The latest to be booted off American Idol told reporters during a teleconference last week: “I never came in wanting to be the ‘American Idol,’? My dream was to play that piano on that stage. My dream was to sing jazz on that stage. My dream was to meet the mentors. Those were dreams-come-true for me. I wasn’t like, ‘Man, if I win …,’ you know what I mean?” Well, if Matt Giraud puts it that way then his dreams have certainly come true! =) The jazzy singer further says about winning,

“Yeah there’s definitely a lot of perks (to winning). I’d like it, and I was fighting for it. But that wasn’t the goal, I’m not kicking myself because I’m not winning. Obviously we’ve seen past ‘Idols’ who go home in fourth or fifth place and do even better than the ‘Idols,’ so all hope is not lost.”

Matt Giraud also shared, “I’m probably going to be back in town (Kalamazoo) at some point next week. I don’t think I’ll be performing or anything, but I can’t wait to get home and see everyone. The vibe from Michigan has been amazing, everyone’s been so supportful.” Matt Giraud said he even got a phone call from Gov. Jennifer Granholm offering her support! He also got letters and pictures from students in Lincoln High School. He says, “It amazed me how into it they’ve gotten. I’d like to go back and say thank you to those people.”

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