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CNN Live Today

Interview with Earl Christian, Nick Cewe

Aired July 31, 2002 - 11:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: So the question is, did you vote last night? The crowded "American Idol" stage will thin out by one tonight. One star wanna-be will be eliminated based on viewer votes from across the country. "American Idol" is mixing music and meaning to find a new singing sensation. One contestant will survive until September to win a $1 million record contract, and the chance to be a superstar. Will it be Christina? The 21-year-old is a sophomore at the University of Florida. Her family says she has always wanted to be a star, and now she is getting her chance big time.

Earl Christian is Christina's dad. Nick Cewe is her fiance, and they are joining us from Miami this morning. Gentlemen, good morning and congratulations.

EARL CHRISTIAN, FATHER OF CHRISTINA: Good morning.

NICK CEWE, FIANCE OF CHRISTINA: Thank you. Good morning.

KAGAN: To make it to the final seven, that is just incredible. Dad, I am going to start with you. Have you known your daughter was a star since the day she was born?

CHRISTIAN: From the very moment she was born, we knew we had something special on our hands, and she has proven us right.

KAGAN: And how long has she been singing and wanting to perform?

CHRISTIAN: It seems like forever. Since she was a toddler, Christina always would sing and as she grew, she had opportunities to show her craft and she developed nicely.

KAGAN: So Nick -- I'm sorry. Nick, you went with her from school. You drove down to Miami to do the audition for "American Idol." This must have seemed like a one in a million shot that she was going to make it this far.

CEWE: Well, I think it was just a matter of time before she got her chance. She was been focusing on school for the past three, four years, and I think now it is just time for something different.

KAGAN: We are listening -- we are hearing a little bit of her performance from last night, going to listen in just a little bit to that. Earl, when we listened to the judges last night, they seemed very pleased with Christina's performance, and said that -- I think they compared her to Sade. That is quite a complement. And said that she did even better than last week. How do you think she did?

CHRISTIAN: I think she was fabulous. She aced it. She really did well. She made us all proud.

KAGAN: Nick, did you have a chance to talk to her after the performance?

CEWE: Yes, I did. We were just all very happy that she came out being herself this week instead of trying to do something she wasn't.

KAGAN: Yes. It has got to be so hard from week to week when they have to kind of recreate themselves and pick new songs and learn songs that they haven't. Of course, tonight we will find out who gets bumped off, kind of bumped off the "American Idol" -- the "American Idol" island. Has it been a nervous 24 hours for the family?

CHRISTIAN: Well, I tell you what, we feel pretty confident tonight. I think we will have good results.

KAGAN: And either way, she is already a star. I mean, to make it from the thousands and thousands who tried out down to the final seven, she is clearly on her way to something big, Nick.

CEWE: Oh, definitely. Definitely.

KAGAN: And where will you be watching tonight?

CEWE: From Earl's house.

KAGAN: OK. Well, party at the Christians' house. Earl Christian...

CEWE: There we go.

KAGAN: Christina's dad, and Nick Cewe, her fiance, we wish you the best, and all the best to Christina.

CEWE: Thank you.

KAGAN: And good luck.

CHRISTIAN: Thank you very much.

KAGAN: We will be watching tonight. Thanks so much.

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