Hear radio interview with Leslie Hunt

(this is an expanded web version of the story)

            There’s only one thing on earth more terrifying than singing followed by a critique from American Idol judge Simon Cowell – and that is losing a dog. Even puppy lover, Cowell would likely agree.

Leslie Hunt

            Booted from American Idol wasn’t the worst day of Leslie Hunt’s life. The day she lost Wilson was the worst day. Hunt was a dog walker in Chicago when Wilson, the Tibetan terrier, got through an open gate in the heart of the city. “I never ran so fast in my life,” recalls Hunt.” I literally got sick at the thought of what might happen to Wilson running through multiple major intersections. And I got sick because I was running for so long; I wasn’t in that kind of shape. I vomited – and right in front of a school as they were letting out. “

            She eventually caught up with Wilson, but she says she’s never been so shaken in her life. “I lived the nightmare every dog walker has.”

            Nice thing about singing to dogs, unlike singing to American Idol judges – canine judges are non-judgmental. Unlike Simon, Randy (Jackson) and Paula (Abdul), they never commented on Hunt’s performances. “There’s no inhibition walking and singing to a dog,” she says.

            After Hunt, who is 24, sang Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good,” the judges offered a harsh review. However, Simon, Randy and Paula seemed just as surprised when she was voted off. It’s true that votes from viewers ousted Hunt. But people seemed shocked to see her go. “I know, it’s kinda weird,” she says. She’s talking by phone from Los Angeles, but intends to return to Chicago soon. For one thing, the Fox TV show is no longer paying for her room and board. In fact, the trip has cost her money.

            On a dog trail in the Hollywood Hills, her American cocker spaniel Maya, 7, tear a ligament which required surgery, a $4,000 hit (which her dad helped to pay for). The good news is that Maya is recovering well. A little too well, as she insists on being active, and has repeatedly ripped the stitches out. Her other dog, Beansie, a 1-year old Boston terrier is also with her.

            “I was in this for the long haul,” she says. “I couldn’t possibly have imagined staying away from dogs for months at a time; they’re my family.”

            Hunt comes from a musical family, mom was a vocal performance major in college and plays several instruments; dad is a professional jazz drummer. When she was young her parents played in a rock band.

            Not surprising, she became a musician, majored in music composition at Roosevelt College of Performing Arts, piano performance. But she yearned to reach her dreams and become a performer – so she left school to get out into the world a sing. And that’s just what she began to do at clubs around the Chicago area.

            Bounced off American Idol or not, Hunt’s achieved a lot in her life. Even being a dog walker was quite an achievement. She was diagnosed with lupus (an autoimmune disease) when she was 7. Her childhood and teenage years were spent away from the sun, which would cause her lupus to flare up big time with large rashes on her face and scalp, swollen joints and lethargy, even landing her in the hospital. Obviously, given a choice between the sun and the hospital, she avoided the sun at all costs. That was until she was around 22, and discovered a drug which is primarily used to treat Malaria, called Plaquenil. The medication allows her to be outside without any detrimental affects. .   “I was like a kid in a candy store, getting to go outside like a normal person,” she says. Loving dogs, a dog walker seemed like a perfect job. “I wouldn’t have stood in line (for a total of eight hours over two days) outside in Pasadena for American Idol if it wasn’t for Plaquenil. It’s changed my life.”

            Still, overcoming lupus remains a daily challenge, but she’s succeeding, just as  she succeeded to beat out about 10,000 contestants in the Pasadena try out alone to make American Idol.

            She says she’s made lots of good friends among the Idol contestants, mentioning Blake Lewis, Chris Richardson, Sundance, and her former Idol roommate Gina Glocksen, who she didn’t previously know – but is also from the Chicago area (Naperville, IL). “I think they may be friends for life,” she says.

            Hunt says she is resilient and determined to succeed; clearly that’s the case. She composes her own music (some of it, scribbling notes as she walked dogs), loves performing live and is hoping for a record deal (which surprisingly has, so far, not materialized). “If I’m successful, I can then truly make a difference,” she says. “My real objective is to be in a position to help the Lupus Foundation and animal shelters.”

            As for the question every reporter asks: Who will win Idol? Hunt laughs, and simply says, “Anyone’s guess.”