TheGrio: Do you feel American Idol still has the star making potential it did when you were coming up 10 years ago?

FB: Umm I do…I always say you can’t turn somebody into a star; you’re born that way.

Whenever I see somebody hit the stage I can always point them out and say, “Yo that person is special.” And when I say special, I mean that is what they are destined to do.

Even when Carrie Underwood was on that year on Idol, I told them, “She’s the one, she’s special.” So I don’t think it’s up to the judges. They are just vessels to push and promote that person to where God ends up wanting their life.

You were on when it was the classic line up of American Idol judges of Simon, Randy and Paula. Now American Idol has experimented with multiple judges critiquing new contestants. Do you think that plays into them not making stars?

FB: I think a lot of people do a lot of searching and changing to bring up the ratings. And in the beginning of American Idol, they show the funny stuff and the outtakes, but when the show comes to the top 12, it’s official. The “sangers” come out.

In my year we had Jennifer Hudson, Latoya London. We had some “sangers” and they should bring it back to that.

Bring in the legends like Gladys Knight, bring Elton John and Aretha Franklin. Bring in someone to sit on that panel with an actual ear and eye to say, “Yo that’s a star” and not just people to bring up ratings.

RnBAmbassador said:

Bring in the legends like Gladys Knight, bring Elton John and Aretha Franklin. Bring in someone to sit on that panel with an actual ear and eye to say, “Yo that’s a star” and not just people to bring up ratings.

Fuck ratings! Who in their right minds would bring in Niki Manageri to judge a singing contest? Who's going to take anything she has to say seriously? I mean, really???