By Jamie Ruby

The latest contestant voted off of American Idol was Tennessee native Paul Jolley, who has described his style as a blend of country and pop. He recently talked to the digial media about his journey on Idol, as well as his plans for the future.

Jolley told SciFi Vision that his plans for his music haven't changed. "I still want to stick with the country/pop lane. I don't want to change what I feel in my heart that my calling is and what I need to be doing."

He also talked about auditioning for the show. "I had auditioned for American Idol a few times before and I never made it past the cattle call. I got to the point where I was like, well, maybe this TV show is just not for me and I was okay with it. Then this year I opened up for an artist named Billy Dean and—an amazing guy by the way—and so I was home the next week and one of the ladies that got me to do the show called me up and she said, American Idol is coming here next week, but it's not released. We want you to come and represent our town and come audition. I said, I'm off work that day, it works out, I'll be there.

"At that time, I didn't even know Keith Urban was going to be a judge and he's always been my idol ever since I was a little kid. It's funny how things just always play out in the favor of if you want something to happen and you believe enough that things will happen."

The singer also told the site that he is excited to go on tour. "I get to do more than one song to the audience and have fun with it. There are no votes, there are no four judges just staring me down. I cannot wait until I just have my moment with the fans."

FOX Conference Call
American Idol
Paul Jolley

March 22, 2013
4:15 p.m. ET

SCIFI VISION: I’ve got to say I was sorry to see you go. What kind of album do you see yourself making? What do you have planned coming up?

PAUL JOLLEY: I still want to stick with the country/pop lane. I don’t want to change what I feel in my heart that my calling is and what I need to be doing.

SCIFI VISION: What were your first thoughts when you got up on the stage before the huge audience? What were you thinking?

PAUL JOLLEY: Before I got up there, I was just trying to make sure that my mind was clear and I was staying focused on the big picture and not getting distracted from the main thing that I was there to do.

QUESTION: They definitely seem to want a girl to win the show this year. Out of the remaining guys, who do you think has the best chance to win, in your eyes?

PAUL JOLLEY: Honestly, I don’t know because everybody is so good and each in their own individual way. Everybody has their own genre that they’re doing and it’s basically the battle of the genres rather than who the better person is.

QUESTION: What advice was given to you after your elimination from the judges? Did you get a chance to speak to any of them?

PAUL JOLLEY: Yes, a few of them came up and they just told me to just keep on keeping on, pretty much, and believe in myself and pretty much I have a career in this.

QUESTION: Were you guys confused by the conflicting advice that you were getting throughout the competition?

PAUL JOLLEY: I was kind of confused because every week it was something new, which I appreciated that a lot because I always want that room to grow. There’s always room to grow, so if I’m not doing something wrong then there’s something wrong with them not telling me. No, I really appreciate them telling me things that I can work on.

QUESTION: A lot of people are saying that this is the end of the white guy with the guitar era. Do you think that’s true?

PAUL JOLLEY: For this show, yes, but in my eyes I’ve already won.

QUESTION: Jimmy Iovine says that the judges are being too easy on the contestants this season. I would guess that you would not agree with that.

PAUL JOLLEY: I don’t agree with it. I feel like they’ve been really, really easy on a lot of the other contestants, but for some reason I feel like I was just the pointed out one to be tough on this season. I’m okay with that because I want that critique and I want to grow as an artist and I want to go somewhere with my career. I’m okay with that.

QUESTION: It’s seems that you look a lot thinner now than when you tried out originally. Do you get to choose what you eat in the mansion or do they serve you and you have to eat whatever you’re served in front of you?

PAUL JOLLEY: Sometimes we get to choose and then sometimes they just bring you salad and burritos and stuff, healthy things, and I’m not really a health kind of guy. I just eat cheeseburgers and pizzas and stuff.

QUESTION: Do you know how much weight you’d lost?

PAUL JOLLEY: I don’t, but I know that my clothes don’t fit the same.

QUESTION: If you had stayed on Idol, what song were you planning on singing next week?

PAUL JOLLEY: It was going to be “Tracks of My Tears.”

QUESTION: For all of those who are hoping to be on next year, do you have any advice for them?

PAUL JOLLEY: Just go for it and don’t hold back. When you walk in there just be yourself; don’t try to be something that you’re not. Just believe in yourself and have faith that you can do this and if it’s something that’s meant to be then it will happen or maybe it’s just not the right timing if you don’t make it. I just say keep on keeping on.

QUESTION: You’re a passionate singer who has this natural ability to express yourself—I was wondering if acting was something you’d also like to pursue.

PAUL JOLLEY: Sure, I want to do everything. I want to have an album. I want to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. I want to have my own clothing line. I don’t know if everyone knew, but that was a custom shirt that we had made when I performed “Eleanor Rigby.”

I want to do acting. I would love to. I want to dabble in everything and put my Paul Jolley stamp on everything.

QUESTION: What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan in support of you?

PAUL JOLLEY: I just want to say thank you so much. It’s a true blessing to have such loyal people that are there for me no matter what. It’s crazy how after I’ve been kicked off how many more followers that I’ve got and supporters that I’ve received. It’s crazy and I’m still overwhelmed with it, just over last night.

QUESTION: How did you feel about Jimmy’s comment that you weren’t ready for primetime? What did you take away from that?

PAUL JOLLEY: I would just have to say to each his own because I think I am ready for it or I wouldn’t be in the top ten of the competition. There’s no way I would be there. I feel he saved me for a reason so I feel like he knows that I have the talent and he knows that I’m ready or he wouldn’t have done that for me.

QUESTION: You’ve said many times that this is your calling in life. How do you see not winning as a positive for the future?

PAUL JOLLEY: I can move on and I can start doing my own thing. I don’t have to stay glued to just doing a certain theme every week. I can still talk to my Troopers and fans and learn about what they want to hear from me.

QUESTION: I have a question about the save concept. What do you think of that? Do you think they should make the person trying to get a save go ahead and sing, because it doesn’t seem like they were paying much attention to you singing while you were doing it.

PAUL JOLLEY: I knew I wasn’t going to be saved because Jimmy already saved me once and I knew they weren’t going to save me again. I’m glad I got to sing because it makes the last stamp of Paul Jolley. It doesn’t just say okay, Paul’s kicked off the show and then I’m done. I’d rather sing something that means something to me and then leave on a good note.

QUESTION: Okay, what do you think about Jimmy? Do you think he’s good in the role he’s cast in or do you think he’d be better as a judge on a weekly basis?

PAUL JOLLEY: I think he’s good in the role that he’s in because we get more one-on-one with him and he knows what he’s talking about. I really, highly respect his opinion.

QUESTION: First things first, in this series you just talked a little bit about wanting to be a fashion designer and I didn’t know that before this call. When did that thinking and that dream come up for you?

PAUL JOLLEY: It’s always been in my head and it’s always something that I wanted to do, but this is American Idol and this is where the spotlight is for this. But I think everyone in the industry at some point in time wants to stretch out, so why not go ahead and look at the full picture now and let people know about it?

QUESTION: When it comes to Nicki Minaj in particular, she was very hard on you at times. What’s your general opinion of her? Are you grateful for all the advice? Do you wish she’d been easier at times?

PAUL JOLLEY: I’m thankful for the critiquing that she gave me. I wish it would’ve been more things that I could take and work on or learn from, but no, I still love her just the same and I appreciate everything she has. She put me through the first round as well, so I’m very thankful.

QUESTION: wanted to know when the tour starts and what you’re going to do to prepare for the tour. Will you guys have vocal coaches? Will you personally seek out to take some classes, whether it’s dance, acting, vocal coaching classes?

PAUL JOLLEY: To be honest, I don’t know. There are so many papers and stuff that tells us the dates and things of when we’re going on tour and where we’re going and everything. I’d love to know myself so I can prepare and get my fans all built up in the different cities we’re going to go. But everybody just needs to know that I’m going to bring it on the tour and they better get ready for a good show.

[quote]I get to do more than one song to the audience and have fun with it...I cannot wait until I just have my moment with the fans.[/quote]
QUESTION: You were telling us last night that you had some family and friends in town, but you hadn’t had a chance to speak with them yet. I’m just curious how you spent the rest of your night and how they comforted you and what did they say to you? What did they do to support you? How did you hang out?

PAUL JOLLEY: Well, I had to go and pack and leave my hotel and then go to another hotel. Then I had to get things ready and be up at 4:00 a.m.—well, I had to be up at 3:00 a.m. this morning to get ready for interviews all day long. My mom and dad took a taxi and visited me for about 30 minutes and spent some time with me and just shared their love. That’s what I need the most, is the love from them.

QUESTION: I was just wondering, which of the judges, when they were doing the critique, did you favor one of their critiques versus the other as far as their feedback helping you?

PAUL JOLLEY: I would say Keith Urban gave me the best feedback that I could probably learn from and take and use in my career that I want to do after Idol. Yes, for sure, Keith Urban.

QUESTION: Very cool. What was your favorite moment from the competition?

PAUL JOLLEY: My favorite moment was the fans. I love them so much and I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for them. I just want to give a big thanks and shout out to them.

QUESTION: Throughout the beginning of the season, the judges criticized you for basically over performing songs, being too theatrical with your facial expressions and everything. But this week, the judges had the exact opposite reaction. Randy said you seemed disconnected from the song and Mariah said you needed to give more emotion. I guess I can only imagine how frustrating that was.

It almost seemed like, at least in my eyes, you were trying to maybe downplay the visible emotion as to not overdo it again. Do you mind talking about that a little bit?

PAUL JOLLEY: Yes, to be honest, I didn’t try to do anything else different. I literally just went out there and because the more and more I’ve kept doing it, it kept getting more and more comfortable and I can be myself. There’s a lot going on on that stage. We have cameras we have to look for, the red dots we have to follow to make sure that we’re looking at the right camera. There are a lot of things that a lot of the viewers don’t know about that are all new to all of us; it’s all a learning experience.

QUESTION: Jimmy Iovine had said that he expected Lazaro to land in the bottom three following his performance Wednesday night that obviously didn’t receive great praise from the judges. That didn’t happen. Do you have any thoughts on why that might be and did it surprise you that he escaped the bottom three?

PAUL JOLLEY: Lazaro has a huge following. He has an amazing story and everyone connects to it. I give him good props for that and I wish him the best of luck.

QUESTION: I know that you had said that you would prefer to do country and pop and some of the judges didn’t seem to think that your voice fit well in the country genre. Did that hold you back as far as picking songs or anything?

PAUL JOLLEY: Not at all because I know who I want to be and I’m not going to change that. The story that I’ve been giving people is when Elvis first started coming out, everybody was taken by storm, like whoa, what’s this going on? Once they caught on, now he’s the King of Rock n’ Roll. Everybody loves him. He’s a king pretty much and I feel like once everyone catches on and sees where I want to go with this career and they hear the original material that I’m literally wanting to do, I feel like there will be a better understanding and people are going to love it.

QUESTION: I’ve read that you woke up yesterday and had a moment with God where you just knew you were going home. Was that realization completely spiritual or was it coming from somewhere else? Can you elaborate on that?

PAUL JOLLEY: I have a really close connection with God. Every morning I say my morning prayer to start the day off. It’s a good start to the day because I’m so thankful for where I’m at and where I’ve come and where I am right now in life. I’d just come to the realization—I don’t know, it was just a moment I had and this is the day that I’m going to be leaving the show and I’m okay with it because God, in His own way, I feel like spoke to me and said, “I have bigger and better plans for you. This is just a stepping stone in life.”

I was just so ready for it. Everybody throughout the day could see it in my eyes, the people I talked to about it, and they said that they felt that in me, that I was okay no matter what.

QUESTION: Did they think you were kind of crazy for thinking you’re going home?

PAUL JOLLEY: No, because I feel like the world now, they want people to be down and honest about the feelings and how they are. I think that’s going to be more than anything to the viewers and the followers and everyone who listens and watches the show or looks into these interviews that we’re doing. They want me to be real. They don’t want me to be fake, so I’m going to tell you the truth about what I felt and what was going through my mind.

QUESTION: Do you see yourself ever—because I know they wanted you to steer away from country and onto pop or dance—would you ever do something like that, like a dance record?

PAUL JOLLEY: I don’t think you’d really want to see me dance, but we’ll see.

SCIFI VISION: What was it about Idol that appealed to you that you decided that was the one you were going to audition for?

PAUL JOLLEY: I had auditioned for American Idol a few times before and I never made it past the cattle call. I got to the point where I was like, “Well, maybe this TV show is just not for me,” and I was okay with it. Then this year I opened up for an artist named Billy Dean—an amazing guy by the way—and so I was home the next week and one of the ladies that got me to do the show called me up and she said, “American Idol is coming here next week, but it’s not released. We want you to come and represent our town and come audition.” I said, “I’m off work that day, it works out, I’ll be there.”

At that time, I didn’t even know Keith Urban was going to be a judge and he’s always been my idol ever since I was a little kid. It’s funny how things just always play out in the favor of if you want something to happen and you believe enough that things will happen.

SCIFI VISION: You’re still going to the concert. Is there anything—I know you don’t know a lot about it yet—but is there something you’re looking forward to about going?

PAUL JOLLEY: Of course. I get to do more than one song to the audience and have fun with it. There are no votes, there are no four judges just staring me down. I cannot wait until I just have my moment with the fans.

QUESTION: How did you feel coming into the competition with a country background? Did you feel you were at a disadvantage or more comfortable since Keith was there?

PAUL JOLLEY: Not at all, it’s not really a comfort thing. It’s just being myself. Everywhere I go I just have to be myself, no matter if it’s 500 people in a room or just four judges in the room. I didn’t feel like it was a disadvantage at all. It’s clear now because you can see all the different genres that we have in the competition still.

QUESTION: Jimmy said the judges were coddling the singers too much. How did you feel since they were a little harder on you?

PAUL JOLLEY: It bothered me, but I was okay with it because I want some critiquing. I want to grow ultimately.

QUESTION: You were a demo singer in Nashville for a while, too. I wanted to know who you worked for. What songs you did, anything that we might have heard of that became a hit?

Is it true that you were singing demos in Nashville before the show?

PAUL JOLLEY: No, I wasn’t doing demo work in Nashville. I was just working on my songwriting and getting my book ready.

QUESTION: So you have a lot of originals ready to go?

PAUL JOLLEY: Yes, I do. I’m ready.

QUESTION: I think you’re also ready for modeling.

PAUL JOLLEY: Thank you. That’s what the photographers told me too!

QUESTION: Randy announced the judges’ decision not to use their save on you. It was not unanimous. Did you ever find out which judges voted to save you and which ones didn’t?

PAUL JOLLEY: No, and honestly I don’t really want to know because that’s their own personal opinion. I don’t feel like they should have to let us know. Either way, I respect their decision. I still love them all the same, whoever it was.

QUESTION: Sure. Everyone’s been proclaiming this season the year of the girls. Do you think that naturally put the men at a disadvantage voting-wise from the very beginning, because there’s just been so much talk about how excellent the girls are?

PAUL JOLLEY: I don’t know, maybe, maybe not. I think they’re all amazing. I wish everybody the best of luck.

QUESTION: Okay, and looking back, do you think that you would’ve done anything differently? If you could go back, would you have changed anything to better your chances in the competition, whether it be song choice or anything like that?

PAUL JOLLEY: I honestly would not change a single thing that I’d done on the show. I chose my song choices for a reason. If you listen, everything that I sang had a lyrical meaning and I loved every bit of it. Everything that I spoke and the way I spoke on there I was truthful and I was myself. No, I wouldn’t change a thing that I’d done at all.

QUESTION: Okay, so just to clarify on something you said earlier, you said the more your performed on the stage, the more comfortable you got and the more you really acted as yourself. Does that mean that all the different criticism from the judges and the different things Jimmy had to say really didn’t bother you? Did that really not get inside your head at all?

PAUL JOLLEY: No, it didn’t get in my head at all. The only thing that’s so hard is, like I said, following the cameras and it’s a big stage. I’ve performed in front of thousands of people before and it’s never been a problem. But when you’ve just learned a song within a few days and you have to perform it, follow cameras, and then so many things you have to worry about, it can play a toll on how your performance comes across. No, I still wouldn’t—nothing I would change about anything.

MODERATOR: With that, we’re going to finish the call. I want to thank everyone for joining us today. As a reminder, American Idol airs Wednesdays and Thursdays on FOX. At this time, I’m going to turn the call back over to Paul for a final remark.

PAUL JOLLEY: All right. I just want to say thank you so much for all the people that are interviewing me, first off. It means a lot that you’re interested enough in me to even care. Thank you so much to all the fans and the Troopers out there that have supported me and please continue to follow me because this is not the end and I have a lot of other things up my sleeve that I want to show and give and share to you all. Thank you so much.