Vault: American Idol-Crystal Bowersox

Summary

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The Bert Show – Vault: American Idol - Crystal Bowersox

Original Air Date: August 12, 2026
Featured Guest: Crystal Bowersox (American Idol Season 9 runner-up)
Podcast Regulars: The Bert Show Cast (Bert, with guest Tyler Redick and others)

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Episode Overview

This episode from The Bert Show's "Vault" series dives into a candid post-American Idol conversation with Crystal Bowersox, runner-up of Season 9. The hosts discuss with Crystal the infamous timing of her breakup before the finale, her reaction to coming in second, her plans post-Idol, and her music philosophy. The conversation balances humor and heartfelt moments, with Crystal offering authentic, down-to-earth reflections on fame, creativity, and staying true to herself.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Crystal’s “Worst Timed Breakup” Ahead of the Finale

• [01:03 – 03:07]
  • Crystal’s boyfriend broke up with her on the morning of the performance show.
  • She describes it as “mutual” and not dramatic — he struggled with the attention.

    “It wasn’t like a bad breakup or anything. It was a mutual decision...He’s been my steady rock through the whole thing...We’re gonna be fine. We’re still friends.”
    — Crystal Bowersox [02:32]

  • Admits the timing was rough, but holds no grudge.

    “Yeah, I know. I told him the timing was bad, but I’m not mad. It’s ok.”
    — Crystal Bowersox [03:02]

  • She says she “channeled it right into the performance.”

The Finale – Losing to Lee DeWyze

• [03:10 – 05:20]
  • The hosts poke fun, praising her performance over Lee’s.

    “You whooped his ass on performance night, man.”
    — Tyler Redick [03:25]

  • Crystal stays gracious:

    “You won’t hear it from my lips... I don’t think it’s about that. Lee has worked really, really hard for this...I’m really proud of him.”
    — Crystal Bowersox [03:35, 03:48]

  • She describes the moment Lee’s name was announced: she wasn’t shocked, she’d had a “feeling” he would win.

    “Earlier in the day, I just had a feeling. I knew Lee was going to win, and I was fine with that...As soon as Lee’s name was called, I was just excited for him. I started clapping and crying for him.”
    — Crystal Bowersox [04:49]

Memorable Moments on Idol

• [04:05 – 04:31]
  • Crystal’s duet with Alanis Morissette was a highlight for her.

    “We showed up wearing the same thing...We’re just like, hi. And then we sang, and that's really where we communicated. But she’s great. She’s been a hero of mine for a long time.”
    — Crystal Bowersox [04:13]

Reflections on Fame and Creative Control

• [05:20 – 07:42]
  • Crystal says both she and Lee will have “freedom” in creating their albums, regardless of who won.

    “Number one spot doesn’t mean you have any less freedom...Both of us are going to be able to do exactly what we want and put out an album we’re proud of.”
    — Crystal Bowersox [05:56]

  • She confirms her single “The Mountain” will still be released.

    “The Mountain will be released and you can get it on iTunes and hopefully hear it on the radio.”
    — Crystal Bowersox [06:17]

  • She stands firm on artistic independence:

    “Nobody. I am untamable. Ideally, I’d like to put out an album that is all my original material...I’m open to working with co-writers...I’m not going to take [these opportunities] for granted.”
    — Crystal Bowersox [07:11]

  • On her future in the industry’s “machine”:

    “I'm not going to release anything that I’m not proud of. It’s a collaborative thing. I write songs. We’ll use some of mine. We’ll do some co-writing...it’s going to be a process but I’m really excited about [it].”
    — Crystal Bowersox [07:42]

  • Targets album release for “end of September, maybe end of the year.”

Viral Fan Reaction & Connection with Audience

• [08:06 – 08:43]
  • The hosts mention a viral video featuring an emotional fan devastated by Crystal's loss.

    “Poor...Oh, I feel for her. I’m so sorry for her. I had no idea that people were that, you know, moved or upset by the results...That lady needs a hug. It’s humorous, but at the same time, I feel for her. It’s a little scary.”
    — Crystal Bowersox [08:13-08:43]

Closing

• [08:49 – 09:00]
  • Crystal thanks the show, says goodbye warmly, and the hosts offer best wishes for her career.

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Notable Quotes

• On handling heartbreak:

  “I just channeled that right into the performance, and I feel like I did a good job.”
  — Crystal Bowersox [03:10]

• On competition and camaraderie:

  “Every performance I do, I just go out there and give it my all, and he does the same thing...I’m really proud of him.”
  — Crystal Bowersox [03:48]

• On artistic integrity:

  “Nobody. I am untamable. Ideally, I’d like to put out an album that is all my original material, but I’m open to working with co-writers...”
  — Crystal Bowersox [07:11]

• On success and audience connection:

  “That’s the point of music is to move ya.”
  — Crystal Bowersox [06:45]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:03 – The infamous day-of-finale breakup story
• 03:25 – Hosts praise Crystal’s finale performance (“You whooped his ass”)
• 04:13 – Stories from her Alanis Morissette duet
• 04:49 – Crystal’s authentic reaction to Lee winning
• 05:56 – Discussing creative control and post-Idol plans
• 06:17 – News on single “The Mountain” release
• 07:11 – Stand on songwriting and artistic direction
• 08:13 – Viral video of devastated fan (“That lady needs a hug”)

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Episode Tone & Style

The conversation is light, supportive, and honest, mixing playful jabs about reality TV with encouragement and real-life lessons. Crystal is open and humble, using humor to process tough experiences, and emphasizing her commitment to meaningful music rather than industry hype.

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For listeners (or readers) wanting a genuine look at post-reality show life, performance pressure, and maintaining creative identity, this episode is as raw and relatable as Crystal Bowersox herself.

Transcript

[Tyler Redick]

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[Unidentified Commentator]

the

[Tyler Redick]

first show at Crystal Bower. Socks, ma'.

[Unidentified Commentator]

Am.

Mama socks.

[Crystal Bowersox]

You got.

[Tyler Redick]

This is like the worst timed breakup ever. Ever. I didn't even know the story until Jeff told us before we had her on yesterday.

[Unidentified Commentator]

Of course, she was one of the runners up on or. She was the runner up on American

idol season and she did an interview right after she was crowned runner up where she said, yeah, everything was cool until the morning of I was having breakfast with my boyfriend. He dumped me, dude. The morning of the performance show. She didn't say a word about it during the performance show. She didn't say a word about it in the finale show. And it was an interview the morning after the finale show where she was like, yep, I got dumped.

[Tyler Redick]

So she talks to us about that. I tried to get her to admit that she did a better job than Lee did on the performance show, but she wouldn't budge on that. But it was so clearly obvious. But she's sweetheart. Here's Crystal Bowersox, the American idol runner up.

[Crystal Bowersox]

Hi.

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How are you?

[Unidentified Commentator]

Good.

[Tyler Redick]

How are you today?

[Unidentified Commentator]

Pretty good.

[Tyler Redick]

You are on the Burke show right now in Atlanta.

[Crystal Bowersox]

Awesome. Hi, Atlanta. Hi, Bert.

[Tyler Redick]

Hey, what's going on?

[Crystal Bowersox]

Melissa and Wendy too, right?

[Tyler Redick]

All right, everybody's here.

[Unidentified Commentator]

That's cool. Nice.

[Tyler Redick]

So does this feel sort of like the calm after the storm for you now or is it just as hectic this week as it was last week?

[Crystal Bowersox]

You know, strangely, Wednesday night before the results was like, that was my calm. I don't know why, but that was my calm. And, you know, now I'm just really looking forward to the future and everything that holds.

[Tyler Redick]

Oh, we're not done with the past yet.

[Crystal Bowersox]

Let's talk about it.

[Tyler Redick]

Interesting rumor about the performance night.

[Unidentified Commentator]

Yeah, we heard the rumor I think it was Jeff that actually told the rumor about you and your boyfriend breaking up.

[Crystal Bowersox]

Yeah. Yeah, that's true.

[Tyler Redick]

Dude, that's crappy timing. That might be.

[Crystal Bowersox]

That's okay. I mean, it wasn't like a. It wasn't like a bad breakup or anything. It was a mutual decision. You know, we're close friends, and he's been. He's been my steady rock through the whole thing. He's been amazing. And, you know, it's just some things about the attention that he didn't. He doesn't like, and I completely respect that. And, you know, we're gonna be fine. We're gonna be fine. We're still friends. We talking, you know, we're talking all the time.

[Unidentified Commentator]

But could he avoid it a day?

[Crystal Bowersox]

Yeah, I know. I told him the timing was bad, but I'm not mad. It's okay.

[Tyler Redick]

It's funny that the rock, like the

[Crystal Bowersox]

morning really, right now, honestly. I mean, it was kind of. I mean, I wouldn't say it was perfect because clearly it's better than, you know, if it didn't happen, but at the same time, I just channeled that right into the performance, and I feel like I did a good job.

[Unidentified Commentator]

Oh, my God.

[Crystal Bowersox]

Yeah.

[Tyler Redick]

Yeah, you did. I mean, I know you're never, ever gonna be able to say this, so just. Just listen in for a second, okay? You whooped his ass on performance night, man.

[Crystal Bowersox]

You won't hear it from my lips.

[Tyler Redick]

I. I know, and I know you can't say that, but it was so.

[Crystal Bowersox]

I can say anything I want, but I won't.

[Tyler Redick]

So you do not think that you really, like, had a much better night that night than he did?

[Crystal Bowersox]

You know, I. I don't think it's about that. I. I just. I think Lee has worked really, really hard for this, and he deserves every minute of it. You know, I just. Every performance I do, I just go out there and give it my all, and he does the same thing. You know, we have off nights, we have good nights and bad nights, but, you know, I'm really proud of him.

[Unidentified Commentator]

I think my favorite performance from the entire season of Idol is you with Alanis Morissette at that finale. That was unbelievable. Tell us how that felt.

[Crystal Bowersox]

That was a lot of fun. I met her before the show and we didn't talk too much, but we showed up wearing the same thing. I thought it was hilarious, but we both had, like, knee high black boots and black jeans and a little black jacket, and we're just like, hi. And then we sang, and that's really where we communicated. But she's great. She's been a hero of mine for a long time.

[Tyler Redick]

I want to know the exact moments that they announced that Lee won it. I mean, you're on stage there, and Ryan is doing that pregnant pause.

[Crystal Bowersox]

Yeah.

[Tyler Redick]

And then your name is not announced. Are you shocked? Are you immediately disappointed? What's going through your head?

[Crystal Bowersox]

No, because I don't know why, but earlier in the day, I just had a feeling, you know, I knew Lee was going to win, and I was fine with that. I mean, I feel like maybe my fans were let down, but at the same time, it's like we're both going to have great, successful careers. And as soon as Lee's name was called, I was just. I was just excited for him. I mean, I started clapping and crying for him. I really feel like I'm an empathetic person, and I could feel everything he was feeling. I looked up at the confetti, and it was just. It was my moment, too. I know it was focused on Lee, but I really felt like I had that moment as well.

[Tyler Redick]

Do you think somehow, some way that he's more marketable, like, on a more, like, mainstream level and that's why he won this thing?

[Crystal Bowersox]

I don't know if that's why he won, but I think, you know, definitely Lee. Lee, you know, he appeals to. You know, he appeals to older women, young women, and, you know, like, not just women, but he's a rock guy. You know, he is marketable. But it's not to say that I'm not.

[Unidentified Commentator]

Do you think that not winning American Idol is actually maybe taking some pressure off of you and is gonna allow you to be more creative on your album and. And really create your own thing without as much pressure from the higher ups?

[Crystal Bowersox]

Well, I mean, just. I mean, number one spot doesn't mean you have any less freedom, you know, So I. Both of us are gonna be able to do exactly what we want and put out an album that we're proud of.

[Unidentified Commentator]

We were lucky to be in the audience during that final performance for you and Lee. And I know that I'm curious about the song that you sang that the release single had you won and is that going to be released?

[Crystal Bowersox]

It actually. It is being released. The mountain will be released, and you can get it on itunes and hopefully hear it on the radio.

[Tyler Redick]

It was fantastic.

[Crystal Bowersox]

It was fantastic.

[Tyler Redick]

All three songs that you did. I told these guys when we were in la, the three songs that you did on performance night. The first one, you made me smile. The second one, you gave me boost, Gumps, Boo.

[Crystal Bowersox]

Scums.

[Tyler Redick]

Those are much bigger than the goosebumps. And on the third one, you just made me tear up. I mean, it was just fantastic.

[Crystal Bowersox]

Thank you very much. That's the point of music is to move ya.

[Unidentified Commentator]

Is your song a cover song?

[Crystal Bowersox]

The song. The single that's being released.

[Unidentified Commentator]

The single? Yeah.

[Crystal Bowersox]

Yeah, that's a cover song. That's a Patty Griffin tune. I don't think she wrote it, but her version of it is my favorite.

[Tyler Redick]

Okay, so now what happens here? Now you go into a studio and you write your own stuff. Do you have people writing songs for you? I just sort of feel like this is a machine that's almost like taking you over right now.

[Crystal Bowersox]

No, no, no. Nobody, Nobody. I am untamable. You know, ideally, I'd like to put out an album that is, you know, all my original material, but I'm open to working with co writers and, you know, just. I've got access to the best people in the industry. I'm not gonna, you know, take that for granted.

[Tyler Redick]

Do you? I mean, you're still sort of, I think, earning quote, unquote street cred in the music industry. So do you really have, like, final say what goes on your album, or do you have a whole bunch of people telling you what's going on the album?

[Crystal Bowersox]

I mean, no, we. I mean, it's a bunch of ideas that come together and, you know, I'm not going to release anything that I'm not proud of. So, you know, it's a collaborative thing. You know, I write songs. We'll use some of mine. You know, we'll do some co writing. We'll do. It's going to be a process, but I'm really excited about. I think it's end of September, maybe end of the year, it'll be released and it'll be good.

[Unidentified Commentator]

Crystal, did you by chance get to see the viral video of the woman who says her life is over because you did not win American Idol?

[Crystal Bowersox]

Poor. Oh, I feel for her. I'm so sorry for her. She was. I. I had no idea that people were that, you know, moved or upset by the results.

[Unidentified Commentator]

Pretty fascinating. She is way into you.

[Crystal Bowersox]

Is this a girl actually thinking about paying her a visit?

[Tyler Redick]

Yeah.

[Crystal Bowersox]

That lady needs a hug.

[Tyler Redick]

Apparently you need to do it quickly. Apparently very quickly.

[Crystal Bowersox]

Oh, man. Yeah, that's. It's humorous, but at the same time, I feel for her. It's a little scary.

[Tyler Redick]

Yeah, totally. All right, Crystal, thanks a lot for joining us. Good luck with all the success. And I'm sure we'll see you in Atlanta soon.

[Crystal Bowersox]

All right. Thanks for having me.

[Tyler Redick]

All right.

[Unidentified Commentator]

Bye.

[Tyler Redick]

Bye.

[Crystal Bowersox]

Bye.

[Tyler Redick]

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