Aaron's people magazine interview

Sure, Aaron Kelly was the youngest contestant left in American Idol‘s Top 5. But he was also Yoda, according to his friends on the show. Wiser than his years, Kelly, 17, took his departure from the competition in stride. He spoke to PEOPLE about meeting his heroes, being close to his mom and judging the best Yoda imitation of the bunch. – Cynthia Wang




You had a chance to meet your idols, Rascal Flatts. How did you keep from being star struck?

Yes, that was incredible! In the beginning I was star struck by everybody I met. And then you get to where you learn that they are just people and they like to be treated as people more than they like to be treated as stars, and so I felt the more I went through, that’s how it became. When I met Rascal Flatts, I was still pretty excited! But I tried to keep my cool and everything. I got to take a picture with them all and getting to talk to them, they are really nice guys.



What did you learn most from the celebrity mentors on the show?

The mentors have taught you to put yourself into your song, don’t just sing the song; believe the song, because if you believe it, than the audience is going to believe it.



Was it an advantage to have your mom with you throughout the rehearsals and shows? Did this experience bring you closer?

My mom is always there and I can always talk to her about anything. Everybody always says, “The love a mother has for her son,” but there really is a deep connection between me and my mom. I’m very close to her and she is definitely my best friend and I’m just so glad I got to take her on this incredible journey.



Do you have a special keepsake from your time on Idol?

Gibson had given us all guitars and, I mean, that is something I can take home. Also, the memory from this competition, the memory of the friends I made, the chance to perform on the American Idol stage, to perform before 25 million people, that is something I can also take away as a keepsake that I will always have, forever, to look back on.



You’re regarded as the Yoda figure on Idol. Did you impart wisdom to your fellow contestants?

We all keep each other very grounded and it’s nice to have each other there to just talk to. I’m not sure what I taught them! But … I hope I left a good mark. Once you are here and you are in this bubble, you have no one else to talk to, and these contestants are all you’ve got right now, and it’s so good to be close with them. When you look back, you don’t want to be like, “I had no friends on that show.” You want to look back and say, “I loved everybody here.”



After Andrew Garcia left, who did the best Yoda impression?

Siobhan was actually the best Yoda, then Big Mike. Well, Big Mike, he’s the one who started it, so he is always the one that does the best with it!


What will your future album sound like?

When I come out with an album, I would love to write some of the songs on it. Since we’re not allowed to perform originals on the show, I would love to perform and record them so America can hear the style of music and the things in my life through song and hear the things special to me. Country music is what I feel I fit most comfortably with.

Aaron in "La La Land"

Fifth-place finisher Aaron Kelly is about as upbeat as "American Idol" contestants come. For proof, look no further than the nine smiley faces he included in his answers to our "La-La Land" exit questionnaire. Indeed, there are fond memories of the Apple store at the Grove and the Santa Monica Pier for this 17-year-old Sonestown, Pa., native, who shared his entire "Idol" experience with his mom and No. 1 fan. Read on for more heart-warming responses from the little country kid that could, and check out the "La-La Land" archive here.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/americanidoltracker/2010/05/aaron-kelly-looks-back-on-his-time-in-lala-land-.html

Aaron on Ellen!!!

Fox 9 interview

Aaron on Good Day Chicago

Aaron on Good Day LA

Aaron on Good Day Newyork

Aaron on Good Day Philadelphia

Ellen's Reaction

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Aaron and tattoo

Aaron Kelly: Though he's now one year closer to 18, Aaron's mother would likely not approve of a tattoo on her little guy -- even if it said "Mom" -- but if he were to go under the pen? "I'd probably go [with something] like Siobhan's," said Aaron. "But she did a roman numeral IX and I'd probably get the [number] 9 for season 9 of 'American Idol.' "


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/americanidoltracker/2010/04/with-four-idols-sporting-new-ink-the-top-6-talk-tattoos-.html

Tour Dates!!!

Here are some of the idol tour dates. Are you going?

TOUR DATES

7/1 Auburn Hills, MI Palace of Auburn Hills 5/15 10am


7/2 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest 5/15 10am

7/3 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena 5/15 10am

7/5 Hamilton, ON Copps Coliseum 5/15 11am

7/7 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach 5/15 10am

7/10 Atlantic City, NJ Mark G. Etess Arena 5/15 10am

7/11 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center 5/15 10am

7/13 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena 5/15 10am

7/14 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena 5/15 10am

7/15 Hershey, PA Giant Center 5/15 10am

7/17 Albany, NY Times Union Center 5/15 10am

7/18 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center 5/15 10am

7/20 Newark, NJ Prudential Center 5/15 10am

7/23 Washington, DC Jiffy Lube Live 5/15 10am

7/24 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena 5/15 10am

7/25 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless

Amphitheatre 5/15 10am

7/27 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena 5/15 10am

7/28 Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boling Arena 5/15 10am

7/29 Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach Amphitheater 5/15 10am

7/31 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena 5/15 10am

8/1 Duluth, GA Arena at Gwinnett Center 5/15 10am

8/3 Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center 5/15 10am

8/4 Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum 5/15 10am

8/7 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell

Pavillion 5/15 11am

8/8 Tulsa, OK BOK Center 5/15 10am

8/9 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center 5/15 noon

8/12 Phoenix, AZ US Airways Center 5/15 noon

8/13 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center 5/15 10am

8/14 Mountainview, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre

at Mountainview 5/15 10am

8/16 San Diego, CA Viejas Arena 5/15 10am

8/17 Anaheim, CA Honda Center 5/15 10am

8/18 Sacramento, CA ARCO Arena 5/15 10am

8/20 Seattle, WA Key Arena 5/15 10am

8/21 Portland, OR Rose Garden 5/15 10am

8/23 Denver, CO Comfort Dental Amphitheatre 5/15 10am

8/25 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center 5/15 10am

8/26 Omaha, NE Qwest Center 5/14 11am

8/27 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center 5/15 10am

8/29 Minneapolis, MN Target Center 5/15 10am

8/30 Chicago, IL United Center 5/15 noon

8/31 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena 5/15 noon

9/2 Toledo, OH The Huntington Center 5/14 10am

9/3 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center 5/15 10am

9/4 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse 5/15 noon

9/7 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre 5/15 10am

9/10 Buffalo, NY HSBC Arena 5/15 10am

9/11 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena 5/15 10am

9/13 Bridgeport, CT Arena at Harbor Yard 5/15 10am

9/14 Pittsburgh, PA Consol Energy Center 5/15 10am

http://www.americanidol.com/news/view/pid/3046/

Aaron going to prom?

Danville loves Aaron!!!!

DANVILLE — Aaron Kelly has what it takes to be the next American Idol, says his friend and fellow singer Kristi Betz.




"I think he can do it," Kristi said Monday. "I think he can do anything."



Kristi, a 17-year-old junior cosmetology student at Columbia Montour Vo-Tech, met Aaron three years ago when she was working at Grandma Edward's food stand at the Bloomsburg Fair. The stand was near the free stage, where Aaron was performing.

http://dailyitem.com/0100_news/x1829246572/Danville-fans-pull-for-Aaron