I look at a mentor of mine like Ryan Seacrest and the incredible amount of equity he's been able to bring to the broadcasting arena, and the branding and the world that he's been able to build around himself.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I've definitely had mentors, whether parents or friends or actors who I like.
There can always be an 'Idol' without anybody. I believe that Seacrest is probably the best host in the business.
I'm one of the highest-paid television people in the world. I feel like I've made a difference in my viewers' lives, that I've been influential.
I was lucky enough to have great mentors both in the culinary world and in the world of chefs who became celebrities. Bobby Flay is one of my dearest friends and a tremendous mentor for me. Mario Batali is the same way. They began doing TV a little before me and they showed me the way.
Jamie Foxx. He's been very much a mentor and friend, and we've worked together several times. He's just been such an influence in my career. There's nothing that man can't do, and that's something I would like to reflect in my career.
Johnny Carson was a big influence on me - all of those shows I did with him over the years, like, 100 of them, they made a bit of a name for me at the time, so that part of my life was very good.
I want to take Ryan Seacrest's job. I want his job on 'American Idol.'
Celebrity is seen by a huge amount of people and certainly myself for a while as the pinnacle of society, of success. It is revered almost religiously, both the institution and its quickly growing member base.
Howie Mandel is my favorite. He's so friendly, and he's a family man. For a lot of celebrities, to keep a genuineness about them, I think, can be tough, but he really seems to work hard to do that.
I'm proud of my mentors. Ray Charles is the strongest influence on me as a singer.