'American Idol's Maddie Walker: Harry Connick Jr. was upset about my ouster, he pulled me aside to chat

American Idol eliminated Maddie Walker and Adanna Duru, determining the fourteenth season's Top 9 artists, during the third live show on Fox.


Maddie, a 16-year-old student from Ankeny, IA, and Adanna, an 18-year-old student from Diamond Bar, CA, were sent home on '80s night based on the nationwide vote following last week's performance show.

Last week, Idol judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. decided to use their one "Save" of the season on Qaasim Middleton, so two people had to go home this week. The "Save" is also therefore no longer in play. At the time votes were cast, Maddie had performed "She's Country" by Jason Aldean.

During a Thursday conference call with reporters, Maddie talked about her experience on the show.

Reality TV World: Based on your performance last week, were you surprised that of everyone in the Top 11, you apparently got the lowest votes?


Maddie Walker: I think it's not one of those things where you can regret anything. You want to be happy and you want to feel like you did all that you could do. In all reality, I think I was just happy for the other contestants. There was no sadness or regret or anything like that. I think, honestly, I was just so happy to see so many incredible people make it through.

Reality TV World: When both you and Adanna got eliminated, Keith said it was like "a dagger in the heart." Do you think that might've been a sign the judges regretted using their "Save" already? It also tends to be a trend on Idol that the girls go home first, so maybe they think they should've saved it for a girl. What did the judges say to you after?

Maddie Walker: Yeah, I think Harry was kind of upset about it. He came backstage afterwards and was like, "You know, just between us two, can I talk to you guys alone?" And we were sitting there and he was like, "It's really hard to see you guys go, but there are huge things in the future for you."

And so, that was really sweet of him to take the time to talk to us and try to make us feel better, because it was a tough one. But at the same time, no matter what, this journey is going to end for everyone -- whether it ends because you win or whether it ends because you got cut. In the end, it's always going to end.

Reality TV World: Despite the fact you're clearly a country singer, I know Harry gave you a critique a couple times that he wasn't sure what type of artist you are or would like to be. So what performance this season do you think best represented what type of artist you'd like to be, and why?


Maddie Walker: I'd say, I think, "Suitcase" was. I think that showed, from the beginning and as I improve, that I wanted to stay in this lane. It was very sad to me that there was a miscommunication with who I was. I didn't want it to come across like that.

I think "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" would've been my best performance thus far because it did have that vulnerable side and it showed who I wanted to be as an artist. It also showed a different way of doing such a classic and iconic song, so I think "Suitcase" best represented who I want to be as an artist, but "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" would've topped it off.

What's the best piece of advice you got from the judges?

Maddie Walker: I think mine was the ability to trust. You really just have to trust in your ability and in yourself so that you can do what you're meant to do, and then everything will work out the way you practiced and planned. And I think that's key. You really do just have to trust yourself and others.

What was running through your mind the first time you performed on a big stage?


Maddie Walker: When I saw the stage for the first time, I was like, "Oh my gosh! This is incredible." You would think it would be intimidating or scary, but then you get up there and you're like, "Wow, this feels like home. This feels right." So I think that was just really an incredible feeling.

Last week, Maddie, you sang the song "Let's Hear it for the Boy." What was going through your mind when you sang that? Were you thinking of anyone in particular while performing?

Maddie Walker: I really enjoyed my song. I had so much fun with it and I think it was a very multi-generational song just because they did make a remake of the song, so I figured that could reach out to not only people who watched the original and loved the original, but also people who would love the newer version.

So, I had so much fun with it and working with [Scott Borchetta] and him helping me figure out the dynamics of what to do with it. It was really cool. I wouldn't take anything back because I had a really good time.

What's next for you now?


Maddie Walker: I'm definitely going to start writing and hopefully start recording country, because that's really my goal and what I want to do. I think that, in all reality, I just need to keep working and moving forward. This motivated me so much and it taught me so much that I could've never learned anywhere else... There's definitely a plan to do big things in the future.

Maddie, you were the only country artist left in the competition and it's Scott's speciality. Do you think there will be a piece missing from the competition now without you this season?

Maddie Walker: Yeah! I think it's kind of sad that no one's representing country. It kind of breaks my heart a little bit because I really do think that it should be represented well. I had such a good time and I loved working with Scott. I don't think I could've asked for a better mentor, because he really is in that wheelhouse and that's what he works for.

So, I was just very, very happy and blessed to have worked with him. It was so much fun and I learned so much, so honestly, I hope to work with him again in the future and hopefully do big things... He taught me so much about the industry and about everything -- like the music and how I present myself. I think everything he's said to me so far has been gold and I'm taking it as that.

What's a technical skill you learned?


Maddie Walker: I learned how to get my feelings across in this last week or so. I really had such a good time of knowing what I wanted to do with my face and my voice and how to get the feelings through vocally and facially. It helped so much.

And I think that was one of the biggest things I needed to work on, because if you're going to perform and sing for a camera or for anyone in person, you have to emote, you have to get those emotions across to them or they won't want to listen. I worked so hard on that this week and I was really hoping to convey that in my "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" performance, but I think that it would've been awesome.

What did you learn from performing in front of a huge crowd?

Maddie Walker: I really think that I learned so much while I was there. Everyone was so sweet and so kind. There's no way than to take anything other than positivity from being there... For me personally, it was working the stage and feeling comfortable with moving around and just having a good time without worrying about what others were going to say if you look silly.

So, I think that was the hardest thing to get through, but once it did, it really paid off... I learned so much about the industry. You wouldn't think you'd be sitting there saying, "I think I found myself being on a singing competition," but you really learn a lot about what you want to do and a lot of about what you're trying to conquer... You're learning who you are throughout the entire process.

You appeared to be a tight-knit group this season. Is that true?


Maddie Walker: I think we're all working towards the same dream. And no matter what happens -- even if someone is making it further in the competition -- we still support them and have so much faith in everything they do. There's no way to be anything but positive. Everyone deserves the same opportunities and they are building up their careers. I'm so happy.

Did you experience any surprises on Idol? I'm sure you went onto the show with preconceived notions of what to expect.

Maddie Walker: I think that it kind of hits hard the fact you're working so hard. But I think my biggest surprise was definitely the sing-off. That was definitely the biggest, like, thing that hit me pretty hard.

You do go in there thinking, "You know, I think I did pretty good. I might be okay." And then you get things thrown at you -- or in Adanna's case, being the "Wild Card." There's so many different things that get brought into this that you don't expect.

Any talk about the American Idol summer tour? Is there even going to be one?

Maddie Walker: We really don't know.


You were really ill last week. Was there ever a moment when you thought you'd have to drop out?

Maddie Walker: The biggest thing is that they were asking me, "Do you think you can continue to sing? You have to put your health first. Don't worry about the competition." And the thing was, people did vote me through and I wanted to make it up to them and myself by saying, "I can do this."

I didn't want to [not perform] just because of being sick and in pain and not feeling well. Because in any case, maybe one day I'll have a concert and have the same thing happen. You never know, but you also don't want people to think that you aren't strong enough to conquer anything.

So I think that was the biggest thing I wanted to prove to people, that no matter what happens, I was in it for them -- not just the competition itself, but because they were supporting me.

Were you in a lot of pain while you were performing?

Maddie Walker: Well, I think the adrenaline really kicked in. Afterwards, I was shaking and I had a fever and I knew it was a terrible idea. But at the time, I felt it was my only option, because I wanted to make sure that I made it up to people.


I was in a lot of pain, but I think with music, you can block that out until the right time. I just wanted to put on a smiling face. The thing for me was there were people in the crowd who had signs with my name on them.

I was standing there and I was like, "How can I sit here in pain and say that I'm not going to sing for the people who have taken the time to make a sign and be cheering for me?"

Check back with Reality TV World soon for Adanna Duru's interview with reporters.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski