Jordin Sparks had only been in New Zealand for a matter of hours before her mum called to say she had been nominated for a Grammy.
She is in town to support Alicia Keys, a fellow Grammy nominee at concerts at Auckland’s Vector Arena on December 6 and Wellington’s TSB Arena on December 7.
The 18-year-old received a nomination for Best Pop Collaboration for her duet with Chris Brown for the song 'No Air'.
The American Idol winner describes her rise to the top as surreal.
“I didn’t think I would get in, let alone win the damn show.”
Asked about notorious Idol judge Simon Cowell’s nasty comments, Sparks was critical.
“I think that filter that says, 'I might hurt somebody's feelings', is turned off or broken… or something like that.”
So does American Idol guarantee success in the industry? There have been plenty of Idol success stories.
Season one winner Kelly Clarkson sold millions of albums and won a Grammy. Carrie Underwood’s album went multi-platinum and although she did not win the actual competition, Jennifer Hudson won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
However other names – Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino for example – have fared far less well.
It appears that it is a lottery.
3 News