IML: What a whirlwind year for you! Have you been able to catch your breath and take it all in?

Justin: I went to Hawaii right after the movie, but it’s been pretty crazy. I’ve spent the whole year building up to this moment, the album release. I’ve learned so much this year.

IML: What have you learned?

Justin: American Idol has prepared me for so much. I learned about performance, what works and what doesn’t work on camera and with an audience. I’ve learned to take criticism, from Simon and some other critics from papers and magazines [who] are horrendous. But I’ve realized that I don’t do this for the critics. I do this for the fans. I’ve learned how to budget my time, because there’s so little of it. And I’ve learned how to work quickly and effectively because that’s what we had to do on the show.

IML: How about handling fame…the good AND bad parts?

Justin: I don’t take any of that too seriously. It’s cool, I mean it’s great, it’s what I’ve wanted, but fame is not what I’m after. For me, being in the spotlight is being up there performing or promoting what I’m doing. Fame comes with the territory. What most concerns me is doing what I love.

IML: When did you realize you loved singing and that you were good at it?

Justin: I’ve known it from the first memories that I have of anything. When I really knew it was what I wanted do, it was around eighth grade. I always hoped and told people that I was going to make it. And I’m glad it’s happened ‘cause I can relax a little, but it has always been a career path. It’s a gift that I knew I was given and had to put out to the world.

IML: Did you have any idea that American Idol would be such a phenomenon?

Justin: When I was there at 5:30 in the morning, the 126th person in line, freezing my butt off in Times Square, I didn’t know that it all would come to this. I had no idea that I’d tour and have an album, movie, television shows. I haven’t had the time to sit back and take it all in, but I don’t want that time right now ‘cause that would mean I’m not working, and I want to work!

IML: Who were you rooting for on the second AI?

Justin: Ruben, Ruben, Ruben! But the fact that I got on the final two shows was the catalyst for everything that’s happened until now, so I think Clay will do as well as Ruben.

IML: If you’d been on that show, do you think you’d have made it as far?

Justin: I don’t know. It would have been a fight to the end no matter what!

IML: You went on the American Idol tour, then recorded your album, and now the attention is on Ruben and Clay. Do you think that might be a disadvantage for your album?

Justin: It didn’t hurt Kelly! I think it’s been a great advantage for me. From what I heard of the music that they were trying to push on both of us, it was horrendous and we would have had flash-in-the-pan careers. Kelly and I both took a year to learn, to grow and to experience as much as we could.

IML: Did you feel any pressure to live up to all the AI hype?

Justin: I didn’t have the pressure of living up to American Idol… I had the pressure of EXCEEDING it! That pressure was actually a blessing for me, because I always felt that people didn’t quite hear as much of my voice as I wanted them to hear on the show. Now that I’ve had the opportunity to grow over the year vocally and mentally and spiritually, I think that comes out and I think a lot of people will be surprised.

IML: Do you have a favorite song on the album?

Justin: I do! “If You Wanna,” which is one of the songs I co-wrote. I wrote on that and on “Heartbreaker.” I’m glad that I got to write, and have the input of experts to bring out the best in me.

IML: What do you think of “Timeless,” your duet with Kelly Clarkson, which is in From Justin to Kelly?

Justin: We’re really proud of that. We wanted to do a musical, which is our passion, but for a youthful audience, unlike Chicago or Moulin Rouge which have adult themes. This is our answer to that. I know that we’re going to get hit by critics. We’re totally prepared. Bring it on! We don’t do this for them.

IML: Are you playing yourselves?

Justin: No, not even versions of ourselves.
The movie Justin is a little more high-strung than I am, more of a go-getter. I’m much more mellow.

IML: I know you and Kelly got close on Idol. Did the movie make you closer?

Justin: It was the continuation of a great friendship. We clicked immediately on the set.

IML: But you weren’t ever a couple?

Justin: No. If I had a penny for everyone who asked me!

IML: We can see that. But you’re so cute together…You understand why people ask, right?

Justin: Our relationship just works very well.

IML: Are you close with other Idol finalists?

Justin: Yes! Jim, Tamyra, and R.J.

IML: What was the biggest challenge of making the movie?

Justin: Learning the intimacy of film acting. A month or two before, I was playing to 19,000 people, having to get across to audiences in arenas. Even in musical theater that I did in school, you have to be “big” and play to the back row. But you have to completely dial it down when your head is 10 feet tall on screen!

IML: Do you want to make more movies?

Justin: I want to do movies, television, Broadway. I really want to expand into a lot of things, but I’m keeping it open for the album now. I was offered the role of the Emcee in Cabaret on Broadway, but I told them I’d love to do it if it they ask me later.

In Part Two, Justin talks more about his family and growing-up years…and what he thinks are the toughest issues facing kids today.

Read more about young celebrities in Celebs Say....