Who got voted off American Idol 2011 Season 10

Ben Honeycutt may be known as “the guy who forgot the lyrics to ‘Carry On, My Wayward Son’ during American Idol’s Hollywood Week”, but the singer-songwriter, 23, is not about to let that slow him down!  The Chattanooga, TN native and church worship leader took some time out to answer some juicy questions for me about the American Idol auditioning process, his music career, and Wikipedia addictions.

Congratulations for making it through to Hollywood Week!  How many audition rounds did you have to go through in Atlanta before you finally got to see Simon & Co.?

There were 3 rounds before the “big one.”

What did you sing at your audition and what were the judges’ reactions to it?

I sang, “More Than Anyone” by Gavin DeGraw. All judges’ responses were very positive although I didn’t make Simon “jump out of his chair.”

What was your impression of the audition process?

It was a little different than I expected, and A LOT different than it’s portrayed on TV. And it’s a very “hit or miss” kind of thing once you actually audition. With as many people the producers see combined with how long the day is, I think it would be impossible not to make a mistake. So I’m sure there are talented singers that might slip through the cracks. But overall, they definitely know what they’re doing, and I was impressed at how good everyone is at their job.

Were you compensated in any fashion for making it to Hollywood round? Did Idol pay for air fare, room or board?

There was no compensation for making it to Hollywood, but they did foot the bill for plane tickets, hotels, and food while we were there.

The pressure seems to be extreme in the Hollywood week. How would you describe the process?

It’s definitely a jam-packed, “this is a mini-bootcamp of the music biz” process.

Recite your line from “Carry On, My Wayward Son” without forgetting any words.

“Once I rose above the blmmmd and confusion…” No, but seriously I knew the lyrics flawlessly the morning after and will probably know them for the rest of my life! That’s the way it works, I guess.

Why do you think you forgot the lyrics? It seems like nerves would be a thing of the past by that stage in the game.

I just buckled a little bit under the pressure. I think that’s what “Group Day” is designed for. It makes for good TV when you get a group of people who don’t know each other, trying to learn a song that you don’t really know, and doing all of that on about 2 hours of sleep! I would even estimate that at least 7 out of 10 forget lyrics or mess up in some way. Some rise to the challenge. Some don’t. And, unfortunately, I didn’t.

What was it like to work with your group, Phoenix (Top 24 contender Jermaine Sellers was in this group)? Who came up with that name? Were there any divas or drama queens in the group?

It was definitely a unique and difficult experience. Jeff Goldford came up with the name in hopes that we could rise from the ashes of our early struggles. There were definitely a couple headstrong personalities in our group. I just tried to stay neutral, which probably got me a little less airtime, but I didn’t want to give the producers anything that they could jump on and “twist” in any way.

What did you think of the Idol judges? Was their advice helpful or off-base? Who was your favorite Idol judge, and who was your least favorite Idol judge?

I would say that the judges’ advice was, for the most part, on point. We just didn’t quite rise to the occasion. My favorite judge would have to be Ellen. I know a lot of people are unsure about her as a judge but I actually think she’s a good combination of Simon and Paula. She can deliver the truth, which can hurt sometimes, but in a way that’s a lot easier to hear. And I refuse to pick a least favorite judge! Never know what bridges I might still need intact down the road….

So, does that mean we will see you at Idol again next year?

I plan to keep writing music, play a lot of shows, and try to continue to connect with and grow my fan base and support. Not sure about Idol next year. It will depend on what I’m doing and where I’m at when auditions come back around.

Overall though, did you enjoy your experience?

Definitely. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

What super-cool thing happened to you during your Idol experience that they did not televise?

Me making the Top 24. Oh, wait…never mind.

Haha!  From your Hollywood experience, do you have any favorites that you think will go far in the Idol competition?

Andrew Garcia is the one to watch, in my humble opinion.

Agreed!  What advice would you give other prospective contestants based upon your experience?

Just to do what you do. And try to choose songs that you know and fit who you are.

Did you see any instances of a fellow contestant who thought he/she was just the biggest star on the planet, whose head was too big for his/her own good?

Honestly, I can’t say that I saw anyone like that. 99% of the people there were really talented, and carried themselves in a very respectable way.

Were you a fan of Idol before you auditioned? What do you think of the new lineup of judges?

I’ve been a pretty hardcore fan since Season 3. I’m a fan of the judges. I think it’s a unique lineup, but I think it works.

Do you have any regrets about being on American Idol?

Nope. None at all.

I read that you were addicted to Wikipedia. I am also guilty of this! Can you elaborate on one thing you’ve started looking at that has led you to something completely different?

I’m really intrigued by any type of superlative list. “Most albums sold”, “richest people”, “biggest dog”, etc…anything really. And once I start, it’s hard to stop since a piece of the info on the page always links to somewhere else! I hope to have my own Wikipedia page one day. Maybe on the “most albums sold” list. Of course then I would be on the “richest people” list, and then… See, it’s already starting…

Tell us something completely random about yourself that no one else has asked you in an interview.

Hmm…completely random. When I was little, I wanted to start a band called Singing Rage. I made up a logo and everything. And it wasn’t like I was an angry kid or anything. For some reason, I thought that would be a cool name… And it obviously IS an amazing name for a band.

Who are your musical influences?

U2, Coldplay, Lifehouse, anything Ryan Tedder does, Justin Timberlake, Pink, Rihanna

What type of music do you play?

It’s definitely a Top 40 pop sound with a dash a BritRock thrown in.

Have your released any albums?

Not yet. I’m hoping to have a single released to iTunes in early March, and five songs released by the end of April. Fingers crossed that everything goes like clockwork!

You can check out Ben Honeycutt and his music online:

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