Forgive us if we Floridians get a little pumped when someone we know is on TV for a positive reason. Recently, when Alex and Sierra (who had ties to Florida Atlantic University) won X Factor, we were pleasantly surprised, just like when West Palm's Cassadee Pope went from pop-punk act Hey Monday to killing it on The Voice. We're thus happy to announce that local guitar cutie Carly Jo Jackson made it past round one of America's Got Talent auditions.
She's still the same bubbly, quirky, down-to-earth girl we always knew. Last time we spoke with the future star, it was huddled on a small, outside table at the Funky Buddha, but this interview was timed and over the phone with an NBC rep on the line. Check out our conversation to learn how she prepped for the audition, her infamous peeing problem, and what she really thinks about Howard Stern.
See also: Carly Jo Jackson Asks, "Why Should Girls Do All the Work?" in Her Song "Make a Move"
New Times: What made you decide to try out for America's Got Talent?
Carly Jo Jackson: Just the fact that I tried out for so many other things and didn't make it. I wanted to try out for this and give it my all and make it. I've been doing music for a little while and so many good things have happened so I thought, why not? I talked to my mom about it and she said, "You know what, Carly? This is the national stage, you can go onstage and own it. Don't pass it up!"
Did you do anything that helped you prep differently than you usually do?
I did a lot more with my vocal coach [also a performance coach] and she helped me work on things like facial expressions, what to do with my arms, etc.
Did it help a lot?
Oh yeah, definitely. When you come into something a little more prepared than you usually are, then you are 100 percent. It made me feel really, really good because he is one of the tougher ones. It felt like there was a weight off my shoulders and helped me do my thing.
How did it feel when Howard Stern called you charismatic?
It makes me feel really, really good because he is one of the tougher ones. It felt like there was a weight off my shoulders and it helped me do my thing.
You said in our previous interview that you always have to pee onstage. How did that work with your audition, especially with all the nerves and whatnot?
It [the audition] was so short and nerve-wrecking! It was a new set of nerves that I didn't even have to pee [laughs]. I couldn't even think about it.
You made it through. Now what?
Next is the bootcamp round, and then the second level of auditions. They told us it was a lot of hard work and to bring lots of clothes [laughs].
What do you think it's going to be like?
I think it's going to be a lot of hard work, for sure. Lots of hard days, but I'm ready for it.
In some of your songs, you write about boys. Do you think any of them will try to contact you?
Oh yeah! You would be very surprised. They don't remember what they did, but I remember. I stay polite. I think it's funny, it makes me laugh. They try to play it off like nothing happened, or that they didn't do anything to me. I try to keep my distance from them. I'm never rude to anyone, but I know I'll never put any one like that in my circle again, like those boys.
Will you be coming back down to Boca anytime soon?
Yeah! I'm in Miami now, but I may come down to Boca again in the near future. My schedule is so cluttered, I don't even know my schedule myself [laughs]. I have to have it in front of me.
Any additional comments?
Keep watching and root for me!
Tune in Tuesdays at 8p.m. on NBC for more episodes of America's Got Talent
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