“If You Have Faith Enough, You Can Move Mountains” – Foxes On Idol’s Exclusive Interview with Bo Bice

Longtime Foxes On Idol readers will certainly remember my enthusiasm for Season 4’s Bo Bice. As the first rocker to crack the top 12, Bo paved the way for Chris Daughtry and those who followed, and gave us some pretty memorable performances along the way.

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to talk with Bo in an interview arranged by the promoters of American Idol Rewind, which is currently focusing on Seasons 3 and 4. It was just me and Bo (and his publicist) on the phone, offering a rare opportunity to have a real conversation. As it turned out, Bo did most of the talking, and I ended up setting aside my list of prepared questions and just listening. Somehow, though, we covered everything on my list, and a little bit more.

Bo’s Health

The last time I spoke to Bo was in September 2005 after the Idol tour concert in Syracuse. That night marked his return to the stage three-and-a-half weeks after having had emergency intestinal surgery. At the start of our interview, I allowed myself one “fan-girly” moment and told him how amazing he was that night, all things considered. Bo laughed and admitted he really doesn’t remember much about that night. “Little did I know that was just the beginning,” he said.

Bo told me that, up until the first surgery, he didn’t know how sick he was. He’d suffered from stomach problems for over fifteen years, and at one point had been diagnosed with an ulcer. But because, like many Americans, there were periods in his life that he didn’t have health insurance, he said he learned to live with the pain.

After the first surgery, however, the problems persisted, and Bo needed further treatment that required him to take more time off. It wasn’t easy, and Bo admits to “getting down” at times. He worried about his career, and the impact of taking all this time off. “I wondered if I would be able to do anything,” he said. “But God said he would provide, so I took the time off, and didn’t go back to work.”

The upside to all of this was that Bo had the time to spend with his family, bonding with his son Aidan, who was born in September 2005 (Bo has since had a second son, Caleb, who was born in August 2008). Ultimately, though, he did come back. “The greatest thing of all was being able to come back and do what I love to do,” he said. “And the fans were still there.”

Bo says he feels great now, and now quotes his grandfather’s saying: “You ain’t got nothing, if you ain’t got your health.”

Bo on American Idol

Bo Bice remains positive about his American Idol experience and grateful to the show for opening so many doors. “Idol handed me all my dreams times a million,” he said. Ironically, he nearly didn’t audition. “I was flat broke,” he said. “It was going to cost $400 to do the audition in Orlando, and I didn’t have it.” He was also concerned about losing money from his job, and even losing his job if he took the time off to do the audition. But he did audition, and despite all the odds against it, made the cut to Hollywood and went on to make the top 12.

I remarked how laid back he seemed while he was on the show. Bo laughed and told me that was more about being resigned to going home than anything else. Every week he figured he was a goner. “I always had my bags packed,” he said.

But, of course, he didn’t go home and made it to the finale where he was runner-up to Carrie Underwood. “I’m so proud of Carrie,” he said. “Just look at what she’s done since winning Idol.” Did he really pray that he wouldn’t win? Bo said making that statement was a little naïve, and looking back, he knows it was probably taken the wrong way. But being on Idol was never about winning for Bo. He never expected to get as far as he did, and said all he ever wanted was a chance to get his music out there and maybe get a recording deal. Everything else was gravy.

And while he sees Carrie’s doing stadium tours and selling platinum albums as being great for her, he enjoys the freedom of being able to do a variety of things – performing in large and small venues, doing side projects, and most importantly, controlling his own recording career. No, he’s not making as much money, but that’s not the most important thing to Bo. “I know it sounds cheesy and cliché,” he said, “But the music still means a lot.”

Bo on his Music

Bo said he was blessed to have had the experience of working with Clive Davis, and some great songwriters and producers on his debut album, The Real Thing. “But we ended up making a pop album,” he said. Not so with his second CD. “See the Light is about getting back to my roots and having a chance to stretch my legs a little bit,” he said. And while he knows that being on, and owning, his own indie label (Sugar Money/StratArt) does mean making some sacrifices, the flip side is that he can focus on doing what he loves and not worry about being on the charts.