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Ryan Starr Interview
by Jessica P. Wallin

Twenty-four year-old Ryan Starr is the sexy rocker chick from the first season of American Idol. Even though she finished in seventh place, her presence earned her a starring role on the third season on VH1’s The Surreal Life alongside Flava Flav and Charo. She has also guest-starred on shows like That 70’s Show, and her single, “My Religion,” has sold the most exclusive downloads in iTunes history. Ryan took the time to talk with me about life, Flav, and Simon Cowell’s pickup artistry.

Tell me a little bit about yourself. What makes you, you? How do you stand out in a crowd?

I am very unlike any girls my age. I am driven and passionate about my life and all that I can achieve with it. I firmly believe you are only given 80 or 90 years if you’re lucky, and what you do with that is a gift. I am extremely mature and focused for my age. I have been though the ringer since birth, and from my pains and hardships, I have learned to truly be grateful for what I have, and because of that, I want to help others through their hardships. When I am not trying to write, play, or sing, I am working with troubled teens, feeding homeless at shelters, or just hanging with people who need a friend. I am also really active. I play a ton of sports, live on the beach, and I would consider myself a very friendly and goofy kind of girl. I love life, and I think it shows.

What were your first thoughts when you auditioned for American Idol? How is it like/unlike what viewers see on T.V.?

When I first auditioned for Idol, I didn’t know what to expect. It was my first audition, and I was terrified. I had never been on any chopping block. As for it being different than what people saw on TV, it was really different. We actually had to sing for a panel of producers and pass that test before we even got to the judges. It was really intense. I was a wreck after I made it to the Top 30. A wreck!!! But, I guess it was all worth it.

Any regrets?

My only regret about Idol was that I didn’t stand up to them and say, “I don’t want to sing that song. I’m a rock singer, so I would like to sing something in that vein.” If I knew what I know now, I would have held onto my musical integrity, but what can you do…you learn as you go, right?

What was it like on the Idol Tour?

The A.I. tour was so fun! They should have done a reality show about the First Season’s tour because we were like little kids in a candy shop! Imagine going from a little girl/boy from a small town to singing in front of 20,000 people a night for months. We had a ball. I was on the bus with Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, Christina Christian, and R.J. Helton, and we were total goofballs. I mean seriously, we would play practical jokes all the time. Good times!

Who are your major influences?

I would say my major influences are Led Zeppelin of course, The Beatles, Journey (the first rock music I ever heard), and Aerosmith (Steven Tyler to me has the most powerful rock voice I have ever heard). These guys really influence and truly inspire me.

As is nature for some former AI contestants to be, how does it feel to be made into a punch line on Celeb-related blogs or TV shows? Do your feelings get hurt, are you just flattered to be mentioned, or do you get a kick out of it?

When people write mean things about me…Usually I just don’t read it. but if it comes across my table and I do, I try to always respond by saying this: “I am sorry you feel this way, but you should really use your time on something positive and not on writing me a nasty note. Trust me, it will be way more satisfying.” That always gets ‘em….(laughs)

What was it like appearing on The Surreal Life with Flava Flav?

Doing Surreal Life was a wild ride, just like the majority of my life. For a 24 year-old girl, I have been through some weird stuff! The Surreal Life house was so awesome though. They were all so funny. I laughed my butt off the whole time. Flava was a little much for me at times, but he ended up being cool in the end. He’s really nice, though I wouldn’t want to live with him again.

What are the judges really like?

The judges are all very different. Paula is just as sweet off camera as she is on. She was my rock; she kept me there when I wanted to give up and believed in me. I absolutely love that woman. She understands the stress of performing and being judged, so she has a very unique outlook on what we are all going through. As for Simon, he didn’t really interact with any of us. He only talked to me when he wanted to hit on me or my aunt, so I always just wrote him off and tried to listen to his criticism. After all, he did know more about the industry than I did. Randy was so cool. He’s just a big teddy bear, always right on the money with his opinions. He was really cool off camera.

Have you found fame to be positive or negative overall?

Fame can only be negative if YOU let it be. I am very lucky because my fans are awesome. They have such patience and integrity. It is hard though, I won’t lie. It’s not all spotlights and glamour. It’s hard always being asked for autographs and pictures, especially on your bad days (we all have those). But, you just remember why they care about you, and you stay humble and always flattered.

Now that she has parted ways with RCA Records, she is said to finally be releasing her debut album sometime in the near future.

Article by Jessica P. Wallin Writer for Idol-Mania

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