Carter, 16, a Tampa-native, and Guarini, 25, an Atlanta native, both believe that nothing says "welcome home" in the South quite like Waffle House.

Besides dining at the popular Southern diner, Carter and Guarini performed for several thousand screaming "tween" fans Saturday night at the Kid Fest Kidd Jam at Ford Arena, located at Ford Park, 5115 Interstate 10 South, in Beaumont.

Larry Crumpton, director of non-traditional revenue for Clear Channel Radio, said the show's sponsors expected to sell about 4,000 tickets for the back-to-school show.

Eager fans gathered at Ford Arena hours before the concert was scheduled to start.

Lauren Adamson, 12, and Haley Hebert, 12, both students at Central Middle School, were anxiously waiting for Carter to arrive - they had backstage passes for a meet-and-greet with the star.

Hannah Brinsko, 9, was looking for more than just a photo-op or an autograph - she wanted an interview with the pop star. The budding journalist writes a column entitled "The Kids' Connection" for the Baton Rouge-based magazine Leisure Connection.

Her persistence paid off - she got the interview. Her first question: "I read on the Internet that you began your career in the bathtub - is that true?"

During separate interviews with The Enterprise before the concert, Carter and Guarini said they were in transitional phases of their careers - both are preparing news albums, working on various acting gigs and are looking for ways to attract older fans without alienating their young fans.

Carter has three films coming out - "Popstar," "Fat Albert" (based on the popular Bill Cosby cartoon) and an as-of-yet untitled project with Snoop Dogg.

Guarini recently finished up a workshop in New York for an upcoming musical entitled "Good Vibrations" and is filming a new AMC series called "Film Fakers."

Oh yeah, and Guarini got a haircut. He cut off his long curly locks in part as a symbolic break from his "American Idol" persona.

"While I never want to alienate my 'American Idol' fans, there is a desire in me to grow and to move on," he said.

Carter, a home-school student, said he is planning to take a few years off from show business at some point to attend college and study marine biology.

"My family lives in the Florida Keys, and I've always loved everything about it," he said.

Both stars declined to talk much about their personal lives, preferring not to delve into tabloid territory.

When asked if he was dating, Guarini politely replied "I like to keep my private life private."

Carter was a little more direct when asked the same question.

"I don't really have a girlfriend right now because it's hard for me to know if a girl likes me for me - or if she's a fan," Carter said. "But then I have some really hot fans."

Oh, and Carter said the Internet rumor was not true - he truly did not begin his career in the bathtub.

Kid Fest continues today with a wide variety of activities and entertainment at the Ford Exhibit Hall. Tickets are $5 for adults and teens, and $3 for children. Doors open at noon.