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| Laine Hardy will perform on the finale of American Idol on Sunday, May 19th. Photo: ABC |
It’s down to three at “American Idol.” The winner will be announced on Sunday following a three-hour event that includes real-time voting for Laine Hardy, Alejandra Aranda, and Madison VanDenburg as they perform for the top title. Also performing will be the Top 10 contestants performing with superstar artists Adam Lambert, Weezer, Kool & the Gang, and Carrie Underwood to name a few.
For Laine, who tried out last year and was convinced by the judges to try out again this year it was a smart decision. He is one step away from winning.
TVMusic Networkand other reporters were backstage after the show and got an idea of what it is like to be in his shoes – his $4000 shoes that is. While singing Elton John’s “Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” Laine was wearing borrowed $4000 shoes. The Lousiana native has upped his fashion game and his production numbers look great but is it enough for him to win?
Check out the interview below:
Congratulations. How are you?
Laine: I’m very good. I’m still processing. Yeah, I’m shocked and I’m still processing everything.
What have been some of the fun things you and your fellow contestants have experienced while being on the show this season?
Laine: Well, we all have fun like me and [fellow finalist]Alejandro [Aranda]. We’ll just patty cake or something before he goes on stage, we’ll do that or we’ll play on the claw machine. We’ll go to the movies, play guitar. I mean, just normal stuff.
Do you guys get recognized?
Laine: Sometimes. Sometimes we do, but I don’t go out much. The city ain’t for me.
What was your favorite song to sing tonight?
Laine: My favorite song to sing tonight was probably, “Hey Jude,” because I looked to my side and I saw my mom crying. I was like, “Oh, man, it’s about to get me; it’s about to get me.” And I was like, “Sing, sing, sing.”
How did you keep your composure through that?
Laine: I looked twice, and I was like, “I can’t look over there.” So, I looked at people in the crowd and the judges.
What about Los Angeles is overwhelming to you?
Laine: It’s not overwhelming to me, but I was raised in Louisiana all my life and to come out here and just be away from home for a month and a half, it’s very tough on me – like tough on my mind, but then I always tell myself home is never going to go away. So, it’s always going to be there.
How you feel about the judges? Do you have a favorite at this point?
Laine: They’re all my favorite really. They all gave me really good advice. But Lionel [Richie], he really gives me good advice. Like after I perform, he’ll give me some advice on what I need to do to, to bring to the table next weekend or whatever.
Would you be happy not to win next week?
Laine: I’m happy either way. I’m happy either way.
What’s your process like that for songwriting? Do you start with the music or the words?
Laine: With me, I don’t know if this is correct, but first I’ll get the melody. I’ll probably have a melody that I made up like three weeks ago. I’ll start playing it and then I’ll start singing random words that fit with the verses and choruses and I’ll voice memo everything that I do, so I don’t miss anything. But usually for me, it’s a melody and the lyrics, and then just putting verses in lines where they need to be, I guess. I’m still learning. I started songwriting two years ago I think. I’m still learning.
Those aren’t your $4000 shoes?
Laine: I’m not wearing my last outfit. These are the comfortable ones.
What was that like? Did it make you nervous that they were worth that much?
Laine: The other two pairs of shoes that I wore, they were like, “Watch them!” I was like, Oh, my God.” So, I walked around like this (he mimics walking on tiptoe). I didn’t try to slam my feet.
The next #americanidol is revealed, preceded by special guest performances, on the highly anticipated grand finale of @AmericanIdol, Sunday, May 19 at 8:00 p.m. EDT, airing and voting live coast to coast on ABC!
