The Next Step For America's Idol, Taylor Hicks

-Duet CD with Runner-up Katherine McPhee

This one should be a no-brainer, take the Soul Patrol (the fans of Taylor Hicks) and the McPheever (the fans of Katherine McPhee), and you've got a pretty huge fan base to work with. On an early article side note, what was the fan groups getting nicknames this year on American Idol all about? Third place finisher Eliot Yamin had the Yaminions as well. Interesting thought, but where was I… Oh yea, so if the American Idol brass (who totally own these kids' lives anyway) were smart they would release a CD of duets featuring both McPhee and winner Taylor Hicks. They could have them cover all the classic duets of all time like "You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore" by Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond and "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole and his daughter (okay, that one might be inappropriate). Shit, I would buy this CD. They could call it American Duets, or something stupid like that. It'd be hot.

-The Solo Route

This is what Taylor Hicks will most likely do, and it is a slippery slope. Other than Kelly Clarkson, there haven't been any American Idol winners who have made it big (Clay Aiken was the second place finisher, so he doesn't count). If Hicks does go right into the studio, he should be weary. His demeanor and singing style is already a little hackneyed; he's got to be careful he doesn't kill his momentum with an overly produced, cheese filled debut.

-Sing the Standards in Vegas

Taylor Hicks could take a page out of the Celion Dion/Elton John playbook and take his shtick right to Vegas (where it most likely belongs). Hicks is the kind of guy who belongs in Las Vegas. He seems like a drunken karaoke nut from the outskirts out of town; he shouldn't hide who he is. This way he could pocket millions (much more money than what he would make off of a hit CD) and placate directly to his already existing fan base. He wouldn't have to change a thing. He could go out and sing the exact same songs he sung week in and week out on American Idol. If he's contractedly obliged to release an album because he signed away his life to the Idol people, that's one thing. They can't tell him where or where not he can tour.