Reuters, LOS ANGELES: Eliminated "American Idol" hopeful Chris Medina's inspirational story prompted super-producer Rodney Jerkins (Britney Spears, Michael Jackson) to put pen to paper. The result: a just recorded single, "What Are Words," and an accompanying video premiering on Friday at 2 p.m. EST on aol.com.
"The song embodied what I'm going through and the promises that I kept," explained Medina, who pledged to take care of his fiancee Juliana following crippling car accident.
Medina's Milwaukee audition made him a instant household name, but his fan favorite status didn't save him from the judges' wrath -- which, in Jennifer Lopez's case, turned into a full-on meltdown.
THR caught up with the Oak Park, Illinois native 24 hours after his farewell episode aired, and just before he went shopping for a new blazer to wear on Friday's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
THR: How hard has it been to be home and keep all of your "Idol" experiences a secret?
Chris Medina: It was pretty easy. I didn't go out. I just stayed in my house and didn't talk to anybody. Every week, I'd get a phone call saying "Hey, this is so-and-so from TMZ, is this Chris Medina from 'American Idol?'" And I'm, like, "No! But I've been getting that all week." I kind of pretended I wasn't myself and just ignored them.
THR: Every 'Idol' hopeful has that moment when he/she realizes the show is much bigger than they ever imagined, when was yours?
Medina: The day that my audition aired. I was at a bar with my family watching (the show) and my buddy pulls me aside and says, "You're the number one trending topic on Twitter and Google." It was this weird "Twilight Zone" stuff, like it isn't real." The a few days after it aired, Juliana's cousin, who's a volleyball coach, invites my whole family to this grammar school game, and as soon as I walk through the parking lot, someone recognized me. In the gym, this kid asked me to sign his arm. I look at the stands and everyone is going berserk. I hugged a kid and he started crying. A mom got red in the face telling me, "You need to take a picture with my daughter!" That's when I realized that this was way bigger than anything I'd ever done.
THR: What was your impression of the judges?
Medina: Steven Tyler is a maniac and so cool. It's amazing that someone so iconic with such superstar power can be so down-to-earth. He has an aura about him, he makes you feel comfortable. On the very first audition, he gave me a kiss. In Vegas, when he was walking by me, he touched my face... He's like a hippie with a mission -- just a free spirit, rock 'n rollin man who loves people.
THR: And Jennifer?
Medina: She's just really sweet. I'd heard all these rumors about her being this diva. Like, you can't call her (J Lo), don't look at her in the eyes or you'll turn into a statue but she's not that way at all! She's just super kind and her comments have substance. She'll tell you "You're almost there, you're doing good. Just a little more less of this, a little bit more of that. I felt you, you gotta sing like you own it."
THR: How about Randy?
Medina: What you see on TV, that's the way he is.
THR: You and Ryan Seacrest seemed to get along well
Medina: Ryan is very cool. He's a master at delivery and I love the way he holds his cool.
THR: Ryan was surprised by your exit, but Jennifer had a total meltdown.
Medina: Ryan seemed shocked, but he's seen it happen a hundred times. I heard about Jennifer, but I didn't get to see it in person, otherwise I probably would've started crying. She was really concerned with how she gave me the axe. But actually the way she said it, I was just, like, "cool." And then she gave me a hug that made it all better. I don't think Jennifer could have said it better, she was being too hard on herself. She hit it right on the head: I had some good performances and some not-so good performances, and there were people there who've had consistently really awesome performances
THR: Do you still plan to get married?
Medina: I sure hope so, that's the goal. I've already told myself that it's okay that she's in a wheelchair. It doesn't mean anything to me. It's okay if she has a hard time speaking. What's not okay is if in a couple years, she's not 100% and we can't could have a conversation with each other, because that's the essence of a relationship. I don't mind helping her into her car, but I don't want to be feeding her or taking her to the bathroom everyday from this day forward. I want her to become somewhat independent. Those are more my own personal issues, and I know that it might be rough for a lot of people to hear, but that's the truth of the matter. To me, Juliana is still beautiful, but I want to be able to sit down and have a meaningful conversation with my wife I want to get to a point where I feel less like a caretaker and more like a fiancé. But to say, "We're not going to get married until you get better" is unfair to her, too. So the only thing I say is: "Babe, if you keep trying, I'll keep trying." And that's the truth.
THR: Does Juliana have decent health insurance?
Medina: She's on my health insurance from (working at) Starbucks. They recognized her as my domestic partner because I had been living with her for eight years. After (the audition episode) aired, I had no idea that it was going to blow up the way it did. People donated equipment, a van, money, offered to pay for hospital bills, a few doctors offered their services for free. It wasn't like I wanted to be an "American Idol," I just wanted to help her and had to figure out a way to do it. Because steaming foamy milk is not going to cut it. And I think I did something really good for her and her family. I accomplished it.
THR: How was your experience recording this song?
Medina: Rodney Jerkins was too cool. He made me do things I didn't think I was capable of. I'd be, like, "Man, that's too high," and he'd say, "No, you just think it is. Your emotion is going to bring it out and you're going to hit those notes." In the vocal booth, I told him, "It's really hard to be sad when I'm so happy to be here!" There was a point when I lost it and started crying just thinking about the lyrics. "Every promise I'll keep / You'll see / I'll be there wherever you are / I'll be near / Wherever you go."
THR: So what's your goal at this point?
Medina: I want to write music and see what happens with this single. I want to work on my stage presence. I want to play 250 shows a year. I want to be a complete artist. I want to take care of my fiancé. I have this fantasy that I make enough money to build us a house where she can get around and I could take care of her for the rest of our lives, whether we get married or we don't. I want her to just be happy. That's all.
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