Guarini visits Lone Star state with starry eyes
The Dallas Morning News, June 15, 2003 

BURLESON - Maybe if his surname were Timberlake.

Justin Guarini, rhymes with martini, couldn't hope to compete with the attention lavished on hometown heroine Kelly Clarkson during their recent appearance here for the world premiere of From Justin to Kelly. The biggest stars from the first American Idol are on equal footing in their sand 'n' surf musical, which opens nationally on Friday. But in Texas, Mr. Guarini knew his place - sidekick.

The curly-topped American Idol runner-up otherwise is rolling along, singing his songs. His first CD, Justin Guarini, is newly available in stores. And he has an offer to play the "Emcee" role in Broadway's Cabaret, following the likes of Joel Grey, Alan Cummings and Jon Secada.

"It's kind of an open-ended ticket," he says. "I'd love to do it someday if the timing is right."

Mr. Guarini, 24, hopes to be known someday in his own right. But he's carefully diplomatic about distancing himself from the American Idol tag.

"I never ever want to alienate American Idol, because it opened the door. But I would like to become Justin Guarini, RCA recording artist, as opposed to 'runner-up' or 'that guy from American Idol.' I think it will take care of itself someday."

His favorite post-Idol experience was meeting Stevie Wonder at a birthday party for Michael Caine. Performing a duet with Mr. Wonder "would be a dream come true," Mr. Guarini says.

"I don't think he's blind, honestly. He is physically, but there's an amazing spiritual sense of sight and intuition that he has. Meeting him was everything I'd hoped it would be. He's warm, he's kind and he's got a killer sense of humor."