Martinsburg 'American Idol' hopeful receives 'golden ticket' twice

“Nicki was saying she couldn’t hear my voice in the mainstream world, in ‘the real world’ as she called it,” Christian said. “And Mariah said ‘What do you mean ‘real world’?”

Christian was then able to see firsthand the much-hyped arguing between Carey and Minaj this season. The arguing, he said, went on for 15 minutes with Jackson still on the borderline, until Carey was able to convince him to say yes.


“It was such a nerve-wrecking, long and painful audition,” he said. “It was just crazy.”

However, he did receive his ticket. And to make sure that the flu didn’t take him down during Hollywood Week, which was filmed during December, he said he made sure to get all the medications he needed before he left including Vitamin C.

Christian, of course, can’t give away what happens during Hollywood week, which is known to break even the most-determined “Idol” hopefuls.

But he was able to talk about how he prepared for the week.

“I really focused on putting 100 percent — not in the atmosphere on what’s going on in LA — just putting 100 percent into the song, which I really didn’t do last year,” he said.

Christian said there are “some big changes” when it comes to the Hollywood Week, and promises “a lot of airtime” when the show is to air in about a month. 

So when it come to Hollywood Week, Christian said he wanted “to do what I learned I needed to do, which was just focus; and don’t buddy up too much because that can backfire and just look out for yourself ... and to remember lyrics, too — that’s really a big one.”

“American Idol” airs at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursdays on Fox

For more information about Christian Lopez & Joe Taxi go to www.joetaximusic.com or  christianlopezband.com.