Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Cristabel Clack told the San Antonio Express-News that she’d pretty much swore off singing competitions.

She had auditioned in the past, only to be cut in the first round.

Then she was driving past the Alamodome last summer and saw that American Idol auditions were being held there.

“I was like, ‘You know what? It’s right here, in my hometown. Let me just take a shot at it.'”

A few months later, she’s Vegas bound, one of 20 remaining female contestants out of thousands who tried out for the show.

Cristabel, 29, told FOX29 in San Antonio that her previous try at Idol came 10 years ago, when she was 19.

“I didn’t really know who I was as an artist, so I would kind of adapt to whoever I was singing at the time,” she said. “The 10 years went by, and I think I grew as a person and I grew as a singer. I became myself. I think that’s what helped me.”

After all, Cristabel wasn’t exactly idle in the years in between.

Known as “Chica,” she has toured with reknowned gospel singer Israel Houghton and New Breed, with evangelist Rod Parsley and as a member of the Christian World Praise Team.

She’s now a worship leader and sang with her church group at a number of inaugural events in Washington, D.C., earlier this year.

Singing came naturally since she grew up in a musical family, Cristabel told Idol in her Road to Hollywood video. Her father was a singer and her three siblings showed an interest in music as well.

“My mom has tapes of us harmonizing from when we were tiny little tots,” she told the Express-Times.

As for that audition in San Antonio … this time, Cristabel impressed all four Idol judges with a soulful rendition of “If I Ain’t Got You.”

“What makes me unique is my tone,” she told Idol. “Vocally, I have kind of this rasp. Most people usually key in on that when they hear me sing.”

The mother of three, Cristabel told the Express-Times she and her husband, Brandon, eventually want to start their own ministry in the San Antonio area.

Now, here are a couple of clips of Cristabel performing.

“No Sweeter Name”

“King of Kings” (with the Christian World Praise Team)

“Our God” (with the Christian World Praise Team)