LE DOMAINE BLEU

Citation :'Idol' appearance opens doors for Doolittle
TV show finalist part of Smith holiday show tonight

Michael W. Smith, above, and Melinda Doolittle, below

IF YOU Go

* What: "It's a Wonderful Christmas" with Michael W. Smith and guests Melinda Doolittle and The Katinas

* Where: Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, Binghamton

* Tickets: $37.50-$55; available at the Arena box office, ticketmaster.com or by calling 778-6626
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Although there can only be one "American Idol" per season, that doesn't mean the rest of the contestants have lost. The TV sensation offers exposure that's tough to beat, often resulting in plenty of opportunity even for those who don't win the show, such as Melinda Doolittle, a top three finalist from season six.

Doolittle is bubbling over with excitement about one such post-"Idol" opportunities -- appearing with award-winning contemporary Christian music giant Michael W. Smith on his Christmas tour. Smith's "It's a Wonderful Christmas" tour, also featuring The Katinas, launches tonight at Binghamton's Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

Smith is a titan in the industry with 20 albums, an American Music Award, three Grammy Awards and 40 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards to his credit. Doolittle is delighted to be sharing the stage.

"It's such a weird story. Jordin (season six winner Jordin Sparks) actually used to sing background for Michael W. Smith for his Christmas show for the last two years, and so they obviously knew I was out there, too," she said. "So when the tour came around, obviously knowing Jordin could not do it, they approached me about being on the tour, and I was more than happy to do it."

Like Sparks, Doolittle was employed as a professional background vocalist before being on "Idol" -- "Idol" contestants are allowed to be paid professionals and are only required not to be signed to a label -- but she said that wasn't really an advantage at all.

"Doing background is so amazingly different than being lead. It was just one of those things where you were learning about yourself, at least that was my take on it, because I sang background for years prior to being on 'American Idol.' It was different to have to find my own voice instead of blending with other people and having to sound like someone else," she said. "It was a learning process, definitely. I found out I love to tell a story with a song, and I probably should have known that because I love musical theater, but I love to sing songs where the words really mean something. I love to have fun with the audience by telling a story.

"I didn't really know that much about myself. It was a great lesson to learn, and it made it so much fun for me."

The whole "Idol" experience was a fluke for Doolittle, who said that the only reason she auditioned for the show was to support a friend who was auditioning. Where she is today is in part because of the close relationship Doolittle has with her mother.

"We thought you had to sign up to audition to get inside, so we signed up just to get inside," she said. Next thing she knows she is the only one of her group of friends to advance to the next round of auditions, which she didn't want to attempt until her mother weighed in.

"I was too scared to go back to the next audition," she said, "And my mother said, 'We are women of our word, and if you say you're going, you're going.' So after that it was just about being a woman of my word. The whole season was a surprise."

And the excitement continues as Doolittle starts the tour with Smith.

"I am singing 'Jesus What a Wonderful Child.' Then I am doing a song that Michael wrote called 'All Is Well,' which is just gorgeous. Then Michael and I are doing a duet called 'It's Christmas Day,'" she said. "Plus, I am singing background. We all sing background for each other."

Of course the inevitable result of stepping into your own spotlight is the scrutiny of others, some of it cruel -- like the wig Doolittle has nicknamed "Shrek" because of fan comments -- but the singer takes it in stride.

"My mom says, 'Chew the hay and spit out the sticks,' so I pick what's good for me and what can help me out, and the rest of it I have to let roll off my back or I would be a mess," she said, adding she had to admit even she could see her hair's resemblance to the cinematic ogre. And comments she had no neck caused her to review the video of her performances and discover that, when she is nervous, she tends to lift her shoulders.

"I laughed. I had a good time with it, and I tried to put my shoulders down," she said.

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Citation :Accidental Idol
Melinda Doolittle placed third on 'Idol' last May. Not bad for someone who didn't intend to try out.

BY DAVE RICHARDS
dave.richards@timesnews.com [more details]



Published: November 29. 2007 6:00AM


After excelling on "American Idol," Melinda Doolittle is on tour with a Christian music idol -- Michael W. Smith, who brings his Christmas show to Erie on Sunday with special guests the Katinas.

"I've been a fan of his -- and the Katinas -- for years," said Doolittle, who placed third on "Idol" last May.

"I was really excited to get a chance to go on the road with both of them, and be a part of this show. I've heard nothing but amazing things about this Christmas tour. So what better way to get involved?"


Doolittle won't just share the stage with Smith, she'll share a microphone, too.

"I do get to sing a duet with him," she said. "And there are a couple songs that I will be soloing on. Then, as a group, I think we are all singing together a lot of the songs, so we're background for each other and lead and all that. So that makes it a lot of fun."

Background singing was Doolittle's forte before she tried out for "American Idol," and she was perfectly content. She toured with Michael McDonald, Kirk Franklin, BeBe and CeCe Winans, and Jonny Lang, one of her favorite singers.

"I was very happy doing background singing," said Doolittle, 30. "I was having a great time with it. I felt blessed to sing for a living. I'm kind of a shy person, so the thought of being the lead singer was kind of scary for me. So it was one of these things that I was not necessarily running after."

So why try out for "Idol?" She didn't mean to.


"I went with a friend to support him," Doolittle explained. "A few of us went together, and we thought you had to sign up to audition to get inside. So we all signed up. And then, I ended up making it through, and the rest is history."

"Idol" judge Simon Cowell, one of Doolittle's biggest supporters, was shocked when she was ousted by audience vote. Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks moved on, with Sparks eventually winning. But Doolittle said she's OK with how it all played out.

"You know what, I was not hurt. The thing is, you go into it knowing God has a plan, and his plan will work out perfectly. It couldn't have worked out more perfectly. I couldn't be more proud of Jordin; that's my baby girl. So I'm glad she won. I see great things happening for her and, at the same time, for all of us."

For Doolittle, the best part of "Idol" was meeting many of her favorite singers, including Diana Ross, Tony Bennett, and Gwen Stefani.


"All these people, I think, are amazing at their craft, and I got to pick their brains and ask them what they do and how they do it," she said.

She paid special attention to Gladys Knight, her all-time favorite singer.

"She talked to me about telling stories with your songs," Doolittle said. "That was something important to me. I asked her how she did it, and she said, 'I see a movie in my head, and I let everyone in on that movie.' That gave me a different perspective."

Doolittle said the toughest parts of "Idol" for her were Latin week ("not my very favorite") and Bee Gees week ("a really rough one for me"). But she surprised herself by persevering.

"I learned about I can handle more than I thought I could. From being shy and loving to singing background, I was kind of thinking that's what I would be doing. I was not sure I could handle being up front. This has kind of shown me God gives you grace to handle anything he has plans for you to do."


In her heart, she knew that already. Doolittle said she was tone-deaf as a child. She grew up in St. Louis, though her family moved to Tennessee while she was in high school.

"I prayed about wanting to sing, and I felt like God answered that prayer and gave me a chance to do what I love," Doolittle said.

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http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art ... /711290377