Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Having Chris Daughtry appear on Idol’s results show Wednesday night helped cushion the blow.

So said Allison Iraheta in her farewell conference call interview with the media Thursday afternoon.

Allison got the Idol boot Wednesday night, leaving her in fourth place in season eight.

Three years ago, Daughtry found himself in the same spot.

Not to worry. He formed a band, released an album that sold 5 million copies and was back on Idol this week singing the first single off CD number two, due out in July.

“He’s done so much,” Allison said. “You know, if he’s done well, and he didn’t have to make it all the way to the top, it gives me a chance, hopefully.”

Make that most definitely.

After all, Allison already overcame several obstacles during her improbable Idol run.

At age 17 (16 when the finals began), she was one of the youngest competitors, yet never seemed intimidated by the Idol stage.

She finished in the bottom three three times prior to Wednesday’s show, but bounced back strong every time.

She finished fourth despite very little air time prior to the semifinals.

And she finished fourth in a competition that hasn’t been kind to female singers with a rock edge. The last female rocker to do as well was Nikki McKibbin, who finished third all the way back in season one.

On stage, her performances were normally pitch perfect. But the judges’ critiques often strayed into other areas, whether it be her outfits or Simon’s suggestion that she start talking more to prove to America that she’s not boring.

Did the comments unrelated to her singing bother her?

“It sorta did,” Allison admitted. “It’s like, ‘C’mon, I’m singing here.’

“But I think overall they were all looking at what you would do as a (recording) artist. I knew there was a lot of risks that I did in dressing and all that. But, hey, I had fun with it, and I think that’s what mattered.”

As for the comments about her personality, Allison finally fought back when Simon suggested she “start begging” for votes at the end of her solo performance Tuesday night.

“I’m really not the kind of person who talks back. He said, ‘Start begging.’ And I’m like, ‘You know what, that’s it.’ I felt it was the perfect time to stand up for myself. You say I don’t talk enough. Well, I might as well just talk.”

But if there’s a lasting impression of Allison that sticks with voters from this week’s shows, it will most likely be her blistering duet with Adam Lambert.

They performed Foghat’s “Slow Ride” to close Tuesday’s show and received rave reviews from all four Idol judges.

The best news for Idol fans …

“We’re even planning on doing that song on the tour,” Allison said. “It’s gonna be fun.”