Soon after Crystal Bowersox became the runner-up on Season 9 of American Idol, she opened up to press on a conference call. The singer talked about her journey on the show, the upcoming tour, and her future.

The Elliston, Ohio native got to perform with Alanis Morissette on the Season 9 finale. “I thought Alanis was amazing,” Crystal shared. “She has a kind, gentle spirit. We didn’t talk very much. It was more like quick hellos and hugs. It was very genuine, and then, performing was really where we communicated.” Crystal would love to collaborate with Alanis and other artists in the future too. “I definitely have love and respect for Melissa Etheridge. Alanis was great. Joe Cocker was one of the highlights of my life. I’m a big fan of Ray LaMontagne. I like Leslie Feist. There’s a lot of music that I personally love and enjoy. The craziest thing is that it’s all possible now to work with these people. I can say it, and it can be true.”

Just as her list of desired collaborations is diverse, so is her style of music. “I’ve got songs in a lot of different genres and styles. I don’t feel like I should be pigeon-holed into any one thing. So, we’ll see as my career develops where I’m going to go.” We got to hear an original song from Crystal on the show, when “Holy Toledo” was played during her Ohio homecoming. This was the first original song performed by a finalist to be played on the show. “That song is very dear to my heart,” she explained. “I wrote it right before I moved to Chicago. I was 17, sitting on a friend’s front porch, and just at a point in my life where – I love my hometown, but I always knew there was something bigger out there. Hence, the line, 'How do I get to heaven from here?' Since the show, it’s become an anthem for my city and what kind of hope is needed there. I feel so blessed and honored that the show even considered letting me play it at my hometown, and using it on the show, and I will be allowed to play that on tour actually in my hometown. They’re going to allow me to do some others, so I’m very excited about that.”

The American Idol experience is something only a handful of young people have lived first hand, and Crystal said, “Idol has really shown me what I am capable of. I’m not sure if there is going to be group numbers and dancers in my career after Idol, but the fact that I made it through all of that, and I feel like I did a great job, I know that it’s possible. I could go any direction I want. Idol taught me a lot. I’m forever grateful to them.” She also touched on her personal experience on the show saying, “It’s not an easy thing to go through. It’s emotionally and physically draining; however, the most amazing experience of my life. It really has taught me what I am capable of and how strong I can be for my family and my fans and my friends.”

One of those draining hardships Crystal dealt with occurred in the second week of live shows when she experienced a complication with her diabetes, which she’s had since she was a kid. Crystal opened up about her life and said, “Before Idol, I found myself in certain situations. I never had a lot of money and…good medical care takes money. Sadly, there’s been times in my life that I had to beg for insulin and different things like that. I understand that side of things. So, having tried out for Idol, I had kept my diabetes a secret from them. I played it down…Every diabetic goes through that denial process. Once I had gotten sick, back in March, a team of people swarmed in to help me. I never felt so loved in my life. I just realized that, through the show, I had a platform to be a role model for kids and just for advocacy and to help out the diabetic community in our country and the world. So, that’s the main focus of my career after Idol. I definitely want to do good things.”

In her closing remarks, Crystal said, “I just want to thank American Idol for everything.  I’d like to thank Lee for just being a great friend throughout all of this, and just thank everybody for all their support.”

You can catch Crystal on tour all summer long with the rest of the Top 10 Idols. Click here for the tour schedule.

Can’t get enough of Crystal? Watch all of her amazing Season 9 performances.