Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Crystal Bowersox told the story Sunday night during her Ustream chat with fans.

She was 10 years old. She could play a guitar. She knew 10 songs.

So she performed at a local mall, singing the same 10 songs over and over again as customers walked past.

“When I looked down at the guitar case at the end of the day, that’s when I knew I could make a living doing this,” she said.

Here’s betting her upcoming gigs will be a little more lucrative.

And she’ll have her own album out by the end of the year.

That she’d get an album deal was pretty much accepted as a given after the 24-year-old from Ohio placed second to Lee DeWyze on American Idol last month.

It became official Monday, with the news that Crystal has signed a record deal with 19 Recordings/Jive Records.

“Crystal is one of the most naturally gifted and talented singer-songwriters to have ever come out of Idol,” Idol producer Simon Fuller said is a press release issued today. “The breadth of her talent is inspiring.”

Just don’t screw it up, guys. Don’t try to turn her into a pop star.

Let Crystal be Crystal.

And consider some of her originals — like “Farmer’s Daughter” and “Holy Toledo” — for that debut album.

She’s not only a talented songwriter, she’s a talented songwriter who’s already written some CD-worthy material.