America's Got Talent finalist Cami Bradley finished the eighth season in sixth place during Wednesday night's live finale broadcast on NBC.
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The singer and songwriter lost to fifth-place finisher Collins Key, a teen magician; fourth-place finisher Forte, an operatic tenor trio; third-place finisher Jimmy Rose, a country singer; runner-up Taylor Williamson, a stand-up comedian; and winner Kenichi Ebina, a robotic dancer who enhances his performances visually with a video game-like computer screen behind him.
Cami won over America along with the hearts of judges Howard Stern, Melanie "Mel B" Brown, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel with her enchanting voice and creative spins on famous songs.
In an exclusive interview with Reality TV World, Cami talked about her experience on America's Got Talent. Below is the first half of her interview. Check back with us on Friday for the concluding portion.
Reality TV World: Congratulations on making it to the Top 6 acts!
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Cami Bradley: Thank you!
Reality TV World: You finished in sixth place but the judges kind of treated you like a frontrunner throughout the competition. I know you're obviously pretty humble, but did it surprise you that you didn't finish higher up in the rankings?
Cami Bradley: I'm not surprised but definitely disappointed. Because I did feel like I gave my all on Tuesday night. But in some ways, I'm walking away feeling very good about everything.
I feel so blessed and grateful for the opportunity I was given, and Tuesday night for me, was absolutely wonderful. I got high praise from the judges and I felt really good about all that I gave for my performances. So there's really not much more that I could ask for.
Reality TV World: At the beginning of last night's episode, as you were looking around at the other five finalists, who did you see winning and potentially finishing in second place besides yourself? Did you kind of envision how everyone might finish 1 through 6?
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Cami Bradley: No, definitely not. But I was rooting for people. I really love Kenichi and I really love Taylor, and so, deep down I was rooting for both of them -- which is awesome because they were first and second, and I'm just really happy.
Reality TV World: When did you start singing and have you been pursuing it as a career for awhile now? What types of places have you sung at prior to the show?
Cami Bradley: I started singing, well I've been singing my whole life. I grew up in a musical family and I have not pursued it as a career at all. I haven't played a show outside of my hometown ever besides for the show. So, this was something very new and different -- a big experience for me.
Reality TV World: Do you see yourself pursuing music as a career now and has anyone approached you about potentially getting signed by a record label yet?
Cami Bradley: I absolutely see myself pursuing it now. I have not been approached by anybody like solidifying, I guess, but I have a few random things that are floating around out there. But I mean, I don't know what's to come! I'm kind of waiting to see what doors open, and I'm just excited to see what's next.
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Reality TV World: If you do end up creating an album, what type of music could you see yourself making and which artists out there would you love to get the chance to collaborate with?
Cami Bradley: Oh man, that's a hard question. I have so many influences in my music, but I really love like a folk-pop type of feel. I would definitely lean towards that. As far as people I would want to collaborate with, I don't know!
I mean, I got to sing with Gavin DeGraw last night, and that was just absolutely amazing. So, I feel like already I'm getting opportunities that I never would have dreamed of, and I know there's many, many artists that I would love to work with. But right now, I'm so satisfied with, you know, what I got last night.
Reality TV World: I don't really recall the judges ever saying anything negative about your performances, which is considered a big surprise especially considering how Howard Stern usually reacts to things. Why do you think the judges took such a liking to you and what did that mean to you?
Cami Bradley: I don't know why they liked me so much! (Laughs) But it meant the world to me. I really respect all four of them and their opinions and everything they said during the competition, I was really able to take to heart.
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It meant the world to me that they were so supportive and encouraging, and I'm thankful for that, because I mean, after the show on Tuesday night, I just went up and thanked each of them personally. Beyond what the show gave me, each and every one of them gave me something to take away as well.
Reality TV World: Why did you audition for America's Got Talent, and was this season the first time you went for it?
Cami Bradley: Yeah! It's so surprising that I auditioned for the show. (Laughs) When the opportunity came up, I was very against it at first and my first response was kind of, "I don't know about that. I don't think so."
My family and my husband really helped me make a decision and pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and really giving it a shot and experiencing something that I never would get the chance to experience again.
Above is the first half of Cami's exclusive interview with Reality TV World. Check back with us on Friday for the concluding portion.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski