NASHVILLE, TN  [Friday Jun.2.2006]  /WMQT.com/ -- American Idol winner, now 2006 ACM Award winner-Carrie Underwood has some thoughts for Taylor Hicks, the singer who succeeded her as the fifth Idol champ, and the other Idol contestants who made it to the final weeks of the competition.

"The guiding answer that I would give them would be 'Just don't waste it.'"

Carrie says the key for Taylor and the rest of the faces we've gotten to know over the last couple of months is to make the most of the moment, even as they go on tour together this summer. "It's an opportunity. It's a door that's open to you," she says. "Just do your best and don't waste it."

Carrie also shares some thought on what made Taylor the 2006 Idol winner.

"America loved him-that's why they voted for him," she says, adding, "It's kind of like each Idol has their own genre that they've claimed. Kelly Clarkson [is] the pop queen. I do country. Ruben [Studdard] has always done more gospel sounding stuff. Fantasia's very urban. And Taylor- Taylor's just Taylor!"

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