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Q&A: The ‘American Idol’ Final Four

One of these four young singers will be crowned the next “American Idol.” In an exclusive series of Q&As, we bring you discussions with the remaining four “American Idol” finalists: David Archuleta, Jason Castro, David Cook and Syesha Mercado.

Great American Music columnist Fergie Brunson has been spending time with the quartet since they became part of the show’s top 24. He recently had a chance to spend a full day interviewing the singers, and found them opening up about their thoughts on the “Idol” experience, as well as sharing illuminating details of their musical backgrounds and aspirations.

DAVID ARCHULETA
Just seventeen, David Archuleta is the youngest contestant still in the running to win season seven of “American Idol.” In this exclusive Billboard interview, the Utah native opens up about the vocal paralysis that almost kept him from singing, singing for season one “Idol” contestants, mulling careers in medicine and how he’d still like to go to college.

SYESHA MERCADO
Syesha Mercado, who has sung everything from the Beatles’ “Yesterday” to Fantasia Barrino’s “I Believe,” is the last woman standing among the season seven “American Idol” final four. In this exclusive interview, the 21-year old from Sarasota, Florida opens up about the lessons she’s learned while doing the show, her musical family and her plans for the future.

JASON CASTRO
Dreadlocked 20-year-old Jason Castro’s rendition of everything from Neil Diamond’s “Forever in Blue Jeans” to a popular version of Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah” has helped earn him a place in the final four of the seventh season of “American Idol. In this exclusive Billboard interview, the Texan talks about how working with the show’s big-name mentors has been weird but cool, how he started off as a drummer, and how he “can’t even wrap his mind around” his growing fanbase.

DAVID COOK
David Cook only decided to audition alongside his younger brother at the last minute, but now the 25-year-old is among the last four singers in the season seven competition. Having sung everything from Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” to Free’s “All Right Now,” the Missouri native sat down for an exclusive Billboard interview, revealing how he chooses his songs, how former contestant Michael Johns’ departure was a wake up call, and how “Idol” fans’ interest in him has been “awe inspiring” and how the whole experience has been “vindicating.”

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