Idol finalist gives FOX16 an inside look at the Idol life

American Idol said goodbye to him in March, but top 10 finalist Michael Sarver isn't slowing down. The 27-year-old oil rig worker from Jasper, Texas came to central Arkansas Sunday to be part of a special church service held at the junior high school in Cabot. And throngs of people turned out to see him.

He shared the stage with Conway's Kris Allen in Hollywood but Sunday in Cabot he sang in the pulpit.  Sarver's wife has family here in Arkansas and he's glad to be in the Natural State, especially for church.

"I do have a special bond with those guys that share the same faith. Danny Gokey is one of them; Kris Allen, and Matt G., we've all been involved in worship in our churches," Sarver said.

Idol changed his life

Sarver says his life did a complete 180 after he landed his ticket to Hollywood. He gave us a little peek at what it's like to be an Idol"wannabe." He told us, "The Idol mansion was huge, it should have had its own zip code."

He says now that he's out his life will never be the same. "Michael Sarver will never go back to the oil rig hopefully, in the name of Jesus," Sarver said. "I didn't get on American Idol to pursue a TV show.  I did it to pursue a career in music and that's actually what I'm doing now, recording an album and then heading on tour."

He was referring to the American Idol tour that's making a stop here in Little Rock at Alltel Arena July 25th. Tickets go on sale in May. "Big deal for us, big deal for Arkansas. You got a homeboy coming back for that show. It's going to be in the Alltel Arena, we're going to have a great time," he told us.

Who should win American Idol?

So what about that homeboy Kris Allen? Does Sarver think he'll be the next American Idol? "I think whoever wins will win, because on a show like this year's especially it's very packed with talent, the type of talent you don't see most of the time," Sarver told us.

No matter what happens, Sarver says he looks forward to his next visit to the Natural State. "Michael Sarver loves Arkansas," he told us.