‘American Idol’ Contestant Haley Reinhart Finds It Hard to Watch Friends Get Voted Off

'American Idol' contestant and Chicago native Haley Reinhart spoke with her hometown's Showbiz Shelly on Z96 radio recently about her experiences so far on the show. She enthused about new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez, but lamented the difficulty she's had watching fellow singers getting voted off the show.

"Seeing our friends go, of course, it's one of the most intense things I've ever been a part of," she explained. "You think, you know, this is competition, but you really get to know all these kids. And the farther you get, the harder it gets.

We're guessing it's still easier than hearing yourself get voted out, and Reinhart pretty much confirmed that idea when Shelly asked her what the biggest thrill of the whole adventure has been so for: "Hearing my name in the Top 10 of American Idol's 10th season!"

And what does she think of the new judges? "They're kind people they really know what's going on. They tell us what's really on their mind, but they do it in such a cool, and collected, and kind way." Not like old Mr. Grumpypants, Simon Cowell, apparently: "I would sit back and say, Simon, you know you're right, (but) you might say it in a harsh manner," she adds.

Either Reinhart is playing coy, doesn't get stressed easily, or she hasn't given a ton of thought to strategy for the coming weeks: "I just gotta try to be myself, you know? Give it all I got, maybe mix some things up, shake it up and try to be who I am. Hopefully that is someone unique, and you guys will like it."

Listen to B96's Interview With Haley Reinhart