Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Melanie Amaro was off The X Factor, eliminated by mentor Simon Cowell, sent back to her Florida home in favor of young and exuberant Rachel Crow.

She returned to her job and her pre-X routine, though the 19-year-old admits she wasn’t thrilled with the idea.

Two weeks later, Simon came calling, admitting he’d made a mistake, inviting her back to the show.

During a conference call Friday afternoon, the day after she’d been crowned the first winner of The X Factor, Melanie insisted she had no clue Simon was on his way.

“I was so devastated when he gave me a no,” she said, recalling the scene played out in the final judges’ mansion episode. “I had no idea he was coming. I was out of it (the show).”

She didn’t stay mad at Simon for long.  A sincere apology and a second chance to fulfill her dream took care of that.

And on Friday, Melanie credited Simon’s mentorship as one of the reasons she walked away with that $5 million prize and a recording contract.  Oh, and that’s right, a spot in a Pepsi commercial.

“I needed Simon to be a tough judge in order to grow,” Melanie said. “For me, I needed Simon.”

Even when she returned to The X Factor, Melanie admits she didn’t think she had a great shot at winning.

What set her apart in the end?

Well, there’s that big voice with a great range.

But Melanie also attributed her passion, saying she sings “to the very pit of my soul.”

Among her other comments to the media Friday afternoon:

* She considered Chris Rene her toughest competition, because he was unique and because he wrote his own music. Chris wound up finishing third.

*  She plans to spend part of her newly gained fortune buying her mom a home and herself a foot massager. She did not elaborate on her need for a foot massager.

* She said she’d love to perform with Mariah Carey, partly because she’s been an inspiration, partly because of her “beautiful, big, amazing voice.”

* The “this is the real Melanie Amaro” declaration after her Thanksgiving performance wasn’t planned either, she said. During it, she referenced her struggle growing up, bouncing from the Virgin Islands to the U.S. and back. “The accent just came out,” she said.

* She refused to reveal anything at all about the upcoming album she release.  “I’m going to keep it as a surprise,” she said. “All I’ll say is you should look forward to it and know I’m going to make some great music.”