Talented singer Jordin Sparks quickly became one of America's musical sweethearts in 2007 when she became the youngest competitor to win the #1 spot on American Idol, launching a meteoric career path that currently includes two chart-topping solo albums, a Grammy nomination, and a series of successful tours (now including her first-ever headlining tour to promote her CD Battlefield). But here’s some choice info I’m betting a lot of you didn’t know: at the tender age of fourteen, Jordin beat out several aspiring rock acts for a chance to perform alongside a very different kind of idol – shock-rock legend Alice Cooper – in his annual “Christmas Pudding” benefit show.

Besides a compassionate heart (she’s currently involved in several charity groups), there’s another important thing Jordin has in common with Alice – and with the FEARnet community: a life-long love of horror movies. So when I got the word that Jordin wanted to share that love with our readers, I jumped at the opportunity. Read on and find out about how Jordin got hooked on horror, her favorite movie villains, her take on the Twilight series, and more!

FEARnet: Thanks for taking the time to do a little Q&A with us… so how’s the tour going so far?

Jordin: It’s going great, thanks so much! It’s my first time headlining, so it’s been an adjustment… but it’s been amazing!

Your shows always get a huge turnout…

The support from the fans is incredible! The music industry is definitely changing, so I’m blessed beyond words to be touring right now.

It’s really cool to hear you're a horror fan... when did you first get hooked on horror?

I don’t exactly know when it was… my parents were really cool about me and my brother seeing crazy, scary and gory movies as far back as I can remember.

Do you recall the first movie that really scared you?

Yes, it was Tremors… those big, gross worms!

Me too!

Also The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I was by myself when I first saw it, which was a bad idea… [but] I forced myself to watch it.

That was a brave move.

Needless to say, I slept with all the lights on that night!

So are you a fan of the classics, or do you prefer more recent movies?

It depends on my mood, but I like both.

What's your favorite movie monster? Vampires, werewolves, zombies? Maybe something – or someone – closer to reality?

Something more realistic... like the character Jigsaw from the SAW movies. There really are people like that… and they’re out there.

True, it’s hard to dismiss it as fantasy when you read about it in the news…

…and it’s scary to walk out of a movie and think that person could’ve been sitting right next to you!

On a lighter note... back in 2004 you did Alice Cooper’s Christmas show... how was that whole experience?

It was crazy! It was a contest first, and the winner got to sing in the charity show. I was fourteen, a girl, and a soloist. Everyone else was a rocker or a band. [laughs] I was scared when I won!

That’s really an accomplishment though.

I wish you could’ve seen the looks I got. If looks could kill…!

Did you enjoy the show itself?

I had a blast up on the stage! It was Alice, Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, the Gin Blossoms and more… it was amazing.

What other charities or organizations are you working with now?

I’m involved with my campaign called “I’m M.A.D., Are You?” (M.A.D. stands for “Making  A Difference!”), X The TXT and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Phoenix Rescue Mission and Starkey Hearing Foundation, to name a few.

Excellent! So I assume you’d do another benefit with Alice if the chance came up?

Definitely. I love Alice!

Me too... and one thing I learned about Alice is that he brings all his favorite horror DVDs with him on tour. Have you done that?

I have… but unfortunately I left my DVD case in my room back home!

Oh man, I’m sorry to hear that…

But I do have all the SAW movies… I have a strange obsession with those films.

You're not alone there. So what's the coolest horror movie you've seen recently?

I saw Splice about a week ago… I’m not sure if that counts as horror.

It absolutely does. Seriously creepy film.

It was the craziest movie I’ve seen in a while, just disturbing on all levels… and I wasn’t expecting that.

So with Eclipse coming out soon, I have to ask... are you a Twilight fan?

I am! I read the book series back in 2005, before this craze, and I loved it! I’ve seen the movies, but I prefer the books because I can let my imagination run wild.

It looks like they're going in a much scarier direction with this sequel, with David Slade directing. Maybe they’ll satisfy horror fans who weren’t interested before...

I hope they do! What I saw in my head was so gruesome… it would be cool to see it on the screen.

On the screen or off, what would you consider your biggest fear?
 
Water scares me. In particular the ocean, lakes and rivers... I don’t like not knowing what’s under me. Movies like Titanic, Poseidon and Open Water totally scared me!

So no cruise ship tours in your future, I guess?

No, thank you! [laughs]