According to many television critics and diehard fans of the show, “American Idol” season seven boasted the best talent that the incredibly popular competition has seen “” so far. The “American Idols Live! Tour 2008” offers fans the chance to find out for themselves, as the second stop on the tour is at the San Diego Sports Arena on Wednesday, July 2.
Simon Fuller, creator and executive producer of “American Idol,” stated, “One of the key factors in the success story of ‘American Idol’ is the unique experience of seeing today’s best undiscovered talent perform live on stage each and every week. We are truly excited that the American Idols Live! Tour will once again give fans the chance to see the TV show come to life in their hometown.”
And speaking of hometown, Carly Smithson, who calls San Diego home, is one of the show’s top 10 finalists and will be performing on this year’s tour that also features show winner David Cook, Brooke White, Chikezie Eze, David Archuleta, Jason Castro, Kristy Lee Cook, Michael Johns, Ramiele Malubay and Syesha Mercado.
Smithson, who has spent very little time at home since the TV show began, said that the tour schedule of more than 50 cities in not many more days also leaves little time.
“I don’t know if I’ll get to hang out at all when I’m home. We leave Glendale, Arizona right after the show the night before, and the following day we perform in San Diego, then back on the bus to L.A.,” Smithson shared.
“I’ll hopefully have time to check in at the house and make sure everything’s in order, see my dogs, and pick up all the things I forgot ” like my guitar,” she laughed.
She has only been home three or four nonconsecutive days since the show ended but recently returned to have dinner with her husband Todd at The Field in the Gaslamp Quarter. Prior to her newfound celebrity, Smithson worked as a bartender at the Irish pub and restaurant.
“It was a completely different experience,” she said, still in awe of her sudden fame. “I couldn’t get out. It was very strange to have all these people know who you are and want to talk to you. But it was so nice to see all my friends.”
Smithson said that her most “normal” experience during her visit was hanging out at her husband’s tattoo shop, Nothing Sacred, at 4th and Market streets. She also credited her husband for fully supporting her during “American Idol.”
“The shop is Todd’s dream “” it’s his shop. I helped him get it open, decorated it and supported him, and now he supports me, totally,” Smithson beamed. “He’s a great husband.”
During the show, family and friends are not allowed in the apartments provided by the show, and it was difficult for the Smithsons to be separated from one another.
“It was traumatic because we’re joined at the hip,” she said.
Once in the finals, life for the contestants literally changed overnight “” even when it came to everyday things such as doing laundry.
“The first thing David Cook asked when they told us to put all our laundry in a bag was, ‘Is there any way we can bring our own laundry to a Laundromat?'” Smithson recalled, laughing.
Cook was politely informed that he wasn’t going to have any time to do his own laundry.
“It was very strange for all of us, I think. We never had other people doing our laundry. We all had very normal lives and then we jumped into the ‘Idol bubble’ and everything changes.”
Smithson reported that while they were competing against each other, all the contestants remain friendly.
“We’ve all become very, very good friends,” she said.
What’s next, after the tour? Smithson said that she and her husband are presently looking at houses in Ocean Beach.
“OB is definitely somewhere I would love to settle, maybe more up on the hill. That view up there is ridiculous. It’s such a cool place; laidback and chill.”
For more information about the “American Idols Live! Tour 2008” at the San Diego Sports Arena, or to buy tickets, visit americanidol.com or sandiegoarena.com.