American Idol's Mom Talks about Chicken Soup

The interviews with contributors to Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul continue today as we talk to Kim Estep, an American Idol fan and mother of Idol Kendall Phillips from Season 5. We´ll talk to Kim about her contribution to the Chicken Soup anthology and see what Kendall´s been up to since her time on American Idol.

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