She was best remembered for her pink hair and fun, upbeat personality, and now with season 3 of American Idol Rewind airing, you can experience the lovable Amy Adams all over again. Here I talk to her about some of her not-so-graceful moments and the process of finding herself with the whole world watching.
Sharon Tharp: Hi Amy, how are you?
Amy Adams: I’m good, thanks.
ST: So your season is showing on American Idol Rewind. What comes to mind when you look back on your experience?
AA: When I think about it now I think of it as a really great growing experience and a really wonderful opportunity to set up a platform for whatever I’m going to do in the future.
ST: Right. Now what was the toughest part of the show for you?
AA: I think one of the toughest parts for me was not truly knowing who I was as an artist yet and having to find and go through that process on national television and while the American public is watching you. It’s kind of a grueling experience.
ST: Yeah, I bet. What were some of the fondest moments for you?
AA: The people I met, the friends that I made, the opportunities that were given, the people that you now know will be your friends forever because you share this special bond that you and only you were going through at that time—I just think the opportunities that it has created and continues to create with going forward in my life are great.
ST: So who were you closest with on the show?
AA: I was really close with LaToya, Fantasia and John Stevens. Most of us were all really close. LaToya and I were closest in age I think. And I kind of took care of John like he was my son or something. I mean, you have different energies and whatnot, but for the most part everyone is your friend regardless. It’s like you’re all kind of in it together and people in that situation understand each other.
ST: Looking back, is there anything you would change?
AA: Let’s see, probably not substantially. I maybe would have had more faith in myself and the distance that I could have gone. Like I said, I was really finding myself and the artist that I was while on the show. That’s always hard. A prime example is Fantasia. She knew exactly who she was on the show. And I know a lot of the other idols that I talked to afterward had only grown into themselves after the show. It was such a major experience that forced you to find yourself so that you could have some sense of direction in your career.
ST: Right. Did you find it hard watching yourself go through that process?
AA: Yeah. It’s really one of those things where you’re like, “Oh…” and once the show got its momentum, I found myself slightly annoying actually. It’s a really weird feeling.
ST: And since the show, what have you been up to?
AA: Well, we did the Idol tour and I got knocked up during the tour, also known as pregnant, and I gave birth. Four months after I gave birth, I went on a national tour of a Broadway show and starred in that for a year. I was contracted to do two years, but I opted to do one so I could take some time off and be with my son. So that’s what I’ve been doing now. Like I said, I really wanted to find myself and see exactly who I was. When I was writing, I would traditionally write country songs, but I’ve never been the opportunity to sing country music so I’ve been working on a country album and we are going to start recording this month.
ST: Do you often still get recognized?
AA: I do! And that’s the weirdest thing. I mean, I’m older and I don’t even know what the term would be, more “mom-esque” and less my pink-haired self. I think my personality is relatively similar, but yeah just imagine a soccer mom with a pink wig on.
ST: So with the Rewind airing, are you excited? Are you nervous? What are you expecting?
AA: Part of me is nervous. It’s funny because my friend just called me and told me he was TiVo-ing the Rewind and he said that they showed the footage of when I was writing that song and Simon was like, “Oh no. You did not with that song.” I was like “Oh! Are you kidding me?” I held my gut like he just stabbed me because I prayed to Jesus that whenever the show airs, because you have no control over how they put you out there, I said please please do not put me out there singing that song. They give you these titles to choose from the night before and then you have to write a song to it. I remember thinking, “How am I going to write a song to ‘shake it til you make it?'” I don’t even know what that means. So I remember doing it and the melody was fine, but the actual words of it were like I was writing it for preschool. So, it wasn’t an ideal situation. And then they aired that.
ST: I guess it makes for good reality television though, right?
AA: Yes! That’s a prime example of good reality TV.
ST: Well, thank you for talking with me!
AA: Oh, you’re welcome. Have a good day!
Be sure to check your local listings for times and stations where you can watch the second season of American Idol Rewind. You can also visit www.tvguide.com/listings for more information…
