ABC/Randy HolmesOn Saturday, August 25, auditions for season two of ABC’s American Idol officially get underway in Orlando, FL and San Diego, CA before heading across the country. Reigning American Idol champ Maddie Poppe says she and some of her fellow contestants from season one will be there for the festivities.
“Catie [Turner], Caleb [Lee Hutchinson] and I are all going down to Orlando for the opening auditions and I believe we get to sit at a table and watch,” she tells ABC Radio.
She laughs, “I don’t think we get to judge them, because who would wanna say, ‘Yeah, Maddie Poppe rejected me?’ But I’m really excited about that and I’m so excited to watch season two!”
But Maddie also realize that these auditions mark the beginning of the end of the spotlight for her and her pals.
“We gotta stay relevant now, because all these people are coming in and they’re probably gonna take our spots and we’re not gonna have the Idol security blanket anymore after the tour’s done,” she points out. “So it’s really scary, we’re kinda getting thrown to the wolves.”
But Maddi also believes that she and the rest of the Top 7 — Catie, Caleb, Gabby Barrett, Cade Foehner, Jurnee and Michael Woodard — all “in really good shape” for the future — and she herself is planning to release her debut album next spring.
Maddie advises anyone who’s trying out this season to “just be yourself, and do what makes you happy.” She adds, “You don’t wanna get caught up pretending something you’re not, and then not be happy because you can’t express yourself.”
“So I would say express yourself, be yourself and just have fun, most of all.”
Visit AmericanIdol.com for full audition information.
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