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Fan Encounters

These are donated fan encounter stories that people have emailed us with! Feel free to email yours and we will add it.

Dominic - Pictures here!

I bought the American Idol finale tickets off of this lady who was selling them. I paid $4000 for the tickets for both nights of the finale. My mother and I went to California for the 2 nights of the finale and they were awesome. The first night, Tuesday, May 20th which was the performance night was the best night of the 2. My mother and I got to the Nokia Theatre at around 8 am to get a good place so we could try to get better seats, which we may have gotten maybe 10 rows closer, but in that theatre there is no bad seat at all. All the seats are amazing indeed. Anyway finally at like 2:30 we got to go in for the dress rehearsal which was amazing. It was really cool to experience. I was actually like maybe 10 rows from the stage which was really cool. David sang all 3 of his songs at the rehearsal, the first 2 were as always flawless, but on Imagine he had a few sour notes but it was still great to hear him sing it. I was a little nervous at first because he wasn’t feeling really well that day, but wouldn’t you know he blew us away. When they broadcasted live at 5pm west coast time i was so excited and nervous at the same time. On Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me– He sounded pitch perfect and it was flawless and amazing and of course I cried along with David and every Angel in the theatre and at home. It was def. an emotional song. I have never seen David put that much heart into a song than he did in that one and you could feel it there. He did SUPERB. His second song— In This Moment– again was pitch perfect and so emotional. David should have been singing the winning song. He sang this song with so much heart and you could tell that he was telling his story on that particular song. He wanted everyone to know that he was in his MOMENT and David you really were in your moment. Once again not a dry eye in the theatre especially me. The crowd was going wild for them the entire time. David did amazing on that song and that was one of my favorites from him because he did tell his story on that song. On Imagine— There are no words to express this performance, but INCREDIBLE, it left me speechless like it did Paula and the rest of the people. You could feel the tension and everything from everyone, but after that song it was total relief and he just sounded amazing. David broke down once again along with me and my mother, i was a bit of a cry baby that night but i was so proud of Archie and what he accomplished. Simon was right it was a complete knockout By our Archie. After the show i was standing outside of the theatre when David’s mother and family came out. I introduced myself to LUPE and his family and they were so amazing and kind and cool. Lupe hugged me and my mother and were so thankful for us coming all that way to support her son. We talked for about 20 minutes and then they had to go meet up with the press.
The finale night was amazing too. It was jam packed once again and the tension was very high there, the COOKS vs. the ANGELS or that is how it felt. Anyway the whole entire night at the finale was an amazing experience and the live performances and the performances with the idols were great. Cook and Archie sounded great on Hero and on Heaven and they were really on that night. My favorite performance though was the duet with Archie and One Republic. it was breath-taking and amazing. They sounded so great together, they seriously could have made Apologize over again with both of them singing it. It was incredible. Down to business when they announced cook as the winner I was in Awe and so upset my mother started breaking down in tears and i started to cry also. I was very happy though that Cook did share the spotlight with Archie when he won, that did show true class on his part. Archie may not have won American Idol but he is def. our WORLD IDOL. Anyway we were walking out of the theatre and I saw Lupe coming out, she remembered us and walked up and gave us both hugs and told us sorry, SORRY what could she be sorry for, for Idol messing up the voting process lol. Lupe was just that genuine of a person that she came up to us without us going over to her and she acknowledged us and did that for us. She introduced me to Jeff Archuleta– which he is an amazing guy also, a wonderful father and all he wants is the best for Archie and that is it. He was so great thanking us for coming to see David and for paying that much to see him and traveling that far to see him. They wanted me to give them my e-mail address so they can give it to David and they wanted to take a picture with us and i took one with them also. They had to go shortly after that, again we talked for about 10 minutes or so, but it was so worth it.
The morning after the finale at like 3 am me and my mom got up to go down to the Nokia Theatre because one of David’s hometown reporters stayed at the hotel we were staying at and told us to go down there if we wanted to see him before we had to leave. So we got there at like 3:30 am and both Cook and Archie were interviewing with all of the Fox news stations. They both looked totally exhausted but so relieved that it was finally over. They interviewed for like an hour straight and David went over to get a bite to eat (from I-HOP) lol , I didn’t bother him thought it was cool because i was standing like 6 feet from him so i just waited. He Got done eating and was heading out to go to the bathroom before he had to interview, he came closer to me and i asked if he could sign my Archie shirt and he said” Aw sure no problem” so he signed it and I asked if he could sign my moms but the lady that was with him said he had to hurry up because they didn’t have much time so i told him to go ahead and do what he had to do so he went to the bathroom, he came out started heading over toward me again but, the reporter swooped him up and he looked back at me and said “Sorry ill be back” all sad or something it was cool. anyway he did a few reports and he looked over towards my way and told the reporter that before he did anymore interviews he had to take care of me and my mom first. It was so cool because he took time away from his interviews to come over and sign my stuff. He came over and said “sorry about that” I said “David don’t be sorry you have to do what you have to do” he just laughed. He signed my shirt and my moms shirt and took a picture with me and my mom. We talked for like 5 minutes or so before he had to go back to the interviews. He was so nice, humble, cool, kind, gentle, kind-hearted, and so appreciative. I told him that I came from Cincinnati and that i pd 4000 to see him and he had tears in his eyes and said” Thank you so much for doing that for me, i cant believe anyone would do that for me, or pay that much to see me” He was just the coolest and nicest person you could ever meet. My mom hugged him and I shook his hand and he said THANKS again for everything and I said the same thing and then we had to leave to catch our plane.
My mom wanted to take him home so bad lol imagine that. It was totally worth the whole 4000 that i paid i would do it again in a heart beat if I had the chance to meet him again. I seriously met an ANGEL the day that i met David. God truly sent an Angel from heaven for all of us to meet and that Angel is David. I was so blessed to have been able to meet David and I thank God for that and Thank David for that also. He really is an Angel and a true inspiration to all of us and if you ever get to meet him, you will know what I am talking about and 1 time meeting him is not enough, he is just an incredible person and you will never forget him EVER. I’m telling you this from a guys perspective. He has had this big of an impact on me, I’m and adult and a guy and this kid has changed my life so much from just hearing him and meeting him. He really is breath-taking to be around. He has this Aura about him that when you are around him you cannot help but be happy and smile and be at a loss for words. He is just that GREAT!!!! David you are the BEST BOYYYYYY!!!!!! One word that sums this whole experience up is BREATH-TAKING and SPECTACULAR!!! I will never forget those 3 days for the rest of my life especially May 22nd the day that I met an ANGEL sent from GOD!!!!!!

Nicole - Pictures here.

Day 1
My journey began on Wednesday morning, May 28th. I got to the Regis and Kelly studio at like 7:30 in the morning. I actually had gone there the day before when Cook was there, so I would know where to wait and stuff for when Archie came. So I get there and I find that I am the only one there. The audience and standbys were on a line at the end of the block around the corner, so it was just me by myself. So I’m waiting there for literally like, 5 minutes,when all of a sudden the parking garage door opens and a black SUV pulls into the driveway right next to me. I immediately see a blonde lady sitting in the front seat,So I tried to peek in from where I was standing to see if I could see anyone else… Then as the SUV passes by… I get my very first glimpse of Archie in the backseat! He had headphones on and his head was facing down. So the door goes down and about a minute or two later, the now empty SUV pulled out and parked across the street.A little while after that, some of the coolest archies you will ever meet (lol) arrive and we all basically waited and waited until a little after 10:00am… And then this blonde lady comes out and explains to us that David really wanted to sign for us and then she separated us into two groups. Those who wanted a picture and those who wanted an autograph. We weren’t allowed to have both. I definitely wanted the picture, so off I went to the picture line!! lol….Me and a couple of other Archies got to be right in front! lol So the blonde lady explains a couple of rules and we’re all just like really excited haha… So once again, the garage door closes, and the blonde lady goes to get Archie. A couple of seconds later, the door opens, and it is here that we get our first glimpse of Archie in person. The blonde lady walked him over to our group first. Personally speaking… up until this point in time, lol, I’d like to say that I was somewhat composed (haha!!) But seeing him standing literally 3 feet from you is the most surreal experience!! So right after he walks over he …get this…POINTS at me and says “Hey!! I saw you before!!” lol I really didn’t think he did ‘cos it happened so fast, but needless to say, all composure was lost!! lol….So the blonde lady takes my camera and I get to go next to David to take my picture. All I kept thinking inside was “keep it together,don’t cry, don’t cry!!” haha…trust me it was so hard NOT to cry in front of him! I was like “David, I love you!!” lol and He gave me THOSE EYES (you’ve seen ‘em!) and was like “awwww…thanks!!” I completely forgot what I said after that!! it was so quick!! lol So after our picture is taken I emerge from the group of chaos and one of those cool archie’s tells me “hey…David’s dad is over there” So I was like “where is he? where is he?” lol So she points to where he is which is completely off to the side of the group, outside all of the madness!!lol So here is what I said next…..lol….so I see Archie’s dad….run right up to him…..wave my hand and shouted ” HI DADDY!!!!” hahaha!! yes, Archies….that was what I said!! lol So I looked at him and said “I just want to say that I don’t care what anyone says about you!!! I think you’re so cool!! And then I said ” I really could’ve used your help on my final exam in music class!!! It was all about Jazz!!! ” haha! it really was! So…Archie’s dad stares at me and says (in the most NICEST yet SERIOUS tone) “Really?” And I said “yes!” And then he and I had a nice little convo!! He kept asking me questions like “What kind of music class is this?” and “What did you learn in class that would make your final exam be about Jazz?” And I literally was like, rambling on to him about it!! lol All I have to say is that this experience taught me a lesson to not believe everything you read!!! Archie’s dad was SO nice!
So, anyway….by now they were rushing Archie to his car and I asked Archie’s dad for a picture but he said that they (meaning security ..grrr) needed him to go… so before he left I was like “Can I just shake your hand?” lol So as I shook his hand ,I looked at him in the face and said “Can I marry David??” And he just laughed!! lol Then security pulled him into the SUV with Archie and they drove away! But not before we waved him off and some photographer dude broke out and started singing “Imagine” lol.. funny stuff!!!

Day 2
I went to the Today show ridiculously early in the morning on Thursday May 29th. After waiting a bunch, we finally got to hear Archie sing live for the first time. He’s already amazing just hearing him sing on tv, but hearing him live, you really get to see just how amazing he is! I had chills! After the Today show finished, I met up with the group of Archie’s from the day before and one of them actually knew that both Archie and Cook would be doing an interview with OK magazine that day and knew where the building was. She did warn us to not get our hopes up, but we collectively agreed to at least give it a shot. So after a few hours of waiting, asking questions that got us nowhere, and checking out every black SUV that passed by (lol) we decided to split up and go to another news building close by, and ask if Archie was there. A few Archies including myself left to go to this other news building, while the rest of the group stayed put at the OK magazine building entrance. So we literally were walking towards this news building when we get a call from the other Archies saying that they all just saw Cook go inside and that he promised to take pictures when he came out. So off we go RUNNING (lol) back to the OK magazine building! So after some more waiting… Cook finally comes out and we get to meet him. I told him my mom loves him to which he laughed (she’s a MAJOR wordnerd) and I got a picture with him (my mom was SO jealous! haha) . Right after that they (security) thought they could pull a fast one on us by trying to rush Archie out! Like we wouldn’t notice?!?! lol!! So this time I actually talked to Archie for a bit. I first told him that he did SO good singing on the show and he said ” aww thanks….I’m not a morning person” and giggled! lol And I asked him if he finished his homework yet (since they said during his Today Show interview that he was doing it in the dressing room before) and he said “I’m almost done, I have to write one more paragraph for my essay” and then I asked him how he liked “Wicked” (because he got to go see it the previous night) and he was like “oh …it was so good!” Then the security dude (we are told his name is Tony lol) proceeds to lead Archie towards his car, So it is around this time that I spot Archie’s Dad once again, who is off to the side, watching it all go by. And I went up to him and was like “Hey remember me from…”
Before I could finish he was like “yes! I do!” Once again, very very nice and cordial… But,we didn’t get to say too much after that because he had to leave.