Author: Emma Loggins
Date: 2008-07-02

Interview:
We had the honor of sitting down with the latest star to depart Nashville Star, and here's what she had to say:

Last week the judges hit you pretty hard. I thought you performed pretty well last night. But I thought you looked like you were thinking that you might be going home. What was sort of your thought process last night?

Alyson Gilbert: You know, after I thought, you know, thought about that I was in the bottom two, you know, I just decided to just go with it. Go out and sing and try to take in the experience, enjoy the experience and not worry so much about anything else. Because, you know, no matter what I was either, you know, going to stay or go. And I just tried to just clear my mind of, you know, of worry and just go.

Right. The judges said that they thought you were missing something. I'm wondering if you think that's true. And if it is true, I mean, what do you think that that missing part might be?

Alyson Gilbert: You know, I don't know that there's necessarily something specific I'm missing. I think, you know, they may just think I - I don't - to be quite honest I don't really know exactly what the specific thing is that they think I'm missing.

I mean I think it was more Jewel. I believe that, you know, Jeffrey and John have always said they thought I, you know, was the entire package. I just needed to, you know, hone in - hone the craft a little bit, I guess, maybe.

If you could give a critique or commentary on the three judges where their strengths and weaknesses lie?

Alyson Gilbert: Sure. I think that as far as John Rich is concerned his strength is really just being a straight talker telling us, you know, exactly what he thinks. You never have to wonder if he's, you know, sugar coating it. A weakness might be that he sometimes comes across as, you know, maybe arrogant which I don't think he is. But I know I've had people say that to me.

Jeffrey Steele - his strength is really just being, you know, a tough critic but doing it in a real, you know, kind way and non-offensive way. And, you know, I haven't had as much time to work with him so I don't know, you know, I can't say as much about him as I can John.

And Jewel, you know, I think she just brings a unique - a uniqueness. You know, she's kind of a, you know, new to the country scene with her newest album. And I think, you know, she brings an aspect of, you know, experience in the pop and folk industry. And that can be helpful when trying to, you know, possibly make crossover hits.

So I mean it's a very diverse judging group. And I feel really honored to have been able to, you know, be critiqued by them because I think it's going to really help me out.

What musical - what country music influenced you growing up? And what did you really love? What did you latch onto?

Alyson Gilbert: Gosh, you know, when I was little my mom listened to the Judds all the time. And I always really loved them. And then it kind of morphed into I've always been a huge Faith Hill fan. And Faith and Martina and - have been two big influences in my life. And really they were the voices that made me want to sing country music.