Exclusive Interview with Jax from American Idol XIV

OK, OK, I am a reality TV junkie and have been for the better part of almost two decades. So you can imagine how much I "fan"-ed out when I got to interview the super talented Jax from American Idol just weeks before the summer tour hits Florida. The best part about Jax was that in person, she is EXACTLY the same as she was on TV.

When was the first time you remember singing?

Oh gosh, I was singing since I was a tiny little child. I was always singing and entertaining. My parents would bribe me with cookies to perform.

What was your first professional gig?

When I was 14, I sang with Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez at Nassau Coliseum. It was an amazing first gig.

When did you know it would be your career?

I always knew. There was never a Plan B. It was my dream and passion. I left school in middle school to be home-schooled so I could pursue singing as a career.

Tell me about your "American Idol" journey.

It was the craziest educational rollercoaster I have ever been on in my entire life. It was incredible to be surrounded by industry legends and have a global platform. I never expected to go so far. I also made a new family, the contestants, staff, and coaches; we went way past friendships. Nobody sees you in a more intimate setting. It's hard to explain to anyone who has not been on the journey.

Did you expect to win?

We didn't feel competition with each other, but rather just competition within ourselves. The three of us didn't think about winning, but rather performing to the best of our abilities. We were one big intuitive musical family, and it was amazing.

How happy are you for Nick?

He was my best friend the entire season. We were both East Coast so we knew each other from the first day. I was rooting for him and he was rooting for me. I am happier than I can put into words.

Tell me something people would be surprised to know about you?

There is a lot. The biggest thing is I go into crazy psychopath workout mode (I run like 10 miles) before I perform. I am a workout junkie.

Are you excited about the tour? What should your audiences expect?

I am excited because it feels like six years since I have seen my AI family, although it's only been a month. I know the chemistry will be amazing. Knowing my friends, they are going to pick some amazing songs and I am excited to perform and have a lot of fun. This will be the reward we all get after Idol and [we] get to meet the people that supported us!

What's ahead for you after the tour?

Hopefully, I plan on moving to Nashville and start to record my album. I'm excited for the future.

Don't forget to catch Jax along with the other top five contestants from "American Idol" (Nick, Clark, Rayvon and Tyanna) as they tour Florida: on Tuesday, July 7 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater; Wednesday, July 8 at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota; Thursday, July 9 at King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne; Saturday, July 11 at Hard Rock Live Orlando; Sunday, July 12 at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers; Tuesday, July 14 at Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale; and Wednesday, July 15 at the Florida Theater in Jacksonville.

For more information on Jax, check her out on social media, at facebook.com/JaxofficialX and on Twitter @Jax