Thanks for being a part of it.

It’s all over now and this experience worked out just perfect. It’s totally the way I wanted it to end.

When we first made it to Nashville for the show, I wanted to finish second. I’m 23 and I have plenty of time ahead of me.

I wanted it to come down to us being the final two, though. To have it work out that way was perfect.

I was pulling for Angela the whole way. It’s so good for it to work out that way. I’m so happy for her and I think I did well, too.

Amazingly, I don’t think either of us were nervous last night in the final show, at least after we knew it was down to us.

There was a lot of conversation going back and forth between Angela and me. I told her, “it’s going to be you.” She said, “No, it’s going to be you.” We kidded each other and had a good time with it. It’s all about family and being together for us.

A lot of people have asked me about the song I sang last night and on the original song night of the competition. (“If It Wasn’t For The Whiskey.”) It was very difficult and I had to talk to my dad before I did it. It’s a very personal song and it exposed a lot about him.

I didn’t want him to think I was putting him down. It bothered him at first but he’s a musician. He understood.

By doing it, I was able to show America a little about me. They responded greatly and that provided comfort for me.

It was flattering that the judges all said I improved more than anyone.

There were some butterflies at first. It’s the same way any time you’re going to do something you’ve never done before and it’s going to affect the rest of your life.

You have to get used to your surroundings. Being the first time to sing for mllions, well it took some time for me to adjust. After a while, you realize it’s something you’ve done all your life. When you get out there on the stage, you go into auto pilot.

I want everybody to know that Angela and I appreciate all the votes and support you gave us. It’s all of you who allowed us to have this ride.

This has opened a lot of doors for both of us. Angela is doing her record, and I will sing some background on it and we may sing together on a song.

We’ll do some things together in the future. I think the people will like that. Out of 20,000 people, it came down to a brother and a sister because that’s the way America voted.

We’re going to have fun with it. We’ll be going on tour in June and it will last through September.

I’m not going to move away from home. I will commute back and forth, so I’ll be around.

This has been an experience of a lifetime and Angela and I are looking ahead to the future. Thanks for being a part of it.