Lakisha Jones: The Single MomRelationship Status: Single
Pre-Idol: The mom to 4-year-old daughter Brionne worked as a bank teller in Fort Meade, Md.
The Fame Factor: "I've had a couple of guys call me and say 'Hey, baby ... ' I'm like 'Are you kidding me? Baby? I remember you didn't give me a return phone call. You remember that? Stop calling me, dude. It ain't happening.' "
Idol Style: "I am a little self-conscious because I am the heaviest girl of the bunch. But I try to keep it classy. I'm not going the shorter skirt route again."
Hidden Talent: "I am a great cook! I do oxtails, collard greens, some gravy, crab salad. But I don't bake. Cakes and stuff always fall down."
Backstage Secret: "The hard part is not being able to put my daughter (who's bunking with Grandma in Michigan) in bed with me at night. She sleeps so wild, she's all over the place. I used to move her off me, but now I would love to feel her kicking me or slobbering on my arm, you know?"
Why She Auditioned: "I just want a better life for my daughter and me. I don't ever want to go home and have my lights shut off again, or where I'm calling my friends and going, 'Can I borrow $20?' "
Melinda Doolittle: The Mom Figure
Age: 29
Relationship Status: Single
Pre-Idol: Brentwood, Tenn.-based backup singer for Aaron Neville, CeCe Winans and Idol alum George Huff
Why She Auditioned: "Some friends invited me to go with them to the Memphis audition, saying it would be fun to watch the funny singers," says Doolittle. "On the way we decided the whole car had to audition, and I ended up being the only one to make it."
Idol Style: "I'm a bit of a tomboy, so these heels and all this are not normal for me. It's fun, but it's like playing dress-up, so when I go home, it's snatch the wig off and lie down!"
Backstage Secret: "I am the oldest one here," she says, "so the other contestants call me Mama. I love to be silly. Everybody thinks I'm shy, but I'm not shy. I just get a little nervous occasionally."
The Makeover: "I am the worst," says Doolittle of her style sense. "Thank God I have help."
Phil Stacey: The Family Guy
Age: 29
Relationship Status: Married to Kendra, who gave birth to their second daughter, McKayla, while Dad was trying out.
Pre-Idol: U.S. Navy petty officer third class, stationed in Jacksonville, Fla.
What Made Him Audition: "My friend made me because I missed his wedding and that's how he said I could make it up to him. I'm glad he did!"
Backstage Secret: "I have this nervous habit where I cough before I go onstage. I get nervous, I cough – my parents have always yelled at me about it. I really need to get over it."
What's On His iPod? "Spice Girls. I'm a huge Spice Girls fan. They are the mac daddies of pop." - Uh.. intresting.
Sanjaya Malakar: The Shocker
Age: 17
Relationship Status: Single
Pre-Idol: Seattle high school student
Winning Strategy: "There's never been an Indian American Idol," says Malakar. "I want to be proof of the melting pot that America is. My strategy is to be myself. I'd like to appear like a normal person because I am a normal person." LIAR!
Fame Factor: "I don't want to be really angry or hurt, so I don't read what they say about me in the press or online."
Best Idol Bud: "Jordin and I have the high school thing going on, but I try to hang out with everyone."
Backstage Secret: "As soon as I get onstage, I have to pee. It never fails," says Malakar, who wears a lucky charm – his grandfather's wedding ring – to help calm his nerves.
Guest mentor he's psyched to meet: "Tony Bennett. When I heard he was going to be on, I was ecstatic."
Blake Lewis: The Beat Boxer
Age: 25
Relationship Status: Single
Pre-Idol: Performed as an a cappella musician, including a four-year gig with the Seattle group Kickshaw
Why He Auditioned: "I've been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time. I've done improv comedy and rap videos with my friends, which are on YouTube. Doing that prepped me for being on TV."
Idol Style: "I started to make my own pants when I was in Seattle because I don't wear jeans," says Lewis, who has six tattoos. "I only wear these Caddyshack pants – I call them Grandpa pants. I like to put a little funk into everything."
Backstage Secret: "I'm sexually frustrated! I broke up with my girlfriend right before Hollywood week, which was sad. I have no game. I get scared because I regard women as the most beautiful creatures in the world. (GIRLFRIEND, IF YOU DO EXIST LET US KNOW). But when (I'm performing), it's easier because then they come talk to me. A tour could be fun!"
Who's On His iPod? "I love Robin Thicke. I wanted to do his music on the show but he didn't give clearance. Darn that Robin!"
Chris Richardson: The Timberlake Look-Alike
Age: 23
Relationship Status: Single
Pre-Idol: Restaurant supervisor at Hooters in Chesapeake, Va.
Music Background: "I've recorded for about five years," says Richardson. "I went to a studio (in Virginia Beach) one night and Justin Timberlake was recording his album. I played my guitar for him and we watched a basketball game."
Idol Style: "When I first came to L.A. I weighed 225 lbs. I would do label visits and they'd say they loved the music, but 'you need to lose weight.' Now I'm 180. I went on a strict diet and I work out religiously."
Backstage Secret: A brewing intra-Idol romance perhaps? A source spotted Richardson and Top 24 Idol Alaina Alexander – who's been sitting with Richardson's family during the shows – hanging out in L.A. "They weren't too affectionate in public," says the source, "but they were talking close to each other. They were having fun."
On Being Judged: "I'm my own worst critic. I see my performances and go, 'Oh, that's horrible.' " - And yet you continue being horrible.
Gina Glocksen: The Rocker Chick Age: 22
Relationship Status: Dating Joe Ruzicka, a guitar player. (He's been in the audience holding her good luck charm, a stuffed lizard named Pickle.)
Pre-Idol: Chicago dental assistant and part-time singer.
The Fame Factor: "I get so down when I see (on blogs) 'Gina looked really big in that dress.' That's why they tell you not to read this stuff," she says. "It's a talent show, not America's Next Top Model. And I'm not that big!"
Backstage Secret: Although Glocksen usually sports a tongue piercing, "I was told not to have it in by (executive producer) Nigel Lythgoe," she says. "He said, 'It's middle America. Do you want votes or no?' " Glocksen followed Lythgoe's advice for a few weeks, but then put the stud back in.
Scandal Scarred: "I always think, 'That could be me,' " says Glocksen of the hubbub over the racy photos that surfaced featuring former Idol Antonella Barba. "That's why they have you tell (producers) what you've done in the past. Old friends will try to put the kibosh on you."
Idol Ritual: "Before I perform, I floss my teeth. I've seen a lot of people that don't even think about it, and the camera's right up in there."
Haley Scarnato: The Hottie(?)Age: 24
Relationship Status: Engaged to Bobby Krudwig, a sales executive
Pre-Idol: Wedding singer in her native San Antonio
Fame Factor: Although she thinks it's "cute" that she has a fan club called "Haley's Comet," Scarnato doesn't want to know much more than that. "I completely stay away from the Internet and gossip – it's scary," she says. "I got recognized recently, which was weird. They said something about my mole!"
Guest Mentor She's Psyched to Meet: "Martina McBride," says the country fan. "I love her."
What's On Her iPod? "I love Elvis, which is shocking to people for some reason."
On Being Judged: "Some comments are pretty harsh. Ryan lightens the mood. It's nice to have him on that big stage next to you."
Jordin Sparks: Teen Wonder
Age: 17
Relationship Status: Single
Pre-Idol: High school junior and plus-size model
Music Background: Sparks toured with Christian singer Michael W. Smith. Her other training? Watching Idol since its first season. "I was, like, 11!" she says. (Actually, she was 12.) "I know what the past Idols have done and I know what looks good on TV and what looks not good."
Why She Auditioned: "When I'm on the stage, I feel like I can be myself and nobody will care. I love being up there. I love seeing the faces in the crowd. I love hearing the clapping when you're performing."
Idol Life: "My hair makes it hard for me to hide. I pull it back and people still recognize me. These little girls are so precious – they say, 'We vote for you all the time!' I love it. My dad (former NFL player Phillippi Sparks) was always in the spotlight, so I'm very comfortable with being in the spotlight, too."
What's On Her iPod? " 'N Sync and Hanson. I love 'MMMBop'!"
Source People
