Taylor Hicks was all about "Soul Patrol" on American Idol.   But now, it's all about grease lightning and encouraging a beauty school dropout as the teen angel in Broadway's Grease...and Hicks is loving it!

TAYLOR HICKS: "A blast I've had a year to actually work out the part and that's one thinkg that's brand new to me is the acting bug I have now and it's interesting to see where it actually takes me"

While Hicks didn't think he'd ever wind up back on the high school stage...he says he owes a lot to the American Idol stage.

Hicks previewed a bit of his new album "the distance" for me...saying it's a compilation of the last few years since he won Idol in 2006. "I wanted to get back down into my routes explore songwriting in all forms:  blues, country, gospel."

As for American Idol, yes...he still does watch, so I had to ask what's up with

Paula getting the boot.  "I'm a little sad about it I think Paula definitely brought a lot of entertainment value to the show, but I think Ellen's jokes are funnier than Simon's so I think I think I will be laughing a lot more."

He's also got some encouraging words for any new contestants...learn to text!

"I've seen so many contestants around me that loose their voice talking on the phone so don't talk on the phone if you're going through American Idol.  Put your phone down and sing."

That's why Hicks says he always has his harmonica...ready for a tune.

Amy Sedlacek
asedlacek@fox4now.com
Fox 4 In Your Corner