After being the fan favourite throughout Season 9 of “American Idol,” Crystal Bowersox finished in second place behind winner Lee DeWyze. The 24-year-old single mother from Toledo, OH, shared her thoughts in a recent conference call. Excerpts are below.

Q: I have a question about your duet with Alanis for the finale.  First of all, what was (your) impression of her?  Second, can you see yourself embracing more a harder-edged material, like “You Oughta Know,” for your first CD?

Bowersox: I thought Alanis was amazing.  She has a kind, gentle spirit.  We didn’t talk very much.  It was more like quick hello’s and hugs.  It was very genuine, and then, performing was really where we communicated … My music is pretty versatile.  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. 

Q: Crystal, we’ve seen so much change for you, from the point where you said that your boyfriend was going to ‘man up’ and propose to you real soon, to the point where you broke up just before the finals.  How much does that surprise you?  How do you think that’s going to affect yourself, going ahead?  Now, you’re plunging into all these new things.  You’re doing it as a newly single person?

Bowersox: Tony has been my rock through all of this.  He’s been there for me.  He’s been amazing.  I’ve got a great amount of respect and love for him - it was a mutual thing.  He’s a small town guy and wants a simple, quiet life.  I respect that of him.  This is my career; this is what I’ve strived for my whole life.  I want to do this for my son.  So, we’re going to be okay.  We’re going to be friends for a long time.

Q: If you weren’t doing music, would you also enjoy a small town, quiet life?

Bowersox: Oh, of course, but I love music.  I want to do good things for the world and my family and community, so I’m loving every minute of this.

Q: Following up on that just a bit, did you have any idea the effect that trying out for Idol and just going after a musical career would have on your personal life? 

Bowersox: Yes. I’m a pretty smart girl.  I knew what I was signing up for.  At least, I had a good idea.  You never fully comprehend the situation until you’re in it and out of it.  So, I’m rolling with the punches.  That’s what I’ve done every day in my life.  Just go forward and do what feels right and what makes me happy. 

Q: Since you and Lee get along so well, how about you two dating?

Bowersox: Oh, no; that wouldn’t happen.  Lee’s like a brother to me.  I love him dearly, but not that way.

Q: I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about when you’ll be getting into the studio, and if we can expect that you’ll be singing some of the originals that we’ve already heard from you, or have you given thought to that?

Bowersox: Well, I’ve actually got a meeting next week.  I’m not really sure of all the details yet myself, but I’m ready to start working and get this underway.

Q: What can you tell us about the sound of your forthcoming CD?  Where do you want to go with it?

Bowersox: My influences are pretty straightforward as well, but I definitely have my own sound and style.  It might be a familiar sound, but at the same time, my songwriting is – I don’t know how different it is, but I just do simple songs for people to relate to, enjoy, and hopefully learn something through my experience.

Q: The whole season of Idol, they were saying that there was going to be a female winner.  It was a girls’ season.  It didn’t turn out that way.  Did you see that gender had any role in how the voting was swanked throughout the season and up to the finale?

Bowersox: I don’t feel that way.  American Idol is a competition in a certain way that it really is up to the voting public.  Amy predictions made at the beginning of the season for a female winner, it’s not possible to know.  When I became the last girl standing, it became clear to me then that it was definitely possible; however, it wasn’t guaranteed.  Lee  -- I love Lee.  Lee is great.  He is super-talented.  I would buy his album in a heartbeat.  Whatever happened happened for a reason.  I’m extremely proud of him and happy for him. 

Q: You said after the show that you maybe had a feeling that it might not go your way.  What was it like when you were sitting there, listening to Ryan (Seacrest) drag out the announcement.  Were you pretty sure it was going to be Lee, or what were you thinking?

Bowersox: I woke up on Wednesday morning.  I had breakfast with my friend.  It was a calm morning, like any other.  I just had an overwhelming sense of peace and acceptance.  Some strange feeling inside of me, I knew Lee was going to win.  I was fine with that because he’s worked so hard.  No matter the outcome of this, there’s no winner or loser.  We’re both going to have very successful careers.  I couldn’t be prouder of him …

If you watch the video back, I had mouthed the word, “C’mon, Ryan,” several times.  It’s frustrating when he does it, but he is a very smart man.  He knows what’s good for TV and making our hearts beat out of our chest.  I wanted to know for sure.  I wanted to know if my feeling was right.  I wanted to celebrate for Lee.  When I saw Lee’s face, and he was about ready to pass out, I just felt everything he was feeling.  We’ve been together through this whole process and understand each other completely and how much we’ve worked for.  I looked up at his confetti falling down.  I thought this was my confetti.  I have won vicariously through Lee because I could empathize so much. 

Q: Did you see yourself as the frontrunner during the season?

Bowersox: No.  I was just happy to get past the stadium, and then, the next week, and the next week.  You never know what’s going to happen in a competition like this.  It’s really up to the voting public.  So, my approach to the whole thing was just to remain true to who I am as a person and an artist and just give my best personal performance each week.  Whatever the outcome was, I was prepared to accept and embrace and move forward into my career.  So, coming in second is an amazing feat in itself.  This whole thing has just been an amazing journey.  I couldn’t be happier for Lee.  He deserves everything; he’s worked so hard.  The both of us have. 

Q: The judges (chose a song for) each of the three finalists … How much do you think this song has an effect, because a lot of people think that by choosing “Hallelujah” for Lee, Simon actually gave him the winning card? 

Bowersox:  I don’t think that it gave Lee necessarily an upper hand.  Lee took his song choice from Simon and completely made it his own and did a beautiful job on it.  With Ellen’s choice for me, I didn’t feel like I needed to change the song too much from the original because it’s such an iconic song.  I respect Paul McCartney and love his work.  I just sang it the best that I could and discovered new things about my voice I didn’t know I could do.  The whole show is just up to the American public.  Lee has worked his tail off for this.  It’s a great thing that he won.  Love him for it.  It’s awesome.

Q: It seemed like, at times, one of the things that endeared you to a lot of people was that you didn’t – and I hate to say it this way – care about winning.  It was more about performing, letting us see how good you were.  Would you say that’s correct, to a certain extent?

Bowersox: No, I wouldn’t say that’s correct.  I mean, I wouldn’t have tried out for the show if I didn’t think that I had a shot at winning.  It was an idea in my head, but people might interpret that wrong when I say that, “No matter what happened, it was okay.”  I definitely had a desire to win, but in any aspect of my life, I’m not going to be let down by something because I believe, truly, that everything happens for a reason.  I accept that and move on.  One door closing is a window opening.