May 16, 2023 • 8 mins
American Idol Top 3 Finalist Megan Danielle talks about her experience on Idol, her toughest moments, shares her new single and the first place she's headed when back in Douglasville.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
It's not even point nine the bullmood Kimmy and Otis we have got the
(00:03):
Talk of Douglasville with US top threean American Idol Megan Danielle fresh off an
airplane. Literally, you guys justlanded and came straight to the radio station
and we're so glad to Georgia missedyou. But we have been cheering you
like crazy. I'm a huge AmericanIdol fan and I have been just like
(00:24):
screaming at my TV thank you.We's not lying every week. Every week
Otis adds like the idol updates forpeople that are in Georgia to the bottom
of the email and we follow alongjust kind of on the periphery. And
what a cool experience to have youback here. And how has that been.
That's a whirlwind. It's it's honestlybeen just just like a lot,
but like in a good way.Like I've learned so much already about like
(00:47):
me as an artist, and justlike the music glass of it all.
And I don't know, I've justnever really seen myself being where I'm at
today, but it's all because ofGod. And yeah, I'm just thankful
to be here. Absolutely, youwere like not months ago waiting tables,
right, and Douglas Field and yourmom, I think the same place,
right, is what I read.So you guys are waiting tables the same
place, and all of a sudden, now you're going to drop a new
(01:11):
single, right, What kind ofwhirlwind in your mind is that? Really,
it's just what it really makes methink of is just how God works,
because like I'm sitting there, youknow, busting my butt every day
to you know, pay my bills, and you know, watching my mom
do the same thing, and nowI'm just making my dreams come true and
(01:32):
putting out music and just doing thethings I love. So it's really awesome,
really awesome, so amazing what you'redoing. And yeah, what was
that moment like though, when yougot to talk to your mom right after
you made top three, right afterI got to talk to my mom.
Really there was just a bunch ofexcitement, a bunch of tears, but
just overall joy and happiness because youknow, she's always wanted this for me,
(01:53):
and I've always wanted wanted it formyself as well. So randomly,
my wife and I we don't watchIdle all the time, but randomly we
tuned in when you were in thehead to head and she didn't know,
and we hadn't seen the show ina while, and I was like,
as a you know, as aperformer, that seemed to me to be
the most like anxiety written situation I'veever seen. Because you're right there the
(02:17):
other contestant, You've got the judgeslike ten feet from you, and they're
like, all right, we're gonnado a little sing off here, no
big deal. Yeah that It wasawkward, honestly, because you know,
all the contestants, we've all madereally good friends, and you know it's
you know, it's a competition,but we've all just made such good friends.
But I don't know when they toldus we were doing a sing off,
(02:38):
I kind of knew it because itwould be my look that I'd go
in there and have to do that. But it paid off, and it
pushed me to do more and bebetter, So it paid off. What
was the most stressful moment of thewhole time? Was it Hollywood Week?
Was it that moment where your headto head fighting for your life? Was
it when Katy Perry said you didn'tdo something right? You know what I
(03:00):
mean? What was it? So? Yeah, after like every single round,
I thought, oh my gosh,that was so hard. But no,
actually, um, about two weeksago, I struggled really bad with
a sinus infection. So my mypast, like I think my past four
performances, like my voice has beenlike very tired, but nobody noticed.
I didn't know. I mean,that's tired. I want to exactly,
(03:27):
that's yes, there you go.Um. But yeah, really, just
believing in myself has been really what'sbeen the hardest part, just because I've
always been like this, this littlegirl that's just doubted who I am and
who God wants me to be.And now that I'm here, I'm just
growing and I'm learning so much moreabout myself. I love that you put
God in every single moment of this, and that has been a huge factor
(03:50):
in why I love you so much. Not to mention it from Georgia so
we have to, but yeah,I mean, I just feel like there's
not a lot of that these days. There's not a lot of talking about
God and sharing who he is.And I want to be that person.
And you know, I think itdoesn't really matter what age or you know,
what race, what anything. Youknow, it's just we're sharing who
God is. And yeah, yeah, I pray with my kids every night.
(04:11):
The one line we say at theend is use me to be a
light for you and everything I do. So I'm glad you're using that light.
That's amazing. I keep in myhead that God can use one person
to change the whole world, SoI just I want to be that sister.
Amen. Now where are you takingeverybody when you get to Douglas Though
I know all this performance, whereare you taking everyone? Are you taking
(04:34):
the crew to? Where's your firststop? I think we're going to Mars.
We're gonna get out real cheese ithello, he goes, and yeah,
that's where I want to go,George, that's the Zecra weapon.
We talk about all that. Youknow. Look, we my friends and
I Colin, Marybeth, we wentto this this Meshican restaurant in LA and
(04:57):
we got there or what we thoughtwas cheesed it. It was a block
of cheese. I said, y'all, this ain't cheese. About Mexican food
outside of Atlanta is they don't havekso like the dip, they don't have
the dip. You don't you ordercases? They look like we can melt
it for you if you want cheese, well you are in an incredible spirit.
(05:19):
You've got an awesome song that wewant to debut. We want to
be the first radio station to payit for you. Gos awesome that Yeah,
all right? Please? The messagein that song for little girls,
for people with dreams like you isso huge, Kimmy, Oh no,
I mean absolutely so Performing that whenyou knew that it was going to be
recorded and everybody was going to finallyget to hear it, what was that
(05:42):
like for you? It's an honorreally, just because you know everything I've
been through, but not only mayyou know my siblings, my mama,
um, and just really for allthe little girls that doubt theirselves or that
have been through just a lot,and not only little girls, just people
in general that are afraid of chasingtheir dream. One thing will know you
can. Yeah. I think youlook at it like, especially coming from
Douglasville, you know, there's gottabe moments you're like that. You know,
(06:05):
I didn't think this was possible,right, You don't think that's something
you can do. I think that'san incredible inspiration to kids that grow up
in rural areas, that grow upoutside of major cities that you don't have.
You can live out here and makeit to where you want to go,
exactly because I mean I never reallystrained myself right here, and you
know band band from Douglasville, anybodycan do it. You saw it,
(06:27):
you just didn't totally believe it.I think that little girl in her bedroom
singing those songs out to the radiowas like one day, right, Yeah,
he just put chills all over mybody because you like, read my
mom for a second. But yeah, that's that's true. I'm glad you
believed him. We're glad to hearget used to sitting there because anytime you
want to come out right, youhave a lifetime, lifetime, lifetime agreement
(06:48):
to come in here whenever you want. Thank you. If we didn't ask
this, we'd probably get yelled atby our listeners. So who you worked
with a lot of people. I'mnot just talking about Katie Luke. Of
course we have an affinity for him, We love Luke Lionel. But you
worked with Alanis Morrisset. You sangher song in front of her. That
had to be wild. What moment? Like? Who? Which person is?
(07:12):
Really? What I'm asking was thebest mentor the person that walked you
the farthest in this journey. Um, you can think as long as you
want. I know, that's athat's a deep question, Atlantis. Yes,
Lauren Dagles walked in when you wereauditioning. Holy cow, Yeah that's
that's not rattling. Yeah, nopressure. Hum, it was Lauren Dagle.
(07:33):
I just had a well that wasa while ago. Yes, So
without a doubt Lauren dagele Um,she is absolutely incredible. Actually just went
to her concert last week in LosAngeles and um, we got to talk
for a minute. I'm gonna sayyou got all the access and everything.
Oh yeah now, but yeah,just without a doubt Lauren, you know,
(07:56):
because she like, not only didshe love much talent, but she
was more focused on my relationship withGod. And that's what really spoke out
to me. And yeah, she'sawesome, amazing. Congratulations to you.
Yes, what a feat. Thisis nothing small, this is massive and
your town is so behind you.Tomorrow when they walk you through that parade
(08:16):
and they're screaming your name, you'regonna be just just take a second and
breathe, yeah for a second,because I know it's going to be like
one of those wedding moments where youdon't remember anything that happened. Now you
can see the video. Yeah Ido that anyways want, but then tell
yourself, you deserve it, absolutelydeserve it. Sir. Congratulations, thank
(08:39):
you, welcome back, thank you, thank you,
It's not even point nine the bullmood Kimmy and Otis we have got the
(00:03):
Talk of Douglasville with US top threean American Idol Megan Danielle fresh off an
airplane. Literally, you guys justlanded and came straight to the radio station
and we're so glad to Georgia missedyou. But we have been cheering you
like crazy. I'm a huge AmericanIdol fan and I have been just like
(00:24):
screaming at my TV thank you.We's not lying every week. Every week
Otis adds like the idol updates forpeople that are in Georgia to the bottom
of the email and we follow alongjust kind of on the periphery. And
what a cool experience to have youback here. And how has that been.
That's a whirlwind. It's it's honestlybeen just just like a lot,
but like in a good way.Like I've learned so much already about like
(00:47):
me as an artist, and justlike the music glass of it all.
And I don't know, I've justnever really seen myself being where I'm at
today, but it's all because ofGod. And yeah, I'm just thankful
to be here. Absolutely, youwere like not months ago waiting tables,
right, and Douglas Field and yourmom, I think the same place,
right, is what I read.So you guys are waiting tables the same
place, and all of a sudden, now you're going to drop a new
(01:11):
single, right, What kind ofwhirlwind in your mind is that? Really,
it's just what it really makes methink of is just how God works,
because like I'm sitting there, youknow, busting my butt every day
to you know, pay my bills, and you know, watching my mom
do the same thing, and nowI'm just making my dreams come true and
(01:32):
putting out music and just doing thethings I love. So it's really awesome,
really awesome, so amazing what you'redoing. And yeah, what was
that moment like though, when yougot to talk to your mom right after
you made top three, right afterI got to talk to my mom.
Really there was just a bunch ofexcitement, a bunch of tears, but
just overall joy and happiness because youknow, she's always wanted this for me,
(01:53):
and I've always wanted wanted it formyself as well. So randomly,
my wife and I we don't watchIdle all the time, but randomly we
tuned in when you were in thehead to head and she didn't know,
and we hadn't seen the show ina while, and I was like,
as a you know, as aperformer, that seemed to me to be
the most like anxiety written situation I'veever seen. Because you're right there the
(02:17):
other contestant, You've got the judgeslike ten feet from you, and they're
like, all right, we're gonnado a little sing off here, no
big deal. Yeah that It wasawkward, honestly, because you know,
all the contestants, we've all madereally good friends, and you know it's
you know, it's a competition,but we've all just made such good friends.
But I don't know when they toldus we were doing a sing off,
(02:38):
I kind of knew it because itwould be my look that I'd go
in there and have to do that. But it paid off, and it
pushed me to do more and bebetter, So it paid off. What
was the most stressful moment of thewhole time? Was it Hollywood Week?
Was it that moment where your headto head fighting for your life? Was
it when Katy Perry said you didn'tdo something right? You know what I
(03:00):
mean? What was it? So? Yeah, after like every single round,
I thought, oh my gosh,that was so hard. But no,
actually, um, about two weeksago, I struggled really bad with
a sinus infection. So my mypast, like I think my past four
performances, like my voice has beenlike very tired, but nobody noticed.
I didn't know. I mean,that's tired. I want to exactly,
(03:27):
that's yes, there you go.Um. But yeah, really, just
believing in myself has been really what'sbeen the hardest part, just because I've
always been like this, this littlegirl that's just doubted who I am and
who God wants me to be.And now that I'm here, I'm just
growing and I'm learning so much moreabout myself. I love that you put
God in every single moment of this, and that has been a huge factor
(03:50):
in why I love you so much. Not to mention it from Georgia so
we have to, but yeah,I mean, I just feel like there's
not a lot of that these days. There's not a lot of talking about
God and sharing who he is.And I want to be that person.
And you know, I think itdoesn't really matter what age or you know,
what race, what anything. Youknow, it's just we're sharing who
God is. And yeah, yeah, I pray with my kids every night.
(04:11):
The one line we say at theend is use me to be a
light for you and everything I do. So I'm glad you're using that light.
That's amazing. I keep in myhead that God can use one person
to change the whole world, SoI just I want to be that sister.
Amen. Now where are you takingeverybody when you get to Douglas Though
I know all this performance, whereare you taking everyone? Are you taking
(04:34):
the crew to? Where's your firststop? I think we're going to Mars.
We're gonna get out real cheese ithello, he goes, and yeah,
that's where I want to go,George, that's the Zecra weapon.
We talk about all that. Youknow. Look, we my friends and
I Colin, Marybeth, we wentto this this Meshican restaurant in LA and
(04:57):
we got there or what we thoughtwas cheesed it. It was a block
of cheese. I said, y'all, this ain't cheese. About Mexican food
outside of Atlanta is they don't havekso like the dip, they don't have
the dip. You don't you ordercases? They look like we can melt
it for you if you want cheese, well you are in an incredible spirit.
(05:19):
You've got an awesome song that wewant to debut. We want to
be the first radio station to payit for you. Gos awesome that Yeah,
all right? Please? The messagein that song for little girls,
for people with dreams like you isso huge, Kimmy, Oh no,
I mean absolutely so Performing that whenyou knew that it was going to be
recorded and everybody was going to finallyget to hear it, what was that
(05:42):
like for you? It's an honorreally, just because you know everything I've
been through, but not only mayyou know my siblings, my mama,
um, and just really for allthe little girls that doubt theirselves or that
have been through just a lot,and not only little girls, just people
in general that are afraid of chasingtheir dream. One thing will know you
can. Yeah. I think youlook at it like, especially coming from
Douglasville, you know, there's gottabe moments you're like that. You know,
(06:05):
I didn't think this was possible,right, You don't think that's something
you can do. I think that'san incredible inspiration to kids that grow up
in rural areas, that grow upoutside of major cities that you don't have.
You can live out here and makeit to where you want to go,
exactly because I mean I never reallystrained myself right here, and you
know band band from Douglasville, anybodycan do it. You saw it,
(06:27):
you just didn't totally believe it.I think that little girl in her bedroom
singing those songs out to the radiowas like one day, right, Yeah,
he just put chills all over mybody because you like, read my
mom for a second. But yeah, that's that's true. I'm glad you
believed him. We're glad to hearget used to sitting there because anytime you
want to come out right, youhave a lifetime, lifetime, lifetime agreement
(06:48):
to come in here whenever you want. Thank you. If we didn't ask
this, we'd probably get yelled atby our listeners. So who you worked
with a lot of people. I'mnot just talking about Katie Luke. Of
course we have an affinity for him, We love Luke Lionel. But you
worked with Alanis Morrisset. You sangher song in front of her. That
had to be wild. What moment? Like? Who? Which person is?
(07:12):
Really? What I'm asking was thebest mentor the person that walked you
the farthest in this journey. Um, you can think as long as you
want. I know, that's athat's a deep question, Atlantis. Yes,
Lauren Dagles walked in when you wereauditioning. Holy cow, Yeah that's
that's not rattling. Yeah, nopressure. Hum, it was Lauren Dagle.
(07:33):
I just had a well that wasa while ago. Yes, So
without a doubt Lauren dagele Um,she is absolutely incredible. Actually just went
to her concert last week in LosAngeles and um, we got to talk
for a minute. I'm gonna sayyou got all the access and everything.
Oh yeah now, but yeah,just without a doubt Lauren, you know,
(07:56):
because she like, not only didshe love much talent, but she
was more focused on my relationship withGod. And that's what really spoke out
to me. And yeah, she'sawesome, amazing. Congratulations to you.
Yes, what a feat. Thisis nothing small, this is massive and
your town is so behind you.Tomorrow when they walk you through that parade
(08:16):
and they're screaming your name, you'regonna be just just take a second and
breathe, yeah for a second,because I know it's going to be like
one of those wedding moments where youdon't remember anything that happened. Now you
can see the video. Yeah Ido that anyways want, but then tell
yourself, you deserve it, absolutelydeserve it. Sir. Congratulations, thank
(08:39):
you, welcome back, thank you, thank you,
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