BD: Do your kids understand the impact of your American Idol journey?

MS: My 4-year-old has a little more of a grip on it than my 3-year-old. My 2-year-old knows pretty much nothing other than Daddy goes to California, but my daughter understands I was on a TV show.

BD: Are your kids able to see you when you hit the road this summer on the American Idol tour?

MS: I plan to have them join me, of course, in our home state along with a lot of friends and family. But then at periodic times during the tour, I plan to have them along when we might be in a city for more than just 24 hours.