I think the future is whatever I'm willing to make it.

It's amazing what a haircut and forgetting to shave will do.

I got to play with ZZ Top and introduce Bryan Adams and George Michael. And to have it all topped off by me winning 'American Idol?!' It's pretty absurd.

There's definitely a visual aspect and an emotional aspect to a song. And that harks back, for me, to theater.

With the Chiefs, you can't live in Kansas City and not like the Chiefs. To go catch a game at Arrowhead is a pretty great experience. I haven't had the chance to go to games anywhere else, but, from what I'm told, I don't really need to.

I always believe that every song tells a story, so the last thing I want to do is edit out like the meat of the story. I would pick songs based off a), whether I felt like I could do anything with them, and b) whether I felt like I could keep the story intact. And then you sit in with one of the piano players and one of the vocal coaches and kind of work out your arrangements that way.

I'd always wanted to grow my hair out. And now looking back on those photos I understand why I probably shouldn't have.