol bloggers peppered the digital highway with pros and cons. The Fox TV show's fan base was divided on the issue, with the younger voters blasting Doolittle for her old-fashioned style, while other Idol fans were outraged. In their minds, the hands-down best singer -- perhaps the most technically proficient and talented singer in the history of the competition -- would have to settle for third place.

However, as last season's fourth place finisher Chris Daughtry has demonstrated, winning certainly isn't everything when it comes to American Idol. Daughtry's fans were equally outraged about his finish, and perhaps that outrage helped fuel the success that his self-titled debut album has earned. And, it was absolutely clear that his talent earned him respect and excellent reviews from a rock music community that couldn't care less about the popular reality show.

Who will be left standing when the American Idol tour is finished later this month? Sparks and Lewis are already working on their debut albums, looking to release them later this year.

From the road in Pittsburgh, a confident Melinda Doolittle checks in with AC Weekly. The former back-up singer says she is enjoying her summer on the road while planning her post-Idol career.

Reading about the tour, it sounds like you are the den mother of this group.

I'm the oldest one, so I think that plays into it a little bit. They call me 'Mama.' Other than that, we all help each other out.

What song are you having the most fun performing?

I'm having a lot of fun performing "Proud Mary." I get to be Tina Turner for a little while. Sanjaya makes it fun for me too. That's the duet we do.

Give us an update on your post-Idol plans. Have you been signed? Are you picking out songs?

I have not signed with anyone. I am picking out songs right now. I've been writing some, and people have been sending in some really, really great songs. I'm definitely going to be doing a recording, but I haven't chosen who I'll sign with. There are some opportunities I definitely like and am looking into.

What type of album can we expect? R&B, gospel?

It is old school meets the new school -- funky, bluesy, soulful. The lyric content will be life stories. God is definitely a part of my life, love is a part of my life story ... relationships, friendships, all of that. Everything that goes into everyday life will be on the album so people can relate to it.

With what happened with Chris Daughtry last year, does that give you hope that coming in third might be to your advantage?

It definitely gives me hope. I feel like the right thing happened this year. I think Jordin was supposed to win. I love that I came in third. I'm excited about what's going to happen in the future.

Will this be your first time coming to Atlantic City?

It will be my very first time. I'm excited.

I hope you get a chance to go on the Boardwalk. That's a must if it's your first time.

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