http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.d...2/ENT/808220302

did not see this posted..

"""As Cook looks back now, the year to come was more than the 25-year-old Midwesterner could have expected. The former bar singer was crowned "Idol's" Season 7 winner, he's embarked on a tour stretching to more than 50 U.S. cities, and his debut album is set for release in November.

Cook, along with the other top nine contestants from Season 7 —Brooke White, Carly Smithson, Chikezie Eze, David Archuleta, Jason Castro, Kristy Lee Cook, Michael Johns, Ramiele Malubay and Syesha Mercado — will perform Tuesday at CenturyTel Center in Bossier City.

In an interview with The Times, Cook talks about music, touring, golf and a mysterious pair of pink panties.

The Times: Tell me about your life this time last year. I'm sure it was quite different than your day-to-day life now.
Cook: Everything that defined my life a year ago has completely inverted. Last year, I was at a great place because I was still doing what I love for a living. But my worst day now beats my best day a year ago.

The Times: The 'American Idols Live!' tour schedule is insane. How do you keep up with it all, get the vocal rest you need and take in any down time?

Cook: You sleep when you can and when you don't have to do press or a meet and greet, you try not to talk too much. I'm lucky in the sense that for about 10 years I sang in smoky bars, which is why I'm able to sing and talk as much as I do on tour.

The Times: When you get a few minutes to rest, what do you like to do to relax on tour?

Cook: I like to get lost in the city we're in. We had an hour today to check out Philly, so Michael Johns and I went golfing. We do what we can with the time allotted. It's like trying to do a 30-minute indoctrination of the city.

The Times: Are you a golfer?

Cook: I play, but I'm definitely not a golfer. I won't even tell you what I shot, but I was in the triple digits — comfortably.

The Times: Performing on "Idol," you knew millions of people were watching. But on tour, you have thousands of people with their eyes on you. Have you felt any nervousness?

Cook: I was exponentially more nervous about the show. On the show, we're competitors trying to impress these three people at a desk with millions of people watching. Now we've established what we're about, and we're not being critiqued harshly or voted off. On the stage, I really try to draw in the back of the room. It's interesting and fun to learn how to make it as intimate an experience for a person on the back row as it is for the person on the front row.

The Times: What was your favorite song to perform on the show?

Cook: "The Music of the Night." It allowed me to lean back on some old music knowledge. I started off as a theater kid, but people didn't expect me to do that song. If that teaches you anything about me, it's that I like messing with people a little bit.
The Times: What are you performing on the tour?

Cook: I'm doing "Hello," "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," "Billie Jean" and my single, "The Time of My Life." I'm also going to do Foo Fighters' "My Hero." It's really exciting, and my set envelops what I wanted this show to be about. It's got a good vibe and energy and gets the crowd involved.

The Times: The show was always quick to pan to screaming girls and fans with posters declaring their love for you. What's the craziest thing a fan has done on this tour?

Cook: I can't remember the city, but I was playing the guitar and something pink hit me in the leg. I looked down and it was a pink pair of girls' underwear with massage oils wrapped in it. I didn't know what to do with it — I'm on a tour bus with four other guys. I guess she used the massage oil to anchor it, but it was perplexing to me.

The Times: How do you digest all this attention?

Cook: I try to take it for what it is and what it isn't. I remember what it was like on the other side of the spectrum when I was fighting to get people to pay attention. Of course, it's flattering and humbling, but when "American Idol" 55 airs no one is going to remember No. 7.

The Times: Now that the competition is over, what is it like to be on the road with your competitors?

Cook: I don't feel they're my competitors anymore. I've never really felt they were my competitors during the show because none of us are really the same. I always felt I was competing against the last version of myself. I love these guys, they've been a huge chunk of my life for the past year. I'm glad we get this last hurrah and, afterwards, we'll get to watch how our careers unfold.

Thanks for posting this. I especially like what he said here:

"Cook: I try to take it for what it is and what it isn't. I remember what it was like on the other side of the spectrum when I was fighting to get people to pay attention. Of course, it's flattering and humbling, but when "American Idol" 55 airs no one is going to remember No. 7."

that touched me. now his blog is #1 on myspace and people are hanging on his every word. wow.

Cook: I don't feel they're my competitors anymore. I've never really felt they were my competitors during the show because none of us are really the same. I always felt I was competing against the last version of myself. I love these guys, they've been a huge chunk of my life for the past year. I'm glad we get this last hurrah and, afterwards, we'll get to watch how our careers unfold.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Too bad the fan wars still have to continue - Annette

ok.....fess up - who threw the underwear???

Thank you so much for posting this.

This article is already posted and I think the underwear (the instance he speaks of) was in Pittsburg.

i think the whole under-wear thing is a little silly - i mean seriously, what the heck use is it to him? not to mention that he could trip on it on stage sooo easily!!...just my random thoughts.....

I agree with you - but some people will push back and say that this is done all the time at Concerts. Its been done a few times on this tour already. Your right - he could trip if he does not see it.

yeah, i guess it is done all the time - just not something i would bother with....i'd rather give him something he might want.....i think the article said it had massage oils too??>....i ain't givin DC massage oils unless he's sharin them with me!!!!

How's that for a nice word?

Oh fellow JerseyAmiga - you are too much

just tellin it like it is annette.......any weekend plans??.....i mean with no cellcasts for 2 nights, i hope you won't be losin your mind!!!!

I'll survive - - plan to be pool side Saturday and Sunday - are you coming to your sister's this weekend?

probably......the weather is supposed to be nice......

Methinks it's time for Annette (and me too) to catch up on sleep!

(Do you know I actually had to call in and work from home yesterday because these 2am nights finally caught up to me and I overslept! No way I was making it in to a 9:30 conf. call )

I hear you - even though I have enjoyed these east coast time cellcasts - they will soon be going back to Central time/Pacific Time - which will make it later here on the east coast.

Actually, last night I tuned out so I could watch the IDOLS on LK - I am going to enjoy the next two nights -

and what if the OILS had opened and spilled ACK..
I like that he says he was perplexed, me thinks he knows

i admire the devotion by my fellow jersey amigas!!!.....i prefer to spend my morning work hours catching up on the latest!!!.....i may get fired, but i will be well-rested!!!

re the underwear : "I guess she used the massage oil to anchor it, but it was perplexing to me."

Pure Cook! Great article, thanks for posting it!

Hate to break it to you David, but no one is ever going to forget AI #7.

The Times: What was your favorite song to perform on the show?

Cook: "The Music of the Night." It allowed me to lean back on some old music knowledge. I started off as a theater kid, but people didn't expect me to do that song. If that teaches you anything about me, it's that I like messing with people a little bit.


Ha! He probably knew lots of people were going to groan and say, "oh, why is he doing THAT song, he's a rocker, it's so theatrical!" And then he blew them all away (including me)!

I hope DC doesn't really think that he'll only be remembered (or not remembered as per the article) as an American Idol winner...I think Kelly and Carrie have been able to break that stigma (I don't mean that being known as an AI winner is a bad thing because it's definitely, definitely not...just that they're recognized for other things other than their American Idol status) and I have no doubt that, ultimately, American Idol will be remembered as DC's launching pad...but not the be all and end all of everything he does. I'm sure it's only the first huge achievement of many more to come.