CJ Harris wasn’t the only one moved to tears by his American Idol elimination.
Jennifer Lopez, who took a special liking to Harris early in the competition, also turned on the waterworks Thursday night. But before she and her glittering gown exited the stage, the “I Luh Ya Papi” singer offered Harris a big hug and a few consoling words.
“She told me that I got a really good soul and I just got to keep chasing my music career,” Harris said following the taping. “That I’ll be successful as long as I want it.”
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Thursday night found Harris in the bottom two alongside fellow Alabama native Jessica Meuse, but the 23-year-old roots rocker said that he “had a feeling” he was on his way home. “There was something about the day, something about the way they were messing with my microphone,” he confessed. “I could just tell.”
But for Harris, home is a pretty good place to be. His young son will be waiting for him there, where Harris predicts they’ll collaborate on some new music.
“He’ll probably just sit on my lap and strum on my guitar like he always does. He loves to play guitar and sing and beat the back of the seat like he’s playing drums,” Harris said. “I can’t wait.”
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As for those of you anxiously awaiting Idol’s annual summer tour, expect to hear some more powerhouse jams from Harris. “When I’m singing real strong and soulful is where I’m at the best point of my voice,” he said. “When I’m singing down low, I can’t get it out. That’s the way the Zac Brown [Band] song started… I definitely learned from it.”
While the setlist remains to be finalized, Harris is hoping to show the world what he had planned for next week’s show: “I was gonna go with ‘Drift Away’ by Dobie Gray and it was gonna be good.”
For more on Thursday’s elimination episode, click over to THR’s complete recap.
Twitter: @Idol_Worship; @sophieschillaci
