Katelyn Epperly Blog

Katelyn Epperly & Lilly Scott Reunite On Stage

2010-05-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

American Idol Season 9 stand outs Katelyn Epperly & Lilly Scott reunited on stage at the Blue Moon Dueling Piano Bar and Restaurant in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Katelyn covered Coldplay's "The Scientist" (YAY!), Radiohead's "High And Dry," and John Mayer's "Stop This Train." Lilly performed Ella Fitzgerald's "Lullaby of Birdland" and a few others.

The videos aren't the best, but beggars can't be choosers, right?

Katelyn Epperly - The Scientist (Coldplay cover)

Katelyn Epperly - High and Dry (Radiohead Cover)

Lilly Scott performs "Lullaby of Birdland"

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American Idol's Katelyn Epperly, Lilly Scott performing together

2010-05-04T11:21:00.000-07:00

If you were totally dismayed that Katelyn Epperly and Lilly Scott were booted from "American Idol" during the semi-finals, you can see these "Idol" BFFs together May 5 in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Des Moines Register is reporting that the duo will appear at 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday, May 5 at the Blue Moon Dueling Piano Bar and Restaurant in West Des Moines. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the 21+ show. Cover is $8 at the door.

We wish we still lived in Iowa -- we would totally go! Epperly previously told the Register that she was also performing June 3, but that concert is no longer scheduled. She also sat down in an interview with the Register along-side fellow Des Moines native Olympian Shawn Johnson. The girls had reality show stories to swap, as Shawn was the winner of the "Dancing With the Stars" Season 8.

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A Look Back ~ American Idol Curtain Call Interview: Katelyn Epperly and Todrick Hall

2010-04-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

American Idol Season 9 contestants Katelyn Epperly and Todrick Hall don't regret a single thing about their experience and look forward to their futures.

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Katelyn Epperly sings "Almost Lover" by Fine Frenzy

2010-04-05T11:51:00.000-07:00

American Idol Season 9 contestant Katelyn Epperly sings, "Almost Lover" by Fine Frenzy at Valley's 'Sweetheart Show', Valentine's Day, 2008.

Katelyn Epperly had 'Pride Issues' with being on American Idol

2010-03-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

Katelyn Epperly finally had a breakout American Idol performance last week with Coldplay's "The Scientist," even though the judges didn't see eye-to-eye on it. But the whole panel agreed that her take on Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move" didn't live up to her potential.

Even so, Epperly wasn't expected to get the boot on Thursday, but such was the theme of the shocking results night, when Lilly Scott, Alex Lambert and Todrick Hall were also sent packing. We caught up with the singer/songwriter to talk about her closest "Idol" allies, her next move and more.

Q: Did you feel that the judges were especially hard on you this season?

A: They were definitely more critical towards me. I'm not sure if it's possibly because I've been performing for so long. Maybe they expected more out of me than what I was giving them. But I started off on a pretty strong note, so maybe I didn't live up to their expectations week by week.

Q: Did you sing "I Feel the Earth Move" to compensate for Simon's "corny" comments the week before?

A: I totally did. I definitely was trying to find a song that would portray me as an artist, which is difficult for a singer/songwriter in this competition, because first of all, I don't listen to mainstream music, and second of all, I don't typically perform covers. So I kind of scrambled around last-minute trying to do something. I brought out the Wurlitzer keyboard. I wanted to do something edgier, and it didn't work out for me, but I definitely don't regret doing it, because I love that era.

Q: You and Lilly seemed especially emotional during the results show. Why was that?

A: Lilly and I have gotten really close, and from the start, we've flocked together. Crystal Bowersox too. I don't typically hang out with girls very often, so this was a rare thing for all three of us, actually. To really truly have female friends and to get along so well and to be so supportive of one another and turning and seeing them there — for me, it wasn't over. This is sort of a platform in my career. I wasn't so sad about that; I was sad to see them, and I'm gonna say it was a pretty big disappointment to me to see Lilly go home, because if I were to be at home watching that show, she would, by far, over all the other girls, not be the one going home.

Q: What made you choose "The Scientist" last week?

A: It's definitely a song that comes to mind when I think about anything hard I've had to do, any sort of loss. It's a very touching, riveting song. I covered it a lot this summer and coped with a lot of things that I was going through. This is a song that is sad but also hopeful. When they said it was too slow, that was OK with me. I was waiting for that comment. I wanted to do it slow. I wanted to focus on the lyrics of the song. The song just cries, and I think I portrayed it, despite what the judges might have thought.

Q: Are you especially rooting for anyone now that you're off the show?

A: I wish them all well, because I've gotten to know them all, and everyone's worked so hard. Honestly, from the start, Crystal has been a very true, true friend to me and an honest person. And when she sings, it comes from the heart, and I know you've watched her. It's just natural for her, and she totally deserves it. I'm going to be pushing for her all the way.

Q: Was it comforting to you for there to be so many other singer/songwriters in the competition this season?

A: I think that's very important. That's actually what made me so much more OK with being on the show, because I did have some pride issues with it at first, because a talent competition is not necessarily my thing. I'm the kind of person who just likes to sing and dance and spend time with music instead of making it something competitive. I've seen so many singer/songwriters this year who really are credible and who have been working at it their whole lives and truly deserve it. They didn't just roll out of bed one day and want to be on a TV show and have an OK voice and a pretty face. So it was really fun to sit around backstage while we were rehearsing. We got to just jam out together. We'd all pass around the guitar and sing. It was awesome.

Q: Would you have liked to sing your original songs on the show, if that were an option?

A: That's a tough one. It would be really awesome because I feel like people like Lilly, Crystal and I and others, we would definitely excel in that kind of category. At the same time, it is a show where you get judged. It's really hard, because original music, especially the music I write, is filled with a lot of emotion and it's based on personal experiences, and I think it would be hard for me to get up in front of four people and for them to tell me my personal experiences are invalid and my song that I wrote when I was going through a hard time wasn't good enough. So its mixed and matched, but I definitely think it would be a cool twist to bring to a show and really bring to light some of those true musicians.

Q: What's next? Will you head back to Iowa?

A: I am planning on going back for now, since I'm flat broke. [Laughs.] I gotta go back to Des Moines and start working and continue to pursue recording and writing music with all sorts of different artists. The band called Lovedrug is a band I've been listening to since I was real young. I'm gonna get together with them and hopefully write some music with them as well as other artists. Just getting back in the studio and getting back to what I truly love to do.

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Katelyn Epperly and Alex Lambert talk to FOX Boston

2010-03-13T10:07:00.000-08:00

American Idol Season 9 contestants Katelyn Epperly and Alex Lambert talk to FOX Boston.

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Katelyn Epperly sings “I Feel the Earth Move” by Carole King on American Idol

2010-03-09T17:59:00.000-08:00

Katelyn Epperly sings “I Feel the Earth Move” by Carole King on the American Idol Season 9 Top 8 Girls show.

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Katelyn Epperly sings “The Scientist” by Coldplay on American Idol

2010-03-03T21:35:00.000-08:00

Katelyn Epperly sings “The Scientist” by Coldplay on the American Idol Season 9 Top 10 Girls show.

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Get Katelyn Epperly's pre-American Idol music

2010-02-26T15:11:00.000-08:00

American Idol Season 9 Top 24 contestant Katelyn Epperly released a song before AI, with her band Katelyn and the Bruises. Order the MP3 single "Bruises" by clicking the image below.

Katelyn Epperly sings The Beatles' “Oh Darlin” on American Idol

2010-02-24T00:41:00.000-08:00

Katelyn Epperly sings The Beatles' “Oh Darlin” on the American Idol Season 9 Top 24 show.

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Get To Know American Idol's Katelyn Epperly

2010-02-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

American Idol Season 9 Top 24 contestant Katelyn Epperly's mom cried tears of joy when she found out Katelyn made the show. She is hoping America is ready for a bluesy/jazzy girl.

Meet American Idol's Katelyn Epperly

2010-02-19T16:09:00.000-08:00

Katelyn Epperly, 19

Hometown: West Des Moines, IA
Currently Resides: West Des Moines, IA
Twitter: @KatelynEpperly
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katelyn-Epperly/255504648151

Epperly was born in Iowa City, IA, and has been singing since she was 2 years old. She is a sophomore at Millikin University in Decatur, IL, and enjoys playing the piano.

Katelyn Epperly makes the Top 24 on American Idol

2010-02-17T10:09:00.000-08:00

Katelyn Epperly makes the Top 24 on American Idol Season 9: Hollywood week part 3

Katelyn Epperly with the Valley's Varsity Jazz Choir sings "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

2010-02-05T14:30:00.000-08:00

American Idol Season 9 contestant Katelyn Epperly with the Valley's Varsity Jazz Choir sings Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

Katelyn Epperly American Idol audition

2010-01-24T12:13:00.000-08:00

Katelyn Epperly American Idol Season 9 audition in Chicago.

katelyn chi @ Yahoo! Video

Katelyn Epperly - American Idol Golden Ticket interview

2010-01-20T08:33:00.001-08:00

American Idol Season 9 contestant and Iowa native Katelyn Epperly chats about keeping a clear head in the competition and her many music-related talents.

Katelyn Epperly American Idol Preview

2010-01-19T13:12:00.001-08:00

Katelyn Epperly American Idol Season 9 Preview