Thanks for joining us today, Kim. We´re thrilled to have you with us!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I´m a happily married mother of 3 kids, a 19 year old, a 17 year old and a 7 year old. I am a nanny for a family of 5 children. When I am not working I spend a lot of time involved in school events such as soccer, after prom, field trips, etc. I also do a lot of decorating and artwork for miscellaneous events as well.
How long have you been a fan of American Idol?
I started watching when my daughter (Kendall) told me about the show when it first aired.
What is it about American Idol that keeps you watching?
I can´t say that I watch the show as regularly anymore since I´ve gotten so busy, but I would to watch the show to see what songs they would perform; and we would play a game to see if we could guess the song before they would sing it.
What was your reaction when Kendall said she wanted to audition for AI?
I was very supportive, she is extremely talented and I had no doubt in my mind that she would do well on the show. Yes, it´s always a bit scary when she says she wants to tackle a daunting task, but I had faith in her so I wasn´t about to hold her back from her dreams.
Did you attend the auditions with her?
Yes. I attended both auditions in San Francisco and in Chicago. I attended the Hollywood rounds with her as well.
Can you share your favorite experience from Kendall´s time on American Idol?
My favorite experience was when she received the ´golden ticket´ to Hollywood. We both jumped up and down and tears of joy came pouring down our faces.
Let´s talk about Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul. How did you get involved in this project?
I saw the pitch in an email and thought that Kendall´s story was worth sharing and it might help inspire others to persevere despite the setbacks they might face in life.
What´s it like seeing your story in print?
It was really nice. Especially for Kendall; she has gotten emails from people telling her that her story has touched them and it means a lot to us both that we were able to make a difference.
Can you tell us what Kendall is up to these days?
Kendall recently returned from Los Angeles, CA where she was working on her acting career and training with a well known vocal coach. She got the privilege of working on some television shows such as "ER" on NBC and "Out of Jimmy´s Head" on Cartoon Network. Currently she is in the process of recording her new CD and planning a tour to promote that CD in the summer of 2008. She has also become really involved in philanthropic efforts to help animals and childhood hunger. For more information visit http://kendallphillips.com/ or myspace.com/kendallphillipsmusic.
Is there anything you would like to add?
We are very glad that our story was chosen. Kendall has gotten such a positive response from the publishing of her experiences and we´re both grateful that she was given that opportunity to help others and further her career by sharing her story.
Thanks for joining us today, Kim. I wish you and your family all the best.
Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul can be purchased at Amazon.com

