http://www.charlotteobserver.com/312/story/1083425.html

Time is on David Cook's side
Season 7 "American Idol" winner taking his time to carefully craft upcoming second CD.
By Courtney Devores
Special to the Observer
Posted: Monday, Nov. 30, 2009

There's no faster track to music stardom than "American Idol," but often the Fox series' brightest graduates - including Chris Daughtry and Kelly Clarkson - have been eager to shake the reality show stigma once they trade a role on "AI's" group tour for solo success.

But a year after the release of his self-titled debut, Season 7 winner David Cook isn't in any hurry to step out of "Idol's" shadow.

"I figure that kind of just happens. I don't try to consciously do anything," says Cook, who turns 27 this month. "I have a great career because of the show."

The bearded rocker's tour winds down in Charlotte tonight, and he'll soon begin writing and recording his sophomore follow-up. But although his first album went platinum and produced two Top 30 hits ("The Time of My Life" and "Light On," he's not taking anything for granted.

"Actually, there's a lot of stress associated with this (upcoming) record. Coming straight off of 'Idol,' I had a base (built up) to put out a record. This time, I don't have that luxury," Cook says.

Instead, he'll have adequate time to devote to writing and recording (his last record was thrown together between tour dates) - and he'll have more say. "That's definitely one of the pluses. The downside of that, to use a 'Spider-Man' quote: with more power comes more responsibility."

Cook also will keep busy this month by performing with fellow past "American Idol" champ Carrie Underwood on her Sunday Fox special "Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special."

"Carrie's become a good friend. I was honored that she asked me to be on with people like Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton and Kristen Chenoweth," he says.

But despite his participation in Underwood's Christmas show, fans shouldn't expect a holiday-themed record from Cook. He and Underwood aren't even singing a Christmas tune.

"We're doing Van Halen's 'Why Can't This Be Love?' I don't think anybody can expect me to put out a Christmas album anytime soon," he adds, laughing. "The last Christmas record with a rock slant that I heard was Twisted Sister. They got the market cornered."

Nice article, thanks Mary. I have to laugh when some of his fans want him to put out a Christmas record too. I've been told that's the kiss of death for a "rock" star almost like a sign of desperation. There are two things I think fit into desperation: doing an album of covers & a Christmas album. That is not to say that I didn't like him singing a couple of Christmas tunes last year because his voice is so smooth but Christmas albums only sell for about 1 month so then what. Might as well put the effort / money into a real album that you have a chance of selling year-round & getting played on the radio year-round.

As far as his support of A.I. I think it's a good thing. Where else can a musician get seen as much as when they guest star on A.I.? They'll have him on every now & then. Heck even musicians that have their songs sung (covered) on A.I. see a bump in sales after that. If I recall, a couple of contestants did a couple of the songs that he did. Gokey did Hello (but not nearly as sexy as Cook) and didn't someone else do one of his songs off the album?