Jason and the other nine are currently performing at their 26^th city venue since embarking on July 1^st. Interestingly, performing in front of an average 12 thousand live audience members on tour has been easier for Jason than singing in front of American Idol’s 30 million viewers. “[Performing] in front of the stage audiences was kind of strange. Because we were on TV, there were so many things you had to be aware of. To make it look normal on TV, you had to act abnormal.” In contrast, performing before a live audience “is a lot less pressure.” Which isn’t to say that when tour first started, it was a piece of cake. “For about the first week, I shook through every set, but now I’m pretty comfortable with it,” Jason explained.

Exciting though it may be, touring can actually also be quite demanding. “The ‘day’ starts at midnight after we leave the city we just finished and we drive until the morning. Around 5 or 6, we’ll get into the hotel and then take a little nap and then around noon, we drive to the venue and have lunch. There we say hi to some fans and then we have an hour of press and then an hour of official meet-and-greets and then sound check and then dinner and then the show starts. And that’s a typical day.” So, what’s it like to see America this way? “Well, it’s pretty cool, but kind of rushed. You can’t hang out and see everything like you’d want to, but at least you’re seeing something, which is more than I was doing last year.”

Given such a hurried pace, we wanted to know if there’s been a highlight so far. “New York was pretty crazy because we were there for an extended amount of time. I had a lot of fun there because my mom and my sister came out and my girlfriend. There’s a lot to do in New York," he chuckled.  Jason also told us what it’s like to go out as a group with the other Idols. “We kind of try to sneak around, hide in the corner.” Although Jason assured me that they do not wear disguises.

Identifying the hardest thing about Tour was easy for Jason: Sleep. “Getting to sleep on the bus, and then having to get up at 5 in the morning and try to keep sleeping after that. Well, sometimes it doesn’t work. So when you don’t have your rest and you go and do stuff for 12 hours, it can wear you out. But then you have an off day and then everything’s better.” Given the rigor, it’s no surprise Jason misses aspects of home. “I just miss all the people and the simpleness of everything and just sitting around eating and stuff.”

After tour, Jason looks forward to advancing his music career. “I’m gonna make some music. Planning to record and do some writing and get an album out, that’s the plan.” Jason had a few parting words to his fans. “I’d like to say ‘hey’ to my fans. Hope you don’t forget about me and you keep in touch. Oh, and be on the lookout for new music.”

Understandably, Ace was enthusiastic about the release of Ace Young. “It’s a dream come true to be able to say my album is in stores and available when I created it the way I wanted to and partnered with a guy as amazing as Desmond Child.” With a career spanning three decades and amazing diversity from KISS to Kelly Clarkson, Desmond Child is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. We asked Ace what it was like to work with such a legend. “In the beginning, it was like going to songwriting camp because he’s written for his whole life. As far as myself, I’ve been writing since I was nine years old but I haven’t written “Dude Looks Like A Lady” or “Living On A Prayer”, “Crazy,” for Aerosmith. So I was quiet in the beginning and just took it all in." But quickly Ace felt comfortable with the collaboration. "It was nice to know that I was a big part of it because Desmond couldn’t steer the song the right way without me, and at the same point, both of us coming together made it really what the album is, which is a cross between the rock and the indie influences which have created me musically.”

The debut album stands out partly for the number of original songs written specifically for it. We asked Ace about the collaborative process. “I wrote with Desmond Child, Andreas Carlson, Kellie Ingstrum and Diane Warren even wrote a ballad on the album called, “You Redeem Me.” She wrote it specifically for  the album. She had it on hold on for Lenny Kravitz and when I heard it I said, “Can I cut it to see how it sounds?” She was totally open to the idea and once we recorded it, it brought the whole song to life.” Which of course means that should Lenny Kravitz now choose to perform the song, he will be doing an “Ace cover.”

Another fascinating element of the album is the amount of travel both here in the States and abroad in Sweden that went into its recording. As Ace explained, “I covered the whole country and it’s something you hear on the album. It goes through R&B, Indie and Rock. The only thing that keeps the album consistent is me.” Also interesting are the personal elements in the album. Ace explained that “Addicted” was written about his oldest brother’s drug addiction. “Every song has a deeper meaning.”

Ace also told us how his acting performance on the TV show “Bones” evolved from what was intended to be just a background figure in the crowd to being a full guest star. “I hung out with the producers and they asked if I could sing a song like this... and I said, 'sure.' And then they asked if I could say a certain line angry, and I said 'sure.' And then they said, ‘How’d you like to be a guest star on the show?’ And I said, “Well, it’s Bones, so long as you show me dead.” The producers clearly agreed because in the end, Ace was portrayed decapitated with one eye hanging out. “My nephews were so scared, they called me to see if I was okay.” In addition to his musical career, Ace plans to continue pursuing acting opportunities in the future.

Finally, recalling the roots of his fame, Ace offered advice to American Idol auditioners who begin this week in San Francisco, “Pick a song you’re very comfortable with, do your best, and be aware that your whole life can change within a year’s time.” Hopefully Ace’s success on Idol and now with his debut CD will inspire those who are setting out on their journeys.

Take a look at the amazing transformation Ace experienced back in Season 5!

The album, Ace’s first, took over 16 months to record.  It took Ace from Los Angeles to New York, Florida, Nashville and Stockholm, Sweden. Says Ace “I’ve taken my time because I realized how important it is to make sure it’s right, true to me and up to my level of expectation. I only get one chance to tell my fans who I am.”

Ace’s album is a collaborative effort with the legendary Desmond Child (Aerosmith, Ricky Martin, Backstreet Boys) and many other renowned writers including Andreas Carlson and Diane Warren.  Ace says working with Desmond Child was “a dream. He wrote the music I grew up with and loved.” Both Desmond and Ace shared the album cost equally, while making Desmond Executive Producer. Ace Young is a Rock/R&B/Funk collaboration drawing from Ace’s experiences and observations of life. Ace co-wrote 7 of the 11 songs on his album with one song “You Redeem Me,” written specifically for Ace by the legendary Diane Warren.

Ace is currently traveling the states on an extensive promotional tour on behalf of his upcoming CD; he most recently guest starred on The FOX Network’s hit show, Bones.

Season 5’s Bucky Covington will play the Red, White and Boom Festival in Lexington, Kentucky on July 4. (One can only imagine that if Bucky were at home in Nashville over the holiday, he’d be waterskiing or motorbiking around.)

Finally, Season 6’s Phil Stacey will play the Wild West Fest in Hays, Kansas on July 4 before vacationing with family in Oklahoma.

Check out Josh's profile, Bucky's transformation gallery and Phil's latest interview with us.

Meanwhile, from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, AI Season winner Taylor Hicks will perform at the 2008 Fourth of July Concert in Washington, D.C.

Check out the transformation galleries for Jordin, Kat and Taylor. See how they changed over their season on Idol!