The pint-sized Paris Bennett won over fans on 'American Idol' with her strong voice and the 18-year-old hopes to do the same with the release of her debut album called 'Princess P.' The granddaughter of former lead singer of the Sounds of Blackness, Ann Nesby, was in town last week in New York to promote her new album.
I had the chance to talk to her about her new album and her thoughts on the four remaining contestants on this season of 'American Idol.'
Tell me about the album
The album, 'Princess P' is pretty much an album of me expressing myself. Things I have experienced, things I am experiencing and just enjoying the moment of doing an album.
What role did your grandmother, Ann Nesby, play in this album?
My grandmother is actually on the album with me along with my mother. The impact that she does play is I'm always calling her to let her hear songs that I recorded or I am always asking her for advice on how she feels about songs. Not too much in terms of the role of creating the song but she definitely plays the part in the likes and not likes.
How much of this album reflects your personal growth over the last year and is there one track that sums those feelings up?
There's no one track sums up the whole thing. The whole album itself sums up my life before and after American Idol.
There is a track called "Daddy" on the album about your father not being in your life. Has he not been in your life at all?
For a big chunk of my life, he wasn't in my life. He's around every once in a while now that I'm a young adult. There is a difference from being a kid and a young adult. You see things a lot different. "Daddy" is a direct conversation towards him and just asking him questions that I haven't had the chance to sit down and ask him and I'm asking him through song. But I'm also asking questions for other kids who haven't had the chance to talk to parent(s) about the absence in their lives.
Do you know if he has heard the track yet?
No, he hasn't heard it but I got a text message the other day – a random text message and he never text messages me. I got a text message that was random that just said "Hey, I Love You" and I was like OK, whatever. I don't think he has heard it but when he does hear it ... I don't know what he's going to say. At this point, there is nothing he can say. He can listen and answer the questions or he can still sit and think on them but know that you are forgiven but I still have these questions about things in my life.
What's the history behind your nickname "Princess P?"
I have had that name since birth. I was the first great-granddaughter and the first granddaughter of my family and the only girl for a long while. I had that name and they dubbed me as "Princess" and as I got older they added P on because Paris is my name.
Does American Idol get a percentage from your album "Princess P?"
No, they don't have any ties to my album.
Have you kept in touch with anyone from your season?
I keep in touch with everyone who was in the Top 12. Even some of the Top 24 people. Kinnik Sky, Ayla Brown, I talk to her all the time. Pretty much everybody.
In terms of this season, how much have you been watching?
A little. Little by little.
It's down to the final four. Do you have a person in mind who might win?
Who is still in the final four?
Blake, LaKisha, Melinda and Jordin.
Umm ... now I really don't. Now that you told me the four, I honestly don't have one because those would have been my four. Let the best person win at this moment.
1. Paris you got it Girl... I loved watching you on American Idol and you have a God Given talent passed onto you from your Grandmother Ann Nesby. She is an amazing vocalist... You are soooo blessed. Good Luck on your new Album. It will be included in my Collection.
Audrey Givens at 6:23AM on May 10th 2007