Oprah Winfrey, an American Idol fan? Yes! As the talk show host and millions of fans prepare to vote for the next American Idol on Tuesday night, we know for sure that whose number Oprah will be dialing when the phone lines open – Jordin Sparks'!
PEOPLE asked the influential philanthropist whom she would like see take the Idol crown and she immediately responded "Jordin."
"[I like her] personality. She can sing," Winfrey told PEOPLE Sunday night at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, where she received the distinguished Humanitarian Award from the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity.
"She has 'it.' I know a few things about 'it' because I chose all my girls at the school [in South Africa] based on "it." So Jordin has 'it.'"
John Mayer // Elton John // Idols 08 // Daughtry // Jonas Brothers // Rascal Flatts
Tuesday Night's Idol: Jordin Looks (and Sounds!) Like a Winner
Jordin Sparks
Photo by: PEOPLE critic Tom Gliatto thinks the last song was the determining factor.
Episode 38
The hour-long performance finale with Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks ended with what I first thought was an incredibly dumb idea: They both were made to perform a soggy new inspirational ballad called "This Is My Now," the winning entry in the show's songwriting contest. But it became the defining moment of the night and maybe the season, showing how an unfamiliar, not terribly distinguished piece of music can be completely transformed from one voice to the next.
Blake sang it first. As Simon Cowell helpfully pointed out a few days ago, Blake is more performer than singer, which meant that he was at his weakest here. He didn't know what to do with "This Is My Now" other than sing slowly, walk across the stage at a meditative pace and try to suggest this was a meaningful musical moment. Jordin, on the other hand, Simon has defined as just the opposite – more singer than entertainer – and she really proved it! She just stood there, opened her mouth and out came beautiful music colored with emotion. She somehow infused the song with radiance and strength.
She also cried.
Simon gave her a thumb's up while and effectively quashed her rival with a fist. He told her: "You just wiped the floor with Blake on that song."
Tomorrow night ought to be her "now" – her then? The tenses are awkward, but you know what I mean.
For more from last night, see AOL's Idol coverage.
John Mayer // Elton John // Idols 08 // Daughtry // Jonas Brothers // Rascal Flatts
HA....Oprah likes Jordin because she is (half) black....and female.
Yeah, I said it...what of it?!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Favorite quote from 2007: Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
^The recorded version for This is My Now. I actually like Jordin's voice kind of... but I just didn't want her to win for my own reasons that many people would think are stupid...
May 24 – Idol winner on Jay Leno May 24 – Blake and Jordin on CBS Early Show May 24 – Idol Tonight: Fantastic Finish (TV Guide, 8pm) May 25 Jordin ,Blake and others will be on Larry King on CNN Friday at 9pm ET
May 25 – Fashion Team: Idol Edition (TV Guide, 8pm)
May 29 – Idol winner on Regis & Kelly
May 30 – Idol runner-up on Regis & Kelly
May 31 – Idol finalist on Regis & Kelly May 31 – Blake & Jordin on Today Show
John Mayer // Elton John // Idols 08 // Daughtry // Jonas Brothers // Rascal Flatts
HOLLYWOOD — Jordin Sparks had a lot to contend with on the sixth season of "American Idol."
The 17-year-old from Glendale, Arizona, was up against an award-winning beatboxer, a professional diva and a ponyhawk. But the teen's power notes and infectious energy prevailed: Sparks claimed the "Idol" title on Wednesday (see "Sparks Flies: Jordin Takes 'American Idol' Crown").
We caught up with Sparks after another wacky finale (see "Sanjaya, Carrie Underwood Still Stealing Spotlight — On 'American Idol' Finale Red Carpet") to talk about Ryan's obligatory dramatic pause, her future album (and its title) and what advice she got from "Idol" winners past.
MTV: How are you feeling? This must be insane, right?
Jordin Sparks: I'm feeling so good right now. I can't believe this. It's so crazy. I never would have thought.
MTV: Take us to that moment right before Seacrest's painful, painful pause.
Sparks: Every time! We expect [a dramatic pause], and it still just makes you cringe when it happens. But I don't know. I was just standing there. Me and Blake were just standing there, holding hands, and he was like, "I love you. Please, if I forget the words, will you sing with me?" I said, "Yeah! Only if you sing with me if I forget the words." And so I told him that I loved him too, and he was so amazing. And I was nervous, and Ryan did that pause, and I was like, "Oh my gosh." And then he said my name, and I was just completely overwhelmed. My heartbeat was pounding in my ears. I couldn't hear anything. I saw people screaming, but I couldn't hear them. But it was just one of those moments that I think I'll always remember. People will tell me to look back on it, and I'll be like, "I know exactly what I was doing, I know what I was thinking." It will be one of those.
MTV: What can we expect from the Jordin Sparks album?
Sparks: The Jordin Sparks album! Oh my gosh!
MTV: Do you have a title yet?
Sparks: No.
MTV: You gotta come up with a title, girl!
Sparks: When I was younger, I wanted my first album to be Smile. But that's kinda cheesy now.
MTV: Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys picked that title, but you could do it again!
Sparks: I know, right? I don't know the title, but I would love to infuse all sorts of genres into it. I love all different types of music, so I would just love to do that and add my own little Jordin spin on it. Hopefully people will like it.
MTV: It better have the power notes.
Sparks: Yup, there will be. I promise.
MTV: Have you watched the tape back of Tuesday night's performance yet?
Sparks: Uh-uh.
MTV: Well, when you do, you need to look for Melinda Doolittle's face. Because when you hit one note, her jaw is on the floor.
Sparks: Really?
MTV: Did you see her in the audience?
Sparks: I did. I looked at her. I looked at all of [this year's finalists]. I love them. We're all so close. To see them out there, it was really cool because they're so supportive. ... [Seeing them out there] kinda gave me the strength to not break down when I was starting to cry [on Tuesday], but it was good.
MTV: It seemed like the top 12 this year were really close, more so than past seasons.
Sparks: We are. It's been a really good group and really fun. We all get along so well. We all hang out together and laugh all the time. We just have a great time together. Touring is going to be so much fun.
MTV: What can we expect on the tour?
Sparks: I have no idea. I don't even know what I'm gonna do on it yet, but it's gonna be a great show because I think everybody is gonna get to do what genre they love the most and what fits them best, so probably some acoustics, some duets. I don't know. Just a couple of different things. Hopefully we'll make a good show for you guys.
MTV: Did you get to hang out with any of the past "Idol" winners backstage?
Sparks: Ruben [Studdard], he was so cool. Just chillin'. And he was like, "Hey, girl, we match!" We didn't even plan this, but his tux was pink and black and my dress was pink, and so it was cool how it worked out. And Taylor [Hicks] came out with me last night, and he was just like, "Enjoy the ride. It's gonna be fast, but it's gonna be fun." Kelly [Clarkson] was really nice. And Carrie [Underwood] was beautiful, as always. She was so sweet. It was really cool talking to all of them.
American Idol's Jordin: "I Can't Believe That I Won!" by Shawna Malcom
Jordin Sparks, American Idol
Ah, the glamorous life of a newly minted American Idol: Mere hours after a Badgley Mischka-clad Jordin Sparks beat out Blake Lewis for the coveted title on May 23, the effusive 17-year-old Arizona native had changed into jeans and was wolfing down a roast-beef sandwich. "Sorry," she said, politely covering her mouth. "I haven't eaten since breakfast." While Sparks seemed like a clear victor after nailing her final performances, she swears she didn't see it that way: "I had no idea what was going to happen. When Blake and I were standing up there [waiting to hear who'd won], he was just like, 'I love you, sweetheart,' and he squeezed my hand, and I realized that no matter what happened, everything was going to be OK." OK, indeed. Here is TV Guide's post-finale sit-down with your newest American Idol.
TV Guide: Was that the first chance you've had to eat all day? Jordin Sparks: Yeah, pretty much. I'm so hungry. It's been so crazy today.
TV Guide: How did you spend the day? Jordin: Rehearsing, rehearsing, rehearsing. We had to rehearse our group numbers, and we had to do a run-through of the entire show to make sure everything would work out. So that's basically all I did. That's all I had time to do.
TV Guide: Did your mom and dad give you a pep talk before the show tonight? Jordin: Did they...? [Jordin looks over at her mom, who is now finishing the sandwich Jordin was noshing on moments before.]Jordin's mom: Before the show? Jordin: She just hugged me and said she loved me. Jordin's mom: Jordin gets in her "zone" where you can't really talk to her before she performs. Jordin: Mom! [Laughs] I do not! Not true! Jordin's mom: I didn't mean that in a bad way. But she's all focus. We said we loved you. Jordin: That's all I really need, just to know that they're there for me. That just makes everything better. It kind of alleviates the pressure a little bit.
TV Guide: I know you must've been sent a lot of good-luck flowers and gifts. Who were the most surprising ones from? Jordin: Well, I got a lot of flowers. My fans sent me tons of flowers. I got some from Blake Shelton, who is one of my favorite country artists. I got some from Martina McBride. She told me I did a great job with Broken Wing last night, and I was reading the card like, "What the heck?!" I just love her. Badgley Mischka, who dressed me, sent me flowers. And Jennifer Hudson sent me some. She said, "A great journey well deserved. Love, Jennifer." It was so cute. I was like, "Wait! Am I reading that right? An Oscar winner knows who I am?" It was the weirdest thing.
TV Guide: Speaking of Badgley Mischka, how many different gowns did they give you? Jordin: Four. Wait, five. Five. Can you believe it?!
TV Guide: Do you get to keep all of them? Jordin: Yes. It's crazy! I asked them how much they cost, and then I was like, "Wait. No. I don't wanna know." The bad thing is, I can never wear them again because everyone's already seen me in them. I guess they'll just hang in my closet. Isn't that sad?
TV Guide: It seemed like after the ballads last night, you were a sure thing. Did you expect to win tonight? Jordin: Blake and I are just two totally different performers. He went out and did his own thing, and I came out and did my own thing, so it was anybody's game. I had no idea what was going to happen. When we were standing up there [waiting to hear who'd won], we were holding hands and he was just like, "I love you, sweetheart." And I was like, "I love you, too." He squeezed my hand and I realized that, no matter what happened, everything was going to be OK. And it turned out really great! [Laughs] But I would've been happy with whatever happened. I'm just even happier right now.
TV Guide: You've said that when you turned 16, you cared more about being able to audition for American Idol than driving a car. Jordin: Pretty much, yeah. [Laughs] And I can't believe that I won the whole thing. What the heck?!
TV Guide: What was going through your head when Ryan actually announced your name? Jordin: It was just like, "Seriously?! " And then: "OK, what are the words to the song? What are the words to the song?" He handed me the mike and I was like, uhhhhh. And then the words just came out. I don't know how they did. They just did. It was just so cool. And seeing everybody there — my family was all bawling their eyes out — and my brother and my uncles. And Paula [Abdul], she was crying, too. She's just so sweet. She's been so supportive. Randy [Jackson] and Simon [Cowell] both came up to me later and were like, "Congratulations. You deserved it." And I was like, "Thank you. Why couldn't you have said that on the show?!" [Laughs] The night has just been so cool. I just can't believe this. I don't think it's really hit me yet.
TV Guide: So what kind of album can we expect to hear from Jordin Sparks? Jordin: Well, I love all different types of music so I would love to infuse a lot of that into my album. Like I love country, I love R&B, I love pop, I love soul, and I love rock. So I would love to put that all together. Kelly Clarkson kind of did that, with a whole lot of different genres all on her album, and I think that would be really cool. And I want to sing about things that matter to me, things that touch me. Hopefully, I'll be able to write a little bit on it, too. I'm going to try, and see what happens!
John Mayer // Elton John // Idols 08 // Daughtry // Jonas Brothers // Rascal Flatts
Ah, the glamorous life of a newly minted American Idol: Mere hours after a Badgley Mischka-clad Jordin Sparks beat out Blake Lewis for the coveted title on May 23, the effusive 17-year-old Arizona native had changed into jeans and was wolfing down a roast-beef sandwich. "Sorry," she said, politely covering her mouth. "I haven't eaten since breakfast." While Sparks seemed like a clear victor after nailing her final performances, she swears she didn't see it that way: "I had no idea what was going to happen. When Blake and I were standing up there [waiting to hear who'd won], he was just like, 'I love you, sweetheart,' and he squeezed my hand , and I realized that no matter what happened, everything was going to be OK." OK, indeed. Here is TV Guide's post-finale sit-down with your newest American Idol.
Oh, I wish I were Jordin!! I am happy for her. I voted for her all the way up until the top 3 when I had to choose between 3 of my favorites from the beginning. I wish her all the best, but I still like Blake better.
…MeMe Roth of the National Action Against Obesity tells The Scoop that there have been “hate posts calling for my death” ever since she went on Fox TV and said that Sparks is overweight. “When I look at Jordin I see diabetes, I see heart disease, I see high cholesterol,” Roth said. “That’s what’s so sad about this — she is not the vision of health — she is the vision of ‘unhealth.’”
Roth says she stands by her words — but did not call Sparks “obese” or say some of the other things that irate posters have attributed to her. Roth says that some have misconstrued her words because of Fox’s “sensationalized setup.” …
John Mayer // Elton John // Idols 08 // Daughtry // Jonas Brothers // Rascal Flatts
!! I am happy for her. I voted for her all the way up until the top 3 when I had to choose between 3 of my favorites from the beginning. I wish her all the best, but I still like Blake better
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