Janell's Q&A

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  • Question: Favorite Male Artist:
  • Answer: Steve Perry
  • Question: Favorite Female Artist:
  • Answer: Stevie Nicks
  • Question: Do you have a favorite quote or personal motto?
  • Answer: It's better to be hopeful than to be hopeless.
  • Question: When did you first start to sing?
  • Answer: Second grade in church. Wrote three songs and performed them there in Orlando at St. Mary Magdalen.
  • Question: Do you have any formal singing training?
  • Answer: No formal training. I did a lot of chorus and choir singing through elementary and high school.
  • Question: What other talents do you have?
  • Answer: I love dancing. Minored in dance in college and had my own hip hop dance team there as well.
  • Question: What has been the most unique job/chore you've ever had?
  • Answer: Bartending simply for the unique people I have met! The stories you hear and characters you meet are awesome.
  • Question: What are your personal goals in life?
  • Answer: To be healthy and happy. I want to give the people I love everything they have dreamed of as I attain my dreams.
  • Question: What music would your friends be surprised you own?
  • Answer: No surprises. I listen to everything and love to incorporate all of the different styles into my own.
  • Question: Do you have any rituals or things you do before you perform?
  • Answer: I just take deep breaths and focus on what's ahead. Try not to freak out...it usually doesn't calm me down though.
  • Question: What's your most embarrassing moment?
  • Answer: I am really clumsy so falling and tripping aren't really embarrassing anymore. I fall often so...yeah just falling down and laughing at myself.
  • Question: What's your proudest moment?
  • Answer: Graduating from college with honors. I was the first in my family and it meant a lot to my parents and myself.
  • Question: If you couldn't sing, which talent would you most like to have?
  • Answer: I desperately wish I could play sports. I suck at them and admire athletes so much.
  • Question: What would people be surprised to learn about you?
  • Answer: That I was on a hip hop dance team in college. That I don't like pink. I am terrified of flying.
  • Question: What have you learned (about yourself) by going through the Idol audition process?
  • Answer: That I am a lot more independent than I give myself credit for. And how much I absolutely love all of this and what comes with it.
  • Question: How do you plan on differentiating yourself in the competition?
  • Answer: No plans. Just going to be myself. I think people can relate and that's a great thing.
  • Question: Who are your musical influences?
  • Answer: Fleetwood Mac, Journey, Shania Twain, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Spice Girls.
  • Question: If you have 24 hours to do anything you wanted, what would you do?
  • Answer: Travel to a gorgeous beach and spend the day laughing in the sun and playing guitar with all of my friends and loved ones.
  • Question: Who is the person that you would most like to meet?
  • Answer: Michael Jackson
  • Question: Of the past 8 seasons, who's been your favorite Idol contestant thus far?
  • Answer: Daughtry and Carrie Underwood
  • Question: If you could perform in any venue in the world, where you that be and why?
  • Answer: This isn't huge, but since I was little I wanted to perform at the Ford Amphitheater. It's just a great venue and all my friends and family could be there.
  • Question: What was the first concert you attended?
  • Answer: Spice Girls! Girl Power! I dressed up as Baby Spice and my mom took me and my friends. It was fantastic.
  • Question: How has music inspired you?
  • Answer: Music is what makes me, me. The only time I truly feel like myself. Writing allows me to say everything I couldn't say at times when I wanted to.
  • Question: What makes a great performer?
  • Answer: Being an honest performer. A love for what they are doing and an attachment to what they are performing.
  • Question: How do you combat stage fright?
  • Answer: Lots and lots of practice. Rehearsal is key, especially if at the actual venue.
  • Question: What's been the most surprising part of the Idol experience so far?
  • Answer: Making friends with the cast and crew. We are already like a little family!
  • Question: If you could perform with any person or group, who would it be and why?
  • Answer: Journey because their songs are so entertaining and amazing to sing!
  • Question: Which theme week would be most challenging to you and why?
  • Answer: Country because I wouldn't be able to choose what song to do!
  • Question: What theme week would you love to have for Season 9?
  • Answer: Artist write their own songs for original song night.
  • Question: What's your dream song to perform?
  • Answer: "One Winged Dove" by Stevie Nicks and "Come to Me" by France Joli...anything by Michael Jackson - Dirty Diana.
  • Question: What one performance in a past AI season will you always remember?
  • Answer: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Katharine McPhee. It was haunting.

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