Lauren Alaina: I Knew Scotty Would Win

Lauren Alaina has cried more tears than anyone else on American Idol this season, worrying those watching her roller coaster of emotions. But when the 16-year-old Georgia peach with the killer voice learned that she was not the winner, she was all smiles, shocking everyone. "I think my parents expected me to be, like, really upset, and let down," she said moments after the finale. "And when I [saw them], they had these big smiles on their faces because they saw that I wasn't upset. So it was great."
TV Guide Magazine: How did you feel in the moment when Scotty was announced the winner?
Lauren Alaina: You would expect that I would've felt disappointed, but I didn't, because Scotty's my best friend. We went through this whole process together, and I couldn't have picked a more perfect person to come in second place to. And I mean that with all of my heart. I told him this morning, I said, 'Scotty, are you ready to win?' And he said, 'No, are you?' And I said, 'No, because you'regoing to win.' I knew he was. I knew it in my heart. And I'm just so proud of him, and I'm proud to have gotten second place to him. It's unbelievable. 
TV Guide Magazine: What did you and Scotty whisper in each other's ears after the announcement? 
Lauren: I said, 'I told you so.' And then he said, 'I love you.' And I said, 'I love you, too. Go get 'em.'
TV Guide Magazine: Did you have any doubts along the way about how far you'd get? 
Lauren: My goal was to get Top Three, and I got second place. So doubts or no doubts, I did way more than I ever expected.
TV Guide Magazine: How close were you last night to not performing because of the trouble with your vocal chords? 
Lauren: Never once did it go through my mind that I wasn't going to sing. Even if it sounded like someone was holding onto my throat, I was gonna go out there.
TV Guide Magazine: How are you doing now?
Lauren: I feel better. My throat, it's goin', but I'm okay.
TV Guide Magazine: You've lost a lot of weight since you started this competition.
Lauren: Yeah! I've been eating better and lost about 20 pounds.
TV Guide Magazine: What was the biggest "pinch yourself" moment in this competition? 
Lauren: Singing with Carrie Underwood, by far. It was incredible.
TV Guide Magazine: What are you looking forward to now? 
Lauren: Going to my brother [Tyler's high school] graduation, hopefully. And putting out an album. Just being myself, on an album, singing country music.

TV Guide Magazine: Are you relocating to Nashville? 
Lauren: Definitely! Nashville is two hours from where I live. Nashville is the place for me.  
TV Guide Magazine: What did you think when you heard there were 122 million? 
Lauren: That is so crazy. But either way, America couldn't miss it on this one because Scotty is amazing.
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