S E106: Taylor Hicks: American Idol Secrets and the Broadway Grind :: Ep 106 Try That in a Small Town Podcast
S E106: Taylor Hicks: American Idol Secrets and the Broadway Grind :: Ep 106 Try That in a Small Town Podcast  
Podcast: Try That in a Small Town Podcast
Published On: Mon Apr 27 2026
Description: American Idol Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks joins Try That In A Small Town to unpack how Hurricane Katrina accidentally sent him to the Vegas auditions, what Simon Cowell really thought at first, and the strategy he used to “play the game” and win Idol at its peak.Taylor breaks down crazy behind-the-scenes Idol stories, the early days of 360 deals, going from a 60-cap bar to Southeast Asia arenas in six months, writing and singing the Paul Finebaum Show theme, and grinding through 576 Broadway shows in a 40-foot ice cream cone as Teen Angel in Grease. He also teases his new single “The Mirror,” cut at Sun Records with Memphis horns and a southern rock vibe.Plus: a hilarious “DipShidiots” segment on airport bathrooms, oversized carry-ons, public sneezers and more.Key Timestamps:00:00 Taylor’s wild Hurricane Katrina-to-Idol audition story11:45 Simon Cowell’s early rejection and later apology23:00 Inside Idol strategy, 360-style deals and media “game play”27:30 From small bar gigs to arenas and Southeast Asia41:28 Broadway in Grease and life inside a 40-foot ice cream cone55:30 New single “The Mirror” and current touring life59:00 “DipShidiots” segment: pet peeves and airport stories______________________________________________________________________________________________ SPONSORS: The Try That in a Small Town Podcast is powered by e|spaces! Redefining Coworking - Exceptional Office Space for Every Business Book a tour today at espaces.com From the Patriot Mobile studios: Don’t get fooled by other cellular providers pretending to share your values or have the same coverage. They don’t and they can’t! Go to PATRIOTMOBILE.COM/SMALLTOWN or call 972-PATRIOT Right now, get a FREE MONTH when you use the offer code SMALLTOWN. Original Brands - Our original sponsor since the beginning!! Original brands is starting a new era and American domestic premium beer, American made, American owned, Original glory. Join the movement at www.drinkoriginalbrands.com Peacemaker Coffee Company Founded by retired police officer/chief Chris Morris, Peacemaker delivers clean, low-acidity coffee while supporting police, firefighters, EMS, military, veterans, teachers, dispatchers, and medical personnel through donations and programs. https://www.peacemakercoffeecompany.com/ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Follow/Rate/Share at www.trythatinasmalltown.com - For advertising inquiries, email info@trythatinasmalltown.com Produced by Jim McCarthy and www.ItsYourShow.coSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.