Jen Hirsh: Life Beyond 'Idol'

From the age of 4, Jen Hirsh knew she was destined to be a performer.

“Since my first elementary school talent show, I knew I wanted to be on stage for the rest of my life,” said the Agoura Hills native who made it to the semifinals of American Idol’s 11th season.

Though Hirsh didn’t make it to the top 13, she’s not bitter. “There was no negativity at all," she said in a phone interview. "I have always felt like I was part of this large supportive family. It was so great to be part of such a talented group of people.”

Hirsh, 25, counts the standing ovation she received from the judges for her rendition of Ray Charles’ “Georgia On My Mind” as her favorite memory from her time on the show.

Aside from the legendary Ray Charles, Hirsh cited Ella Fitzgerald as one of the earliest influences on her soulful singing style, which many admirers on social media sites have labeled “clear and pure.”

Among the newer crop of soul singers, Sarah Bareilles and John Mayer are on top of Hirsh’s list. As for her style, “I would call it pop soul,” said Hirsh, who graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. “The love and support, especially from fellow Agourans, gets me out of bed everyday.”

Hirsh's Facebook page boasts more than 1,100 likes, and it has been inundated with media requests and heartwarming messages. On Twitter, she has close to 6,000 followers.

Hirsh shares fond memories of her childhood in Agoura. “I grew up on Medea Mesa Road off of Cornell, so I remember hiking with my family, riding my bike and watching dogs near Paramount Ranch,” she said.

Though she now resides in Santa Monica, she still makes regular treks to Agoura to visit her folks and hang out at old stomping grounds such as and .

“If you haven’t yet, you have to get a sandwich there,” she said of the latter.

When pressed for her post-American Idol plans, she revealed, “There’s going to be a new music video available only on the Internet within the next month. It’s going to be more like a cover song.”

Hirsh also divulged plans of re-releasing and revamping her debut solo album, Myself In Two, which had to be taken down during her American Idol experience, as part of her agreement with the show.

“A lot of exciting stuff” is in the works but still under wraps, she said.

“I’m just trying to regroup after the last few months,” she said. “When the dust settles, I’ll have some amazing things in store for my fans.”