I had the great honor of speaking with Sabrina Sloan, one of this past season’s American Idol competitors. I prepared some candid questions, but as time went on, I felt like I was talking to an old friend. She is one of the most personable celebrities I think I’ll come across, and I personally consider it a shame that she didn’t go further in the competition.

Sabrina Sloan

Never fear, though! Big things are in the works for Sabrina, as you will read about in the interview below. She dishes on Britney, the infamous AI judges, and even presidential hopefuls! Read on!

Buzz Patrol: Hi Sabrina! Thanks so much for taking time out of your schedule to speak with Buzz Patrol. I won’t take up too much of your time here, but I’d like to ask a few questions to give our readers a little insight into what you’re up to post-Idol.

Sabrina: Sounds great!

Buzz Patrol: OK, first and foremost, you were robbed! In retrospect, do you think you would have gone further in the competition if you’d worn short shorts [ala Haley Scarnato]?

Sabrina: Haha! You know, that is possible. I was just getting ready to pull them out before I went home. It’s funny since Haley was my roommate during the show.

Buzz Patrol: Other than the shorts then, do you have any regrets over doing American Idol?

Sabrina: Regrets? No! I was hesitant going into the competition because a lot of my Broadway friends back in New York couldn’t even get past the preliminary stages to meet with the judges. You know, though, the competition is about a lot more than singing. Popularity is a big part of it.

Buzz Patrol: Well, moving past American Idol, I’m told that you are currently recording a cd. Would you like to tell our readers about it?

Sabrina: Sure! I am doing a project with Sundance Head (also from this season’s American Idol) for Motown Records. Since we both did our exit interviews together, the execs thought that our voices and fan bases would blend well. The cd is basically a soul album that contains a number of covers re-arranged to become duets, though we do have one or two original tracks as well. The cd is due out in November.

Buzz Patrol: Any favorite tracks?

Sabrina: Yes, the Isley Brother’s “For the Love of You.” It’s sort of an Outkast meets Al Green kind of arrangement.

Buzz Patrol: So speaking of music, who are your biggest musical influences?

Sabrina: I grew up loving Mariah, Whitney, and Prince. Personally, I would love to be a kind of female Justin Timberlake. I love his sound, the whole urban hip hop genre.

Buzz Patrol: In light of troubled musicians like Whitney, do you have any thoughts on young pop musicians like Britney, Lindsay, and Amy Winehouse and the current trouble they all seem to find themselves in?

Sabrina: Well, looking at them, it makes me feel lucky that I didn’t start out singing as a child. I mean, I sang from an early age, but I wasn’t put into the business. This industry is too demanding for a child, being told what to do all the time and not being allowed to have an actual childhood. And now look; they are just doing whatever they want! It’s like they are taking back their childhood they never had.

Personally, I have an awesome family and a wonderful support base. I have a husband who is not in the industry, and I think that’s important as well. He is very supportive of what I do and there is no clash of egos. I mean, I’m a performer; we’re supposed to be dramatic! <laughs>

Buzz Patrol: I have a YouTube clip here from your days reporting for Diablo Heat (her high school news program). So which is it – Sabrina the Pop Star or Sabrina the Hard-Hitting Journalist?

Sabrina: Oh NO! That isn’t on YouTube is it? You know, they made us come up with all these things that American might not know about us (for the show). I had been in a serious car accident right before the show and lots of other things, but they picked my days reporting for Diablo Heat since there was footage to show and embarrass me with!

Trust me, there are no plans to pursue journalism; it was just something I thought I might one day study in case singing didn’t work out.

Buzz Patrol: Speaking of other careers, any plans to do Broadway again?

Sabrina: Broadway again? Sure. I was one of the Dynamites (a female singing group) in the Broadway production of Hairspray for about two years and loved the experience. There just aren’t a ton of roles for young black women on Broadway outside of The Color Purple, but if the right role was to come up, then absolutely!

Buzz Patrol: On to a topic I think is very important for any aspiring female star – do you have your “gays” yet? You know we’re the only ones keeping Whitney’s memory alive!

Sabrina: Hahaha! Of course I do! I did Broadway, after all! My best gay was the one I turned to when I was on American Idol and needed advice on what to sing. So yeah, I’m all set!

Buzz Patrol: Any comments on the rumor that Simon and Ryan will be settling down soon? You glad to hear that Simon’s finally going to make an honest woman out of Ryan?

Sabrina: <laughs> Well, you know, I hope so. I just hope they’re true to themselves!

Buzz Patrol: OK, now for the most important question: Marry, Boff, or Kill…Simon, Paula, and Randy.

Sabrina: Aaaaaack! No way! Have you SEEN the show? Oh gosh, I guess marry Randy, sleep with Simon (that’s AWFUL!), and then kill Paula. Sorry Paula, there just wasn’t anything left for you! I feel so badly since she was behind me from the start!

Buzz Patrol: What do you think about Kelly Clarkson’s comments about Clive Davis being out-dated?

Sabrina: You know there are things I felt like saying about American Idol at time that I just wouldn’t ever say. The show just gave me so much. I just feel like maybe she shouldn’t have said it even if she was thinking it. He is a hit-maker, after all.

Buzz Patrol: Do you have any presidential predictions?

Sabrina: I’m hoping for Barrack. If it has to be Hillary, then Barrack for VP all the way!

Buzz Patrol: Let’s play a quick game of word association. I’ll say a word and you say the first thing that comes to mind. Here we go: Simon.

Sabrina: Tight.

Buzz Patrol: Paula.

Sabrina: Bad. Oh no!

Buzz Patrol: Randy.

Sabrina: Big. This is terrible!

Buzz Patrol: Ryan.

Sabrina: Um, question mark.

Buzz Patrol: Yeah, I know what you mean! Haha! Britney.

Sabrina: Blah.

Buzz Patrol: Lindsay.

Sabrina: Drunk.

Buzz Patrol: Sanjaya.

Sabrina: Uhhh…hair?

Buzz Patrol: Bush.

Sabrina: Jerk.

Buzz Patrol: Agreed! Buzz Patrol.

Sabrina: Gossip.

Buzz Patrol: OK, enough of putting you on the spot. I hear you’re doing some great charity work these days.

Sabrina: I am! I have been fortunate to work with Operation Smile Reality Cares, where I was able to perform with Frenchie Davis, another AI alum. I’ve also done a benefit for New Orleans with some of my Broadway colleagues.

Buzz Patrol: Well, we’re coming to a close. Any words of advice for aspiring young stars?

Sabrina: Take risks! Put yourself out there, and take advantage of every opportunity like I have with American Idol. Sure, people will judge you, but ya know, they’ll do it no matter where ya work or what you do. Just go for it!

Click here to see Sabrina perform on American Idol

I’d like to wish Sabrina good luck with her career and thank her again for her time. We will be sure to update our BuzzPatrol readers with her latest news and will link you to her first single with Sundance, due out in November!