Taylor Hicks Starring in "Grease"

Welcome to younghollywood. com. Hey Young Hollywood, it's Michelle Marie. We are here with Taylor Hicks, American Idol star turned Broadway star, starting in Grease as Teen Angel.

How did you channel your Frankie Valley with this character?

Well, I just want to make sure that uh you know, I made it signature, you know, and I I actually have a really cool costume and the music is great. You You weren't out on job. Better forget it, forget it. You know, wrote some R&B horn lines for the for the song and you know, it's one of those things where it's you want to make it your own.

Were you a huge fan when you were younger?

Loved Grease. I watched Grease as as a kid. Man, it was awesome.

Who was your favorite character?

I liked Kennicky. Yeah, Kennicky was a I was a Kennicky fan back in the day.

Now how is it different preparing to be on a live stage here in theater versus being on a live stage on TV?

You can't screw up. You know, it's just that that's the thing about live theater is that you got to it's live and the the creativity is awesome because you get to play off with different actors and actresses.

American Idol, going back to the day. It's an amazing thing that you even had 63 million people that voted for you. That's so many supporters, so many fans. What did what went through your mind when you found out that number?

Well, I just didn't want to fall over, you know, that uh when they announced me as the winner. I never thought in a million years that I would be American Idol, but it was awesome, you know, to be able to perform and entertain for people and you know, I'm still entertaining people to this day. It's just a amazing opportunity.

Let's also talk about your music right now.

I just actually have a brand new record out called The Distance and uh the music on it's awesome. It just reflects who I am as a as a person, as an artist and it has uh some R&B, some soul, it's a very soulful sounding record. So I kind of just uh wanted to make sure that I have my imprint on it. When you laugh, I'm laughing and when you cry, I'm crying. What's wrong with you is wrong with me and what's right is right.

So what were your influences when you were younger just to develop your sound?

You know, I liked soul music. You know, I was a big uh Ray Charles fan and I was a big Marvin Gaye fan and you know, Aretha Franklin and I listen to a lot of different uh R&B styles.

And I know that you also play the harmonica, which you're going to be doing on stage as well. And you taught yourself to play harmonica and guitar. That's pretty interesting.

Yeah, I did. I I taught myself harmonica. Harmonica was first and then I actually played guitar, taught myself guitar second. So I just uh yeah, I I I love those instruments and uh, you know, they fit me.

Obviously, you have so many fans. What can you say to all of them right now to maybe just get to where you are?

Well, just believe in yourself and and know who you are as a person and be good to people and things will happen to you.

Hey Young Hollywood, it's Taylor Hicks.

Young Hollywood, what's up?