Diana Ross' Ten Golden Nuggets of Advice on American Idol

To kick off Top 12 Theme Week on Fox's "American Idol", execs acquired the coveted services of Motown legend, Diana Ross. The twelve finalists each had the opportunity to meet with Ms. Ross individually, to gain a little perspective (along with some constructive criticism) from the singing icon.

Diana Ross, in the course of her career has come under fire for her "controversial" role in 60's girl group, The Supremes. It is the story of her rise to fame that served as the inspiration behind the "loosely-paralleled" story portrayed in Christmas 2006 smash, "Dreamgirls."

Despite the various hullabaloo surrounding the star's personal life, it cannot be contradicted that Ms. Ross has been beloved by millions of fans internationally. For that reason alone, her criticisms of the contestants' performances warrant some attention. In the entertainment industry these days, becoming a star is easy. As Ms. Ross' little golden nuggets of truth dictate, remaining a star takes a little bit more work.

DIANA ROSS GOLDEN NUGGET #1: "Go to your center..."

This may sound like industry fluff. But indeed, finding one's "center" is pivotal to obtaining a comfortable position on stage. Ironically, Diana offered this prime piece of advice to the first Top 12 contestant to be eliminated: Brandon Rogers. Brandon's nerves got the better of him as he gyrated himself right out of the competition by forgetting his lyrics. As he admitted, it's very easy to get caught up in the moment on stage, taking in so much of your environment that you forget what it is you're supposed to be doing. The way to overcome the fear of messing up big time on stage, is by "centering" yourself while in the spotlight. Take just a few seconds (it really only takes seconds) to get your bearings. A brief pause on stage will more than likely be interpreted as pure concentration with a slightly dramatic flair.

DIANA ROSS GOLDEN NUGGET #2: "Look at the audience; they're real people..."