VIDEO: Idol Confessions with David Hernandez

Season 7's David Hernandez talks about life after "Idol" and what he'd do if he weren't singing.

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Photos: David Hernandez on "Idol"

'American Idol' Daily: visiting with the Christmas tour

I had the opportunity Tuesday afternoon to drop by the rehearsal studios of the American Stars in Concert for the Holidays tour.  In an unassuming studio space in Burbank I found Idol giants Kimberley Locke, Diana DeGarmo, Chikezie and David Hernandez running through a rendition of "Mr. Sandman" adapted to the season as Mr. Santa (see videos below). 

Leading the performers through their paces was the associate music director of "American Idol," the man who has taken the giants through their songs since season one, Michael Orland. Below are excerpts from my chat with him, followed by my conversation with the Idols themselves. 

LAT: How has it been working with this group, whom you knew back when?

Michael Orland: So great to see how far they've come. Kimberley I've worked with recently. She did a cruise and I went along as musical director. Diana is an incredible performer. She was great on the show but she was 16. Now she's 21. She's amazing, so talented.

LAT: So what have you been up to since the finale?

MO: I'm just back from doing the Radio City Music Hall Christmas show, with 18 Rockettes, camels, little people as elves and a living nativity scene. Right when I got back from Radio City, I did Hollywood Week at the Kodak Theater for season eight.  It was fun watching the newbies.

LAT: Can you spot the stars?

MO: I definitely can spot them. I remember in season two I spotted Clay, Ruben, Kimberley and Frenchie Davis out of the crowd. I definitely saw some incredible performers this week. They're all numbers at this point, I don't even remember names, but I definitely saw some incredible singers.

LAT: What advice do you give them?

MO: We tell them, when they come in for Hollywood Week, we've already done Carrie, we've already done Ruben, we've already done Chris Daughtry. Don't copy them. You've gotta be original.