Matthew Rogers

Matt: I auditioned based on a bet. I was at a sales dinner for mortgage brokers. Someone offered me $100 if I stood up and sang opera at the top of my lungs. I said no, but the wager went up to $500. At that point, I started to sing. Everyone in the restaurant burst into applause at the end. My co-workers then pushed me to audition for American Idol.

Matt: I was the last to audition in Los Angeles, so I waited for over 11 hours and I was exhausted. It's so stressful to be at the auditions, hour after hour, and see countless people come out crying. Seeing all those devastated people made it hard to keep my own spirits up.