Vonzell: In Fort Myers, before American Idol I was a mail carrier for the United States postal service. I'm the youngest of my family, and my name starts with a 'V', so my dad just started calling me 'Baby V'.
Larry (Vonzell's Dad): Vonzell has grew up in my martial arts class since she was 6 years old. Vonzell: Karate was like everything to us. (clip of the family doing Karate) Everybody in our community, they know us as 'The Karate Kids' ...When I first started martial arts, I would lose my voice all the time from yelling so much. (Vonzell is shown smashing her fist through a block of wood!) And my voice teacher used to get so mad at me.
Mrs Billups (Vonzell's Singing Teacher): Vonzell is one of the sweetest students that I have ever taught. Vonzell: She just opened me up to like so many other types of music out there, and I'm so grateful for that 'cause I fell in love with classical music.
Gabriel (Vonzell's Brother): I never thought she would like be up that far like that but... and doing her thing, but it made me feel real good, you know. I like... I almost cried. (laughs) Vonzell: Oh, my gosh! My brothers, they're very protective of me because I'm the baby and I'm their little sister.
Kendall (Vonzell's Brother): (To Gabriel, joking) It's all right. You can cry, dog. (laughing) You can cry....(Gabriel pretends to cry into Kendall's shoulder) ...he can cry. He's crying. (The 2 brothers grin at each other)
Panel-Bites:
Vonzell sings...
Vonzell: I love you, daddy. (Cheers and applause)
Randy Jackson: Vonzell. Vonzell. Yo, man. All right. So check it out dawg. Check it out. The second week in a row, you choose the most difficult song that'll probably... that will probably happen tonight. I mean, I love that you challenge yourself. You chose the Christina joint, I mean... you 'sang it'. Welcome to the dawg pound! You doing your thing. (Big cheers and dog pound oooh-ooohs!) Yo... And you know what guys? ...American Idol, 'search for a superstar'... We're trying to find the best we can find in America. I'm proud of that performance tonight because you sang that!
Simon Cowell: When I heard that you were going to sing that song, I was a little nervous at first because, you know, Christina is Christina. But what's amazing about you, Vonzell, is not only did you nail the song... you have this innate ability to connect with an audience and tap into their heart strings. You turn on this magic when you hit the bridge... (Cheers) ...and a key turns and this magic happens that's just bone chilling. ...it's beautiful!
Simon Cowell: It's very difficult here, Vonzell, when we sit and listen to the er, performance because it's very, very loud in here. (Addressing Paula) I have a horrible feeling that wasn't as good as you thought. (Simon puts on a glum expression)
Paula Abdul: Oh, I disagree.
Randy Jackson: Oh, I think it was better than you thought.
Paula Abdul: I think it was way better!
Simon Cowell: I'm not sure. I think it was flat at the beginning... We'll see.
(Vonzell's family and friends are shown giving Simon a big thumbs down.) Ryan Seacrest: Vonzell Solomon, 'I Turn To You', Christina Aguilera. You know, Paula's right, you do have that 'intangible' when you sing, that connection when people watch you sing these songs.
Vonzell: Thank you.
Ryan Seacrest: You also have an interesting ritual on Tuesdays. (Addressing the audience) You cannot talk with Vonzell. You have to bring a pen and a piece of paper. (Vonzell Laughs) Why is that, that you don't speak on Tuesdays?
Vonzell: Uhm, sometimes it's because of my voice and I'm just trying to save it all for the stage. But mostly it helps me focus for my performance. So that's what I do every Tuesday.
Ryan Seacrest: So there are like post-its everywhere. "Hi, Vonzell. How you doing today?" And she writes back... (Vonzell laughs)