For Britnee Kellogg, the show goes on after ‘Idol’

The Portland gig wasn’t the bright lights of Hollywood or the glitter of Vegas, but music is music and it won’t stop — according to Kellogg — just because the TV cameras have been turned off. If she’s learned anything from competing on the Fox show, she said it’s to keep pursuing her dream and keep seeking opportunities — all while recognizing she can’t control the outcome.

“You just have to take what you can from the experience and do better,” she said. “I do plan on being successful at music at whatever level.”

Kellogg credits the show, a widely popular Fox TV fixture that’s recently tanked in ratings, for giving her exposure on the national stage, which she hopes can help further her career. Already, she has been mentioned in People magazine, ABC News and several other national news outlets. Fans from as far away as Brazil and the Philippines have expressed support on her Facebook fan page and on Twitter.

“The support since I’ve been on the show has been so unexpected,” she said.

A 2002 Prairie High School graduate who works at Regents Bank by day, Kellogg is no stranger to the stage. She began singing at age 5 and spent 10 years participating in pageants, including winning first runner-up for talent at the Miss Teen America pageant at age 15. With a background in country music, she won a “Sing Like Taylor Swift” contest in 2010, and flew to Nashville to meet the country music superstar.

She also is a single mother, which takes time away from dating, she admits. She said she isn’t seeing anyone at the moment.

Concerning her future music plans, Kellogg said she plans to hire a manager to help her capitalize on her national exposure and seek more ways to get noticed. In the meantime, she will continue performing local gigs with her veteran band, 5 Guys Named Moe, and also hopes to record a CD.

Kellogg said she plans to audition for Idol again in June. Her first experience, she said, was emotional and, at times, frustrating.

As seen in Thursday’s episode, after her group’s performance Kellogg was chosen by celebrity judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson to advance to the next round. But after all 70 contestants auditioned, the judges announced they had to make more cuts to narrow the group to 42.

“I thought, ‘I’m going to be in the top 40,’” she said. “They called us back on stage and I was in shock. That’s why I got so emotional. It was the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.”

Some have criticized Kellogg and the others in her group, Jessica Phillips and Courtney Williams, for apparently not rehearsing beforehand with the band and a vocal coach, as most other contestants did.

Kellogg said her group, “The Neapolitans,” did rehearse the first day with the band. But Williams wanted to rest her voice on the second, optional day of rehearsal.