Author: Fred Bronson

Michael Becker / Fox

“We really don’t care who wins,” Caleb Johnson told a small cadre of press outside Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre in the Monday afternoon sunshine. “‘American Idol‘ is just a title. We want to give the best possible performances both nights and make it a memorable season. We’ve all won. Not just us but everybody who’s been on the show this season, with the experiences we’ve had and the knowledge we’ve gained about the industry and the friends that we’ve made.”

Johnson’s rival for the championship, 17-year-old Jena Irene, agreed. “No matter what place we get, whether it’s first or second, I want to go out on a good note,” she said. “I don’t want to have a bad performance or have something I wish I would have done differently.” That’s why Tuesday’s performance show is going to be more nerve-wracking for Irene than appearing with major guest stars like Paramore on Wednesday night’s season finale, the teenager explained.

STORY: Jennifer Lopez on Receiving Billboard’s Icon Award, ‘American Idol’s’ Jena Irene

Asked to recall their auditions, Irene offered, “I was so scared. Walking in to a room full of cameras that you don’t see on TV and three celebrity judges who are extremely successful, I didn’t know what to do. From that point, I blacked out. I don’t remember how the conversation went but I’m glad I got through because my confidence level has definitely been boosted.”

Johnson also recalled his audition — all three of them. He made it to Hollywood Week during seasons 10 and 11 before trying out for season 13. “The first time I did it just to see what it was about and I literally fell in love with the whole experience. It was so intense and extreme. The second time I got cut, I went back home and wanted to write with my band and play shows and we did some mini-tours but it was so hard to get anything jump-started. It was like you were hitting the wall. You’re playing to 10 or 15 people and I wanted more. I wanted to give it one more shot.”

STORY: ‘American Idol’: Alex Preston Talks Finale, Jamming with Jason Mraz and Casey Abrams

The top two finalists also talked about their debut singles, which they will perform tonight. “We were given songs by the label which was good because during this whole process they have gotten to know what kind of artists we are and what kind of songs we would like to sing post-American Idol,” says Irene. “They fit us pretty well so I’m really happy and it’s really cool that they were released a week early so people could be familiar with the songs.”

“We recorded the songs the previous week,” Johnson revealed. “My voice went out so I recorded that song with my voice blown out. So it was really a stressful week but we got it done.” Johnson was asked if his voice had healed for the final two nights. “It’s not back 100 percent,” he confided. “It’s slowly getting better. I think that it will be there [tonight]. If not, the doctor has some great drugs.”

Twitter: @Idol_Worship

Michael Becker / Fox

First Ryan Seacrest announced that Jena Irene would compete in the season 13 finale of American Idol. Then, in a climactic moment on Thursday’s results show, the series’ long-time host revealed that the other contestant going into the finale was Caleb Johnson.

The news did not come as a shock to Alex Preston, who told The Hollywood Reporter a few minutes later, “I was pretty confident I was going home. I’m honestly surprised I made it this far but it’s all because of the fans. I’m so happy that people dug what I’ve been doing and it shows me that people are going to buy my record and see me on tour.”

PHOTOS: ‘American Idol’: Randy Jackson Through the Years

Preston wiped away a few tears while he was on stage with Seacrest, but he was all smiles when he talked to THR backstage, buoyed in part by the news that he would be duetting with one of his musical heroes, Jason Mraz, on next week’s results finale. “I’m very excited to perform with Jason,”  Preston said. “He’s such a cool dude. We have mutual friends, Michael and Nancy Natter. They wrote a few songs on his new album, including ‘I Won’t Give Up.’ They texted me that they gave Jason Mraz my number and I should expect a text from him. Jason and I had coffee a couple of weeks ago and he was awesome. He’s such a chill guy, such a nice soul.”

Preston talked to THR abut his plans for the future: “I want to keep writing with new artists. I want to record an album and go on tour. I want to do an organic kind of vibe, not too stripped-down but still kind of dirty. I don’t want it to be perfect. I want it to have imperfections. That’s what keeps it interesting.”

One of his co-writers may be season eight’s third place finalist, Danny Gokey, who made a point to meet Preston after the show. They exchanged numbers with the idea of a future collaboration.

Twitter: @Idol_Worship

Frank Micelotta / FOX

Malaya Watson shed tears on stage during the closing moments of Thursday night’s results show as she was eliminated from the season 13 competition. She cried more tears after the live broadcast while talking to The Hollywood Reporter, but not until she explained how close she is to all of her fellow contestants and how much she will miss them.

That isn’t all the youngest finalist in Idol history says she will miss. “Performing on the stage, because the stage is awesome. You can be yourself and no one is judging you. Well, they are judging you, because there are judges,” she laughed. “But you can just do your thing whether they like it or not.”

PHOTOS: ‘American Idol’ Season 13: Fresh Faces, ‘Harsh’ Harry Connick, Jr. and Jennifer Lopez’s Return

Watson, a high school student from Southfield, Mich., sang “I Am Changing” from Dreamgirls as her exit song. This was the first week that the end-of-show performance wasn’t a “sing for your life” situation, as the judges used their one save for the season last week when they kept Sam Woolf in the running.

THR asked Watson what she was thinking while singing the dramatic Broadway number. “Honestly, I don’t remember,” she replied. “I was just singing it. I chose that song because I am changing, Trust me, I’m not the same Malaya. I’m more focused on my music. I used to sing for the heck of it, because I was bored or because I like to sing. But now I’m focused on getting bigger and better with what I do. And I’m not as hyper.” She paused for a millisecond and added, “That’s a lie, I still am.”

VIDEO: ‘American Idol’: David Cook’s Top 5 ’80s Performances

Did Watson spend the 24 hours between Wednesday’s performance show and Thursday night’s results thinking about going home? “Everybody does,” she responded. “We all think, ‘Who’s going home? It could be me, it couldn’t be me.’ It was in the back of my mind but I still had hope.”
The teen’s immediate plans are to finish high school and then continue singing as well as acting, in movies and/or television. “I used to act because I thought I couldn’t sing. I tried acting because I had this big personality.”

Asked if she had talked to her parents since being voted off the show minutes earlier, Watson told THR: “I said a couple of sentences to my mom. I haven’t seen my dad yet.” Marian Watson was standing just a few feet away, and THR was able to tell Malaya that immediately after the live show ended, her father was smiling, saying with confidence, “It’s all good.” Malaya said of her parents, “It was awesome having them here because they always had my back. They always had something to say, whether it was good or not good. They were always there for me.”

Twitter: @fredbronson