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Chris Daughtry: ''It doesn't make sense logically'' | 135612__chris_l

''It was a little cold,'' Chris says of the way Ryan announced his ouster

Maybe they didn't like your boxer-briefs answer.
What did you think of that?

It wasn't necessarily something I was wondering about, but I think it showed a funny side of you and that you weren't just a sunglasses-wearing rocker. Were people really clamoring to know?
You know what — they wanted to know. My wife thought it was cute. I've been getting letters about it, saying ''Just clear it up for us.'' I don't read the threads. I don't have time and I don't want to get that stuff in my head. It gave me a chance to be comical. It gave me a chance to be real with the fans. I don't get a chance to talk that much, so in my opinion it was a good opportunity.

Paula started crying when Ryan said you were going home. Simon started nervously rubbing his lips. What did they say to you after the show?
Simon was like, ''You know, I don't understand what happened. It doesn't seem right. You're obviously very talented. You need to keep going with that. You're going to be okay.'' Randy said the same thing. They did not expect it. But I have to look at it like maybe it was the best thing for me. It's hard to see that now. Seriously, how do you take a big disappointment like that and smile about that? I'm not going to fake it and say I'm just happy. I'm grateful for what I was able to do, for the way the fans took to me and were so accepting of my style. But you heard the crowd's responses. How do you go from that to being voted off? It's a big mystery. It doesn't make sense logically. I have to realize God has a bigger plan.

God and 19 Entertainment, perhaps.
Yeah, and 19. Maybe they're working together. They're going to look out for my best interest. I don't feel like I've been thrown to the wolves at all. If anything, I've had the best audition for any record label I could possibly ask for. People like me struggling in bars every night, from North Carolina, we don't get that opportunity. The fact is, I was able to do that and reach millions of people on a national level.

What were you going to sing next week?
''Dream On,'' by Aerosmith. The Clive [Davis] song I would have found out today. I was really looking forward to that. I was looking forward to the private flight home to see my family and friends and have that big homecoming. A lot of plans changed in a matter of minutes last night. There are a lot of disappointed people and fans. There was floods of mail to Fox last night and today and everyone is like, ''What happened?'' It could be the fact that I made the biggest shock in American Idol history that works to my benefit.

Was it awkward last night at dinner? Did you just want to go home?
We didn't do the dinner. They don't do the dinner after top 5. I did get to hang out with Taylor and Elliott. They were just as bummed as I was. We were just talking about it. It was like therapy.

No Katharine? Is she sort of the odd one out because she's the girl?
We all get along, but I'm sure she felt like the odd person. The only girl in a group of guys? I can't imagine how that feels.

Did you live with both Taylor and Elliott?
Me and Taylor lived together. Elliott has his own place. We all hung out every night. I never went to college, but it was what I imagine college would be like, without all the bong parties. It was a cleaner version of college.

Was it hard not having your wife there to comfort you?
Honestly, I felt like maybe it was better I didn't have everybody there so I could just gather my thoughts. That would have probably made it so much harder on me. I can't wait to see them. I don't want to say I can't wait to get back to normal life, because I don't. I don't want to get back to normal life. I feel like this is my life. I do belong on stage.

Did you ever use the Andrea Bocelli method of singing while lying down?
You always want to take those things and use them, but we're so busy. We're always running around. Maybe I'll do that from now on. I'll probably get a vocal coach and start working on vocal techniques to season me for the tour.

Were you upset by how viewers reacted to you not crediting Live with your ''Walk the Line'' rendition?
It wasn't my doing. You say a lot of things in the [pretaped] interview, and when editing gets involved, things get cut out for time constraints. I did mention in my interview that I'm doing a different version from a band I totally respect. The lead singer of Live, Ed Kowalczyk, called me to say, ''Man, don't listen to that.'' We've been talking a lot since. It's really cool for me, because that's the band that inspired me to get into music. Ed Kowalczyk is my favorite singer. It was really cool to get that kind of respect.

Do you think a rock star, as opposed to a pop star, can win American Idol?
Absolutely. I think it could have happened this year. I really do. That's what the biggest shock is. Everyone is so floored because everyone expected me to win. People have to vote. You can't assume someone is safe just because of the comments. That's what it's about is America. It has nothing to do with the judges. They put in their two cents to maybe help you or make you realize something. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. It may sway the vote but it's 100 percent on the people who are voting.

Will you be voting for the remainder of the season?
It's a tough question. I'm going to have to think about that one. I'm going to have to see how it goes. Right now I'm so shocked.

Some people, like my editor Nicholas, for example, are so upset that they've vowed to boycott the show. What do you say to the Nicholases of America?
I've heard that a lot today. If they feel that strong, that's what they should do. Well, don't say that. Honestly, if people feel that strong about it, they're going to do what they want to do. Do I say to boycott the show? No, that's silly. There were a lot of people who said, ''If you don't win I'm not going to watch the show anymore.'' It's flattering. You know, thanks. I really appreciate you feeling so strong about me. It's really cool to know that's how people really felt. I just hope those are the same people who come out to buy my album.