I know you’ve all been tuning in to watch the auditions for American Idol. Stop lying; you know you are. But anyway, like many of you, that’s the only section that intrigues me. I am convinced that the judges aren’t too on the up and up with who’s got real talent and who can rule the stage. To date, only the first American Idol, Kelly Clarkson, has really hit the big times. Yes there was Rueben Studdard, Carrie Underwood and Fantasia Barrino, and there is some success there as well. But has anyone heard anything from what’s his face…. Um Taylor Hicks, yeah him? First of all, I didn’t think he should have won in the first place. But hey, my name’s not Paula.

Anyway, people like Jennifer Hudson, now an Oscar Nominee and a Golden Globe winner for her electrifying performance in “Dreamgirls” and Chris Daughtry who now has his own band “Daughtry” have shown us that America had chosen the wrong idol.

Chris Daughtry’s album “Daughtry” with his band debuted at number two on the Billboard Chart and has now climbed to number one. The video to his hit single “It’s Not Over” is number one on VH1’s V-Spot countdown.

Now, like I said, I don’t really watch the show, but my mother is a diehard fan and every now and then she calls me to tell me to watch this one or the other. So, one day I saw Chris performed and I was “blown away” to use the artiste’s words. I was convinced he was going to be the Idol…. But to the shock and dismay of many, he was booted off. Fortunately, that didn’t stop the rocker who still had his dream of hitting it big.

Daughtry, even after his idol rejection, turned down an offer to be the front man of the band “Fuel”, whose song “Hemorrhage”, he nailed on the American Idol stage. The band saw his performance and were so impressed they were ready to put him in front, but holding fast to his dream, Daughtry took the bold step to decline and start his own band. The 26-year-old rocker is now showing America that even though they didn’t chose him; he still has the talent to take him where he wants to go.

But we can’t really come down too hard on American Idol, now can we? It’s exposure, and I am sure that even though many people enter knowing they have a long shot at winning, they certainly do it for the exposure. And Chris, though by no means a long shot, my friend, was exposed. And we love him!

So this season, while you watch as Paula hugs and cries and is at a loss for words; as Randy refers to the ones he likes as “Dog” and as Simon hacks contestants’ singing and appearance to pieces, don’t forget to look for the ones who won’t make it on idol, but will nonetheless make it big! Let’s hope they choose “right this time around”.