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The night is almost upon us. When American Idol broadcasts its season finale this week, millions – and millions and millions – of eyes will be upon the show.

Before we learn who will follow in the winning footsteps of Carrie Underwood, though, let’s hear from the final two contestants.

Both Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis talked with reporters after they moved on in the competition last week. Here are some highlights, beginning with Jordin:

Maddie Poppe Wins American Idol
(ABC)

If she loses: If I don’t win, it won’t be the end of the world. It’s not going to be, ‘Oh my God, I’m never going to sing again.’ I’d be happy if I win. I’d be happy if Blake wins.

Simon Cowell saying she sounded old last week: Simon’s comments always stay with you. But at the same time, I can’t really base what I’m doing on that. Sometimes I do. But he says what he feels. It was old fashioned. But it was a song I loved. I just wanted to sing it really badly.

Favorite judge and best advice: I loved meeting Martina McBride. I’ve listened to her music for so long. She’s amazing. I loved meeting Gwen Stefani… I think I cried when I met her. The best advice came from Jennifer Lopez. She was just so amazing. She made us feel so relaxed. ‘Don’t worry. Sit down, let’s talk awhile.’

Favorite past Idols: I love Kelly Clarkson… the way her career has gone so amazingly well for her. She manages to stay out of the tabloids. She is so amazing. Also, Carrie Underwood has had an amazing career so far.

Now, let’s hear what that hottie, Blake Lewis, had to say…

 
His celebrity fashion sense: I’m just into really poppy bright colors mixed with more hip-hop fashion… I don’t wear jeans. I like to wear grandpa pants, the grandpa slacks with cool patterns. I like to have fun no matter what mood I’m in.

Thoughts on Jordin: I picked Jordin and Gina early on to win the whole thing. I think she’s an amazing woman. She’s 17 and she’s already a woman. She performs well, she’s good looking, she has a fantastic personality. It reads really well on camera. So I love Jordin Sparks. Regardless of the finale, she already has won.

She’s a record label and producer’s dream. She works well with other people. I see a very poppy album. She’s got a little bit of rocker in her as well, more of a Kelly Clarkson. She loves Christina Aguilera. I can see her doing stuff with Will.I.Am with Black Eyed Peas.

Changing songs: I look at it as more from a producers’ standpoint. The three songs I did the most to were ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On,’ the Bon Jovi song and that second Barry Gibb song… I came in and took an acoustic song and made it kind of funky. It depends on the piece on how much arranging goes into it… I’d never take a song as great as Imagine and touch it.