Delicious diva DIANA ROSS is heading out on tour, with a valentine for her audience in the form of her I Love You CD. One of the stops along the way is FOX's monster hit series, "American Idol," where the music icon will mentor the Final 12 as they prepare to sing songs from her catalog for Tuesday night's competition.
For Ross, who will perform live on the Wednesday night results show, the most exciting part of her "Idol" visit is mentoring the contestants."I like the idea of them knowing that they have someone they can talk to who has a supportive voice," she tells ET's KEVIN FRAZIER in a one-on-one sit-down. "Not someone who is there to criticize them, or someone who is trying to tell them what to do.
As I told them, I want to be supportive to help them bring out the best from who they are."Ross says it is incredible how much pressure these 12 hopefuls are under during this process. Truth be told, she has never undergone anything like it in her career. Still, she hopes to teach them to turn a negative into a positive."They said they were nervous with me, and I was trying to tell them that nervous and excited feel the same, so they should change their language and say they are excited.
Turn nerves into excitement and use it as a good thing," she explains.As for the criticism and advice that is imparted by the three judges -- PAULA ABDUL, RANDY JACKSON and SIMON COWELL --
Ross feels that the recipients need to listen, but not necessarily internalize the comments."There are a lot of people who can pi$$ on your dreams," she adds. "I remember there was someone who tried to keep me from being a performer. I wouldn't be here today, if I had listened to that. You have to learn what to listen to."Ross knows that the price of fame can be high.
While she has successfully raised her four children, her life has not been without its own difficulties, so when asked about the very public trials and tribulations of young pop stars such as BRITNEY SPEARS, she has the following to say: "It is not an easy task to have this attention all the time. You hope they can recover and have a life that is graceful."
