'Idol' Lisa Tucker pumped about piano

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

By Lorilee Craker

The Grand Rapids Press

Art imitated life when Lisa Tucker, an "American Idol" finalist, played herself on the smash teen sudser "The O.C." and returned to high school just in time to go to the prom.

"It was very true-to-life," the 17-year-old said in a phone interview from a concert stop of the "American Idol Live" tour.

"Being from the O.C. myself (Orange County, Calif.), I always watched it with my friends. It was like a weekly thing. It was so fun to be on the show."

Playing herself in a hit show set in her own neck of the woods was slightly mind-bending, but, then again, those surreal moments are popping up more and more since Tucker made the top 10 of the wildly popular singing contest. Now, along with her nine warbling comrades, Tucker is in the midst of yet another dreamlike phase as part of the show's live tour 2006, playing and singing in front of packed arenas nationwide.

"I am blown away by the response to the show," she said. "It's so wild. The fans are so devoted."

Tucker, as 10th runner up, doesn't get too much time to shine onstage, but she has been making the most of every opportunity. Music reviewers have called her the biggest surprise of the tour, applauding the teen's polish and stirring vocal delivery.

"I sing Elton John's 'Someone Saved My Life Tonight' and 'Your Song,' " she said. "I wasn't able to play piano on the show, so on tour I definitely wanted to play."

One of the brightest spots of Idol-hood is, she said, bonding with co-Idols.

"I am very close to Mandisa and Paris (Bennett)," she said.

Overall, everyone's getting along just peachy. "I was surprised by how much fun we've been having on the bus. We all watch movies and talk and stuff," she added.

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'Idol' Lisa Tucker pumped about piano

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Before auditioning in Denver a year ago for the fifth season of the "Idol" talent competition, the Californian was a student at Anaheim's Kennedy High School who moonlighted as a singer and musician at venues such as a local House of Blues.

Tucker said she has watched the show "since I was 12," and already held up past winners Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia Barrino as musical heroes and role models.

Yes, college -- but in a while

Post-tour, the former Young Nala in Disney's L.A. production of "The Lion King" is postponing college for one year, striking "while the iron is hot" by writing songs for an album and possibly starring in a sitcom.

For now, the sky is the limit for Tucker as she wins fans and influences people, performing from the most comfortable perch she can think of: a piano bench.

"You know, I am just so comfortable sitting and playing," she said.

"I'm so used to sitting alone in my living room playing the piano.

"Now my living room has just gotten bigger."

Send e-mail to the author: yourlife@grpress.com