Karen Rodriguez, the 21-year-old New Yorker who was eliminated from American Idol Thursday night and was the only finalist who auditioned on MySpace, says she doesn’t regret any of her decisions on the reality series. “I went up there, and I always sang from my heart,” Rodriguez told EW in a backstage video interview an hour after the results show. And even though her Idol journey ended prematurely, the half-Peruvian, half-Dominican singer is thankful to have received this crash-course lesson on how to become a professional artist. “[Idol] gives you a taste of what the rest of your life could be,” said Rodriguez. “It’s like a whole packet of little experiences that I’m going to take forever.” As for the person she’s going to miss the most, the answer was easy. “Jacob and I bonded so much from the very beginning in Hollywood week,” she said. “He would always come to me asking me about his song choices, and I would always go to him when I needed advice. He was a joy to be around, and I’m so excited for him.”
Check out the full interview below:
For more contestant videos, photos, and Idol news, check out americanidol.com.
Read more:
'American Idol' official website
EW.com's ‘American Idol’ Central
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Sorry Karen, your time to go. You were the mundane singer with the “I’m all about being hispanic!” hook.
That wasn’t enough.
No Tour for you and the similarly unlamented Ashthon, with her departure – but good luck in your future endeavors.
Why do you have to be mean? Have some character, for goodness sake. She sings better than you do, I’m sure. She’s a lovely woman and I wish her the best.
I’ll make you sing.
I feel sorry for you… You are so ignorant…. %^$&%&^&*^@#$#
Yes! So sick of hearing “I’m bringing the latina flavaaaaah!”
Margie if you were standing in front of me right now I’d slap you in the face with my di ck.
Assuming you have one…Oh, wait–you ARE one. Does that mean you do a full body heave or what?
Never mind.
Good one. You really showed me. I’ve learned my lesson. Thank you.
@C Men: What goes around, comes around. If you’re going to act like a pr!ck to other people, then it will come back and bite you in the a$$. You will not be the last one laughing. I guarantee you that.
hahahahahahahahahahhaha
I somewhat agree. She had a good voice..better than mine BUT I am hispanic and knew right away as soon as she started playing that card that she was going to get the boot. I mean if it was an indian,asian or even black i wouldnt be able to stand the “hook”. Get over it and work with YOUR talents and gifts!
it wasn’t a very pleasant evening but she really deserved to go.every thing in life has a beginning and an end.Even though she was an entertainer but she was not a great singer.
Who are you to say who deserves this or that??!!!
I hope the same rule applies to you and your life…
Why are you so offended? She was terrible, I can’t believe she made it that far.
LOL! WE are the ones who vote so I think we definitely deserve to say who should stay and who should go.
Otherwise, they would let Randy, JLO, and Steven vote.
I loved you Karen. I am going to miss your behind the scene tweets of AI and the mansion.
I wrote for an AI reality Website when I lived in California – and am a musician myself. Karen’s voice was just not strong and distinctive enough to stay on any longer. However, the talent this year is far superior to last year – has anyone ever addressed why this is so? Good luck, Karen – you are a very nice gal caught up in quite a competition this year!
Give me a break. So far, I’ll take last season over this season. This season is very overrated. You’ve got singers who make lousy song choices and can’t even sing them in key. And to top all that off–half of them don’t even know what kind of artist they want to be. I’ve never seen a more dismal season. At least Lee and Crystal made excellent song choices.
Good riddance! I was getting tired of hearing her sing in spanish and her constant references to latin this & latin that. This is AMERICAN IDOL!!!!!!
Well she has every right to say latin this latin that, but you have a strong point. If Jacob Lusk said he was here to represent for my blacks it would not seem right. If Scotty said he wanted to represent his whites it wouldn’t be right either.
That’s why she got kicked off, she lost the mixed race vote. Most of her votes came from her quote “Latinos and Latinas”.
I am hispanic but what she did lost her the competition, all though even if she stayed she would probably be kicked off next week since she did 2 bad/ok performances. When she sang Hero on top 24 week the judges and people in the USA wanted to see more of that.
Unfortunately we didn’t.
She was one of my favs, but now my votes gonna go to Casey and Pia.
She would say, “I think we need a Latin American Idol.” Nice that YOU think that, Karen. But WE don’t agree. Byeeeeeeeee.
You need to find better things to do than be an ignoramus openly on a comments section. “We don’t agree”? Really? Since when did you speak for the rest of America on who they want or they don’t?
Spanish people go home!!!!
Spanish people???? Explain that to me please?
People from Spain should go home. Antonio Bandares? You’re not wanted here anymore!
scorpio9094, Karen is not Spanish, she is the half-Peruvian, half-Dominican, as the article states above (Karen SPEAKS Spanish, but she is not from SPAIN). Having said that, she is ALL AMERICAN. Kitty I’m looking at you too; yes this is American Idol, but where you do think Americans come from? Besides the Native American Indians, American come from ALL OVER. You can have Latin-Americans, German-Americans, African-Americans, etc.
Spanish. Latin. It’s all the same. We know what he means. Chill.
JillS: It’s obvious what you are and where you come from – bigotry. Bigots are all the same. We do know what he and you mean. Hmm…and the S in your name is also telling.
I was completely turned off with her trying to get Joe Jonas to contact her sister. It was completely inappropriate and strange. However, I wish her well in her endeavors as a singer as I don’t think she will ever be “an artist.” She’s just doesn’t have an “edge” or a “hook” to keep people interested.
Her lame attempt came off as desperate.
Good bye Karen I thought your connection to the hispanics would carry you? OOPS it did not. Iam sure you will be picked up by a Selena type recording corp.
Karen was robbed. She sings beautifully. The woman who cannot sing, Naima Adedapo, should have gone.
NEIMA is probably next.
Naima is horrendous!
I actually think karen has an amazing voice, but she should have done more than sing ballads in spanish. You isolate a big portion of the population by singing in Spanish because people can’t understand what you’re singing and thus can’t connect to it or you.
Karen’s performances sounded like a Miss America talent contestant. She had the notes, but lacked emotion.
You’re right Jenny, but Karen lacks range and strength in her voice, which is only so so. She did keep the tune though,,ha. I hope that train wreck Naima is next!
Karen Rodriguez says she will never regret anything. That’s good. I, on the other hand, regret the time I wasted listening to her sing. Thanks, America, for voting her off.
I imagine that’s why we have a remote control; your loss for being selectively dumb.
Well, to tell you the truth she’s not star quality, dont know why she got picked from the start. I think for JLo ratings. She has an ok voice, but thats about it. it lacks shine ! she’s obvious missing the star .Im sure there is alot of hispanic good singers out there better than that. Plus talking about the first latina? I think Alisson was the first. Karen is more of a imitator with no personality is what I see. In my point of view. Her voice sucks! Plus There are better singers out there on myspace and youtube .
Man, if you can’t say something positive, keep your comments to yourselfs. At least she made it to top 12, what have you achieve? Karen has a amazing voice and will get far because she does not give up easily, but you are all cramping on her because she’s Latin,…..You just hate it when Latin people are up there with everyone else, Have you seen YOUR Talents in the Mirror People!!!