Photo Credit: Ray Mickshaw / FOX

Syesha Mercado: I Never Packed My Bags Because I Didn’t Want to Leave

PLUS: The ousted Idol shares her future plans and weighs in on the dueling Davids

For a contestant who landed in the bottom three more times than any other season 7 singer, Syesha Mercado had a surprisingly positive outlook on her Idol elimination. In fact, the 21-year-old Floridian says that she was at last getting into the groove when she had to pack her bags. The engaged Mercado, who will hit the road this summer with her Idol peers, gives Us the scoop on her true sound, wedding plans, and the moment in which she knew she was going home.

ELIMINATION EMOTIONS
After I’d got done performing [May 13], I was like, “It’s over.” I got too many bad comments from the judges to keep me there. At this point in the game, you couldn’t have that many bad comments to be there, so I accepted what was, and I moved on. I made peace with it. And I couldn’t be happier right now. I don’t feel defeated. I feel like there’s only greatness that can come from here on out. And I felt like I grew a lot, and showed America different sides of me. I’m just ready to show everybody what I’ve got!

THE FOCUS FACTOR
When I first stepped into the competition, I was really in a little shell...and I felt that fans really didn’t see who I [was]. I was so focused on that that it was really harming my performance. Once I got my mind right again like it was in the beginning of the competition, I became more comfortable with myself and the stage. And the feeling of being overlooked completely subsided, and it was just a matter of being consistent every week and eventually, people would recognize me, and that’s exactly what happened. And I just enjoyed myself more every week, and I separated that line, that fine line, between overworking and doing so much to the point you’re unfocused, not enjoying yourself, and doing enough and trusting yourself and letting go and taking it all in.

DUELING DAVIDS
David Archuleta has that beautiful smile, and he has that really, really good connection with the younger audience. And the girls go crazy over David Cook! He’s really charming. I feel like I’m a little sister and a big sister to both the Davids. Whoever is the most passionate is going to win.

GUESS SYESHA’S SOUND
I’m a mix of a lot of things. I’m like a black Christina Aguilera/Alicia Keys. I like pop, I like R&B, and I like the old school/new school thing. I’m growing as an artist. And I’m glad that I did American Idol because people were able to see that transition that I went through, and I’m still learning more about myself everyday. You’ll know who I am once I put out that album. You’ll know.

GOING TO THE CHAPEL...
I’m the type of person to live in the now, and that’s what I’m going to take care of. My fiance is so supportive, and we both have a mutual understanding about everything, so when the time is right, we’ll [get married]. But right now, we’re focused on the career, and what’s the next move to make as far as that. Everything else is going to fall into place.

THEY TOLD HER TO GO AND SHE SAID NO, NO, NO
I never packed my bag [in anticipation of being eliminated]. [Idol producers] told us, “You’ve got to pack your bags.” I’m like, “I’m not packing my bags because I don’t want to go home yet. I’m not ready.” I think if you want something, it’s going to happen for you.

DREAM BIG
I want to do everything, and I’m really goal-oriented, so I know that whatever goal I set, it can be accomplished, whether it’s within a year span or 10 years. I want to make an album. I want to star in a film. I want to do Broadway. I want to open up an organic restaurant, and a lupus foundation, homeless foundation. It just depends on what comes first, but I have goals that I want to do, and I write them down and continue to look at them. Basically, whatever opportunity comes first and what’s the best career move for me, that’s pretty much what’s going to happen.