"X Factor" winner Melanie Amaro Interviewed
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Melanie Amaro. Melanie, you just won a $5 million recording contract and you will star in your own Pepsi commercial.</s>HAMMER: How great was that moment? That is Melanie Amaro, taking home the big win in the very first season of "The X Factor." She walked away with a brand new recording contract worth $5 million. That is the most anyone has ever won on television. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, the $5 million lady, all that competition, pressure, that unforgettable crowning moment that we just saw. "The X Factor" champ Melanie Amaro is fresh off her major hit show, now a singing sensation. The big question now, what is she going to do with the big winnings in the history of TV? Melanie joins us right now in New York for our SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. Great to meet you. Feel the energy in the room. You seem excited about everything going on. Let`s clear something up for people who may not understand this. It is not like they handed you a suitcase for $5 million and scratched you a check. Here you go, have a nice day. It is a recording contract.</s>MELANIE AMARO, WINNER, "THE X FACTOR": It is. It means I will be in the studio working and getting my music out there. That`s what that means.</s>HAMMER: But you did get a payday. Which is --</s>AMARO: Correct.</s>HAMMER: -- well-deserved, of course. My question is because any time anyone wines a big prize lottery or contest or something, you want to know what is the one big indulgence. Have you add moment to treat yourself whether it is a new car, pair of shoes you never otherwise would have spent the money on?</s>AMARO: No, not yet. I`m going to go and buy a good foot massager though, definitely.</s>HAMMER: You are really splurging, Melanie.</s>AMARO: Definitely. I think I need one because of all of the heels I`ve been wearing. I need to spoil myself with that.</s>HAMMER: Maybe one of those that you fill with hot water.</s>AMARO: Yes.</s>HAMMER: Good luck with that. It is hard it believe that you were booted off from the show early on. I still can`t get over the fact that that actually happened, and it is sort of sweet justice that you are the one who won. Let us watch the moment that changed your life.</s>SIMON COWELL, HOST, "THE X FACTOR": I want to personally apologize to you and your family for the mistake I made.</s>AMARO: Apology accepted.</s>COWELL: Because you were so good. And this comes from me and the other three judges. We are going to ask you to come back and enter the competition. We want you back on the live shows.</s>HAMMER: I imagine watching that, that was one of the most emotional things you ever went through. Are you getting a little emotional watching it?</s>AMARO: I am. Because -- oh, wow. I would never think that after that, that I would be here in this position right now. You know?</s>HAMMER: You get the recording contract. You obviously have been travel willing around the country. You just told me this is your first time in New York.</s>AMARO: It is.</s>HAMMER: What is the most drastic way your life has changed. And trust me, it`ll change a whole lot more. But so far?</s>AMARO: Now that when I leave out of the room, hotel room, or anywhere, I`m getting bombarded by people.</s>HAMMER: How crazy is that?</s>AMARO: It`s really crazy. It is so weird to look back and watch all of these different clips of, like, me on the show and everything.</s>HAMMER: Is it scary at all, though, realizing you have really given over your privacy and you have those people waiting around? All with good intentions. They want to meet you feel a little bit of your energy. Does it make you nervous sometimes?</s>AMARO: I don`t think it makes me nervous. I`m happy to interact with the fans and see how they feel. It lets me know that I did something right. That`s where y they want pictures.</s>HAMMER: You certainly did do something right.</s>AMARO: That makes me happy to know that I did something to inspire some people to believe in themselves and to want to go for their dreams.</s>HAMMER: And what a neat way to have the first season of "The X Factor: unfold. Of course, Simon was the guy working with you. And he was fully on your side after bringing you back. Another one of the judges, L.A. Reid, however, is now your boss. You got signed to L.A.`s record label. And let`s face it, I don`t have to tell you, some of his criticism during the competition, was pretty tough.</s>AMARO: It was.</s>HAMMER: Does that make it at all awkward working with L.A.? Or is it like, that`s in the past, on to business?</s>AMARO: Not at all. To me, to be honest, I was so happy he was honest with me every week. I would hate for him to say, you know what y, you were great every week, and not say what he was feeling, and I don`t progress each week or make it through. I`m glad he told me what he thought so I could build and get bigger and bigger.</s>HAMMER: And you`re going 20 get bigger and bigger and bigger. I think have you a huge future ahead. Anyway, we are so thrilled to have you here. So nice to meet you, melanie. Best of luck with everything.</s>AMARO: Thank you.</s>HAMMER: So if it is Wednesday, it`s hump day, right? If it is Thursday, it must be dump day. And it is Thursday here and in Hollywood. Zooey Deschanel splits from her hubby and Martha Stewart gets the boot from TV. Those stories today.</s>HAMMER: Mayday to Martha. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has just learned that Martha Stewart`s daytime show on the Hallmark Network has been cancelled due to poor ratings. What is Martha to do after her show wraps? According to her company and Hallmark, they are in discussions about potential new programming and concepts for daytime. The new girl calls it quits. Zooey Deschanel filed for divorce from rocker husband. According to the documents Zooey filed on December 27 in Los Angeles. Zooey, who was just nominated for a golden globe for her role in the hit TV show "New Girl" married the front man for Death Cab for Cutie in 2009.</s>HAMMER: "Come on down." Yes, you know the famous phrase from price it right. Tonight that is about to be replaced by the screams of "Man down, man down."</s>HAMMER: Wow, imagine that. Crew carey getting most exuberant and awesome contestant greeting ever. Drew wasn`t the only person in danger. You have got to see which other big star this tiny woman tackled to the ground on national television. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views. Here comes the SHOWBIZ News Ticker. These are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.