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'AMERICAN IDOL' WINNER DAVID COOK TALKS ABOUT LIFE AFTER 'IDOL,' AND NOT MAKING COMPROMISES

"American Idol" winner David Cook talks about life after "Idol," and not making compromises, before his two Virginia shows

Date published: 10/8/2009

By RYAN BROSMER

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

David Cook never meant to win the seventh season of "American Idol," the No. 1-rated show in the United States for five consecutive seasons. He was comfortable back home in Tulsa, Okla., making music and putting off getting a real job.

Cook never even meant to audition; he went to support his younger brother, Andrew.

The younger Cook didn't make the cut--but David did, and he went from Tulsa to Hollywood.

And now his music has taken him into the hearts, homes and ears of people around the world.

He'll be stopping for two dates in Virginia, first at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville this Sunday, and then at The National in Richmond on Tuesday.

Back home, prior to his run on "Idol," Cook had already self-released one album and had another on the way.

"I bartended and was playing acoustic gigs a couple of times a month," Cook told Weekender, recalling his life back in Tulsa. "I'd given myself a cutoff: If I wasn't headed in the direction I wanted by the time I was 26, then I'd make it a hobby and get on with life.

"Thank God it didn't turn out that way."

Instead, it turned out that he won "American Idol" with a record-breaking 56 percent of the votes--and the records didn't stop there. Cook started breaking records on the Billboard charts immediately after his season-seven victory.

By the end of 2008, Cook had an album out that has sold over a million copies, firmly cementing him as a platinum-selling rock artist.

Cook said he isn't sure if the "American Idol" path to success was any easier than if he had continued doing things on his own, self-releasing albums and booking his own shows.

He said "Idol" is, really, just a different route.

"There's so much talent out there that it's just a matter of trying to find it all," Cook said. "And I think any way that that can be found is a good thing."

Cook found his niche on the show by playing cover songs that he had arranged himself to fit his style. Post-"Idol," though, he's making a name for himself with his own tunes--and to do so, he's had to find some talent of his own to bring along on the road with him as a backing band.

What: "American Idol" winner David Cook, in concert Where: The Paramount Theater, 215 East Main St., Charlottesville; and The National, 708 E. Broad St., Richmond When: Sunday Oct. 11, at the Paramount; doors open 6 p.m., show is at 7 p.m. Also Tuesday, Oct. 13, at The National; doors open at 7 p.m., show is at 8 p.m. Cost: $35 at the Paramount, $25 at the National

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Date published: 10/8/2009