'American Idol's Jessica Meuse: My relationship ended during the show, it can bring out the worst in people

American Idol's thirteenth season eliminated Jessica Meuse and determined the competition's Top 3 finalists during Thursday night's live results show on Fox.
 
Jessica, a 23-year-old from Slapout, AL, became the tenth finalist sent home from American Idol after she received the fewest home viewer votes cast following last week's Top 4 performance show, which had featured each contestant singing three songs about love -- a breakup, a makeup and a dedication song.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jessica's first two performances didn't really please American Idol judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. However, her third performance of "You and I" by Lady Gaga won everyone over.

During a Friday conference call with reporters, Jessica talked about her Idol experience. Below is a portion of her interview. Click here and here to read more. 

I found it really cool that you decided to do a Lady Gaga song this week, "You and I."  It was a great song and it worked very well for you.  So why did you go with that song?

Jessica Meuse: Well, first off, I do love Lady Gaga.  I have a very wide range of music that I love and listen to all the time and hers is definitely included in that.  And I believe that if you don't listen to the beat and the techno part of her music and you listen to her voice, she really has such a soulful voice and she's so creative and good at what she does. 


So I listen to that song and I heard that potential to turn it into my own style, which is like that southern rock vibe that I did and I just had fun with it, I really did.  And I loved it and I loved the vocal part of it.  So I just ran with it.

When you guys were told last minute you couldn't sing original songs, did producers just present you with a list of songs to choose from and you just sort of took what you could get?

Jessica Meuse: Yes.  Pretty much and the lyrics, of "So What," I liked them. And I love P!nk, she's really awesome, so I went with it.

Were the other contestants similarly kind of confused because of that switch? Were you all kind of scrambling?

Jessica Meuse: We were sort of just like, "Oh crap, we have to learn another song now."


You have a striking, beautiful look.  When you did the Lana Del Ray song, you had a look you never had before.  I wonder, how did you feel about that?  Did you enjoy showing off a different side of yourself like that?

Jessica Meuse: Yes, it was definitely fun.  I think it keeps your mind open and that whole thing about me sitting on that side of the box and all -- with my leg and my tattoo showing -- that was all absolutely last minute.  I never did that in any rehearsals or anything and I just really wanted that song to be the best that it could be.

You mentioned before you'd like to do some acting, what would be your dream role?

Jessica Meuse: Oh man, if I could be in an episode of Supernatural, oh, my goodness.  I know Snooki was in it not long ago.  She was a demon and it was funny, but I love Snooki so it's okay.  I would love to even be just the creepy person in the background looking around for ten seconds. That would be okay, I'd be down with that.  It would just be amazing.  I love that show, it's unhealthy.  It's an obsession.

I thought it was really terrible you girls didn't get to meet your crushes, speaking of Supernatural.  The boys got to see their crushes, which kind of sucked for you girls.


Jessica Meuse: I don't know what I would have done, honestly.  I probably would have been like, "Oh, my gosh!"  And I would have fan-girled really hard.

Was there anything that really surprised you about Idol that you didn't see coming?

Jessica Meuse: Just really the amount of people that go into making a single performance, like there's so much behind the scenes.  And there's a lot of people who go unnamed a lot, like there's a wardrobe person, there's a hair person, a makeup person, and they really do so much and it really makes -- it's a huge part of the performance and how you do and how you feel when you're up there, which affects how you do.

Prior to being on this show, were a fan of Idol and did you watch it religiously year after year?

Jessica Meuse:  No, not really.  I don't really watch much TV.  I don't. I watch cartoons and I watch Supernatural.


It's no surprise that the ratings have dipped in the last two years.  What do you think they could do to make the ratings skyrocket again?  Is there any one thing you would like to see them do?

Jessica Meuse: I have no idea.  Honestly, sometimes things just run their course.  It's been on for what, 13, 14 years now?  That's a long time.

What did you learn about yourself during your American Idol journey?

Jessica Meuse:  I really learned that the limits that you have are only the limits that you put on yourself, and if you really want something, then you've got to work for it and you really can do it. 

I went from being in a smoky bar with pneumonia and having to cancel shows and really having a hard time doing everything on my own to being on national television with an original song -- not just one time, but two or three times now, and it's absolutely amazing.


Talk about your mentoring sessions with Adam Lambert, Chris Daughtry, and David Cook.  Who gave you the best advice?

Jessica Meuse:  Well, they all really were critical and they all give you a perspective, and they all really teach you.  It's just very humbling to meet those people who've been in your shoes and they understand, especially Chris. [He] got cut at the same point where I just got cut, so it's really cool to be able to relate to someone on that level.

Do you think that you and Dexter Roberts and C.J. Harris, the Alabama clan, will ever get together and put on a show somewhere?

Jessica Meuse:  You know what, I don't see why not.  I'm down for that.  I would love to play a show with them -- Alabama Power Company.

Is there anyone that you would have liked to have as a mentor while you were on the show? Anyone you'd love as a mentor whom you didn't get to work with?

Jessica Meuse: I think it would have been cool to have someone like Dierks Bentley come in and like talk to everybody, because he's like the same kind of artist that I strive to be too.  He's a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and he's doing really well.  It would have been cool.


I want to ask you about your boyfriend.  When you're away from each other for this long, it can be really tough, especially in a high-pressure environment like Idol.  So how has Steve supported you on this journey and would you say that Idol affected your relationship in anyway?

Jessica Meuse: It did affect the relationship to the point where it didn't work anymore and we've actually been apart for about a month now.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Jessica Meuse:  He, I know, it's very stressful and I guess it's just not the right time.  He's a good guy and it's just sometimes situations really bring out the worst in people.

You've said that "Blue Eyed Lie" is about a former boyfriend.  How does writing a song help you deal with heartbreak and tough situations?

Jessica Meuse: It teaches me how to let go and just not worry about things that you can't control anymore because, you know, if I'm not the ass then what do I have to worry about?


Any final remarks, Jess?

Jessica Meuse: Well, thank you guys so much.  I really enjoyed talking to all of y'all and I really hope to meet you guys at some point, whether it's on the tour or at another show in the future.  Thank you.

Above is a portion of Jessica's Friday conference call with reporters. Click here and here to read more. 






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski