She may refer to it as a “stepping stone,” but Paris Bennett’s stint on the hugely popular television show “American Idol” made her a household name in a matter of weeks. At only 4’11”, Bennett’s pint-sized stature belies the big voice she boasts inside, and now she is stepping out with a brand new album less than a year after her elimination from “Idol.”

Her powerful voice, perky demeanor and a family pedigree that includes her Gospel singing, Grammy Award winning grandmother, Ann Nesby, all but ensured her a spot on the fifth season of “American Idol” when she tried out in Greenville, N.C. in the fall of 2005. Bennett, who had been living with her grandparents in Fayetteville, Ga. for a year before trying out for “Idol,” sailed through Hollywood Week, and it was no surprise when she was selected to be one of the top 12 girls in the competition. After all, singing and performing are in her genes: both Nesby, who last year released the solo album “In The Spirit,” and her mother, Jamecia Bennett, were members of the Grammy Award winning Gospel group The Sounds of Blackness.

During the three rounds of semifinals, when two guys and two girls were eliminated each week, Bennett showed off her performance skills and vocal talent with a performance of the song “Midnight Train to Georgia” as well as “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “Conga.”

Once the contestants had been whittled down to six guys and six girls, it was time for the finals. Bennett performed “All I Do” on the Stevie Wonder theme night and was met with rave reviews from the judges. Judge Simon Cowell even called her “brilliant.”

Over the next seven weeks, Bennett continued to impress audiences and the judges alike and demonstrated her range with performances of Peggy Lee’s classic “Fever,” Beyonce’s “Work It Out” and country artist LeAnn Rimes’ “How Do I Live,” and she surprised audiences with her inner rocker when she nailed “The Show Must Go On” by Queen.

Although Bennett, who earned the nickname Princess P as a child, was declared by many a front runner early on, she made her exit from the show at a very respectable fifth place on May 3, 2006. Her time on the “American Idol” stage in Los Angeles was over, but it was just the beginning of her journey that has included a three month tour with the top ten Idol finalists and the creation of her first album, “Princess P,” slated for an April 24 release.

Of her time on “Idol,” Bennett said in a recent interview with The Citizen, “It’s a stepping stone, and it’s where we began. It’s where our careers started. But it’s definitely something you try to get away from, from being ‘Paris Bennett the American Idol.’ You always try to be Paris Bennett- yourself or you try to be your own entity. But it is a stepping stone and it was a great experience, a learning experience, it happened and it was fun.”

The American Idol tour reunited her with good friends and fellow contestants Lisa Tucker and Kevin Covais, which Bennett also said was a fun experience. “Me and Kevin and Lisa are like three peas in a pod,” explained Bennett with a smile. “Kevin is actually on my album.”

Her time on the road was nothing new for Bennett, she’s been touring with her mother and grandmother as long as she can remember. “I’ve been touring all my life. It’s all I’ve been taught all my life: to be ready, to be an entertainer and to be on the long road trips,” she said nonchalantly. “Doing the three month tour that we did with Idol was a breeze for me. It was something that I’m used to doing.”

Although it is clear Bennett is anxious to move beyond her “American Idol” image, it is equally clear that she is ready to get her own music out to her fans.

Bennett signed on with the independent label 306 Entertainment, a label founded by Bennett’s uncle and manager Paul Jones and distributed by Navarre, turning down offers from such high profile labels as Sony and J. Records. Bennett’s decision may seem unusual, but her reasoning is straightforward and insightful, “[The major labels] have these big artists that are already out, and until those people die down, you’ll never get the attention.”

Her first single, “Ordinary Love,” is indicative of Bennett’s eclectic tastes, and has all the makings of a Top 40 hit. It bursts to life with rock and roll electric guitars and an R&B inspired beat and is paired with Bennett’s powerful vocals. “I wanted to do something kind of like the Queen week,” said Bennett.

The song, which was produced by Jon Jon Traxx who has worked with such artists as Beyonce, is one of Bennett’s favorite from the album and talks about finding love.

“I had the most fun recording ‘Ordinary Love’ because it so much related to my real life,” said Bennett. “Everything on my album relates to my life, from ‘I Will’ to ‘Daddy’ from ‘Daddy’ to ‘B-Bye,’ everything relates to me.”

“This album is about experiences I went through before and after ‘American Idol,’ like not having a dad while I was growing up,” explained Bennett. “It’s about different aspects of life that people can relate to.”

“So, ‘Ordinary Love’ is definitely a relationship thing,” said 18-year-old Bennett. “Being a young adult now, you don’t want to look for that person, if you are going to be in a relationship, that you are only in love with. You want to look for that person who is going to be your soul mate. Soul mate meaning your friend, your companion, someone you can turn to that is just almost like a family member but in turn can talk to you in another situation.”

The multi-talented Bennett co-wrote on all 12 tracks appearing on the album along with songwriter J. Isaac. “No one can write about my life but me,” stated Bennett.

On writing “Ordinary Love” Bennett said, “I looked at my friends’ relationships, and past relationships that I have had...I took everybody’s relationships and just kind of put them in one, and picked out what you would want in a relationship. Not just to be in love, or for it to be that ordinary love.”

The album’s eclectic style is all Bennett’s in what she describes as “another twist to pop.” “It’s what I think pop should be,” expressed Bennett. “If rock is popular, and jazz is popular and R&B is popular, why can’t they all be on their together and all be considered pop?”

Bennett’s album also features a collaboration with her mother, grandmother (Nesby) and great grandmother, Shirley Bennett, on the track “Best Friend.” “It was weird, it’s history, but weird,” she said. “Never did I think I would be in the studio with my grandma, my mom, and my great grandma to do a song on my album. It’s just weird. It’s a blessing, though.”

Last weekend Bennett was a scheduled performer at Atlanta’s Dogwood Festival,

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