She had just been announced as a top 10 finalist on season 12 of "American Idol." She walked on stage, and the judges rose to their feet.

As judge Randy Jackson showered her with praise, tears welled in her eyes. She covered her mouth with her purple manicured nails, shook her head and began to break down.

"I was just overwhelmed," Candice Glover said in a phone interview Tuesday.

But when host Ryan Seacrest handed her the microphone Thursday saying, "Let the fun begin," the 23-year old St. Helena Island resident immediately snapped into star-mode, channeling her emotions into her victory song, "I'm Going Down" by Rose Royce.

"I'd made it this far, but I knew I needed to give a preview of what the world was going to see," Glover said.

Glover will perform again tonight on "American Idol." The show starts at 8 p.m. She'll find out if she made it through another round of the show at 8 p.m. Thursday.

She belted out her victory tune to a standing ovation, but unknown to the audience, she was focusing on more than just singing.

While performing, she felt her heels slip.

"I had to get it together," Glover said.

She did, and in that split second, the St. Helena Island native avoided tumbling on stage on live national television.

Off-screen, life is drastically different for the Fripp Island excursion coordinator.

"It's photo shoots, interviews -- and all that's in the midst of working with vocal coaches and bands and finding a way to stand out," Glover said. "It's a full-time job, but I wouldn't rather do anything else."

Glover said the reality of her rising stardom hasn't yet hit her.

"I still don't know it's sunk in yet," Glover said. "I think there will be a day when I bust out crying.

"I'm overwhelmed, and I'm excited that I got to this point."

Glover has been missing home since she left for Hollywood six weeks ago. But this week, a little bit of home came to Hollywood as her parents, John and Carole Glover, flew out to watch her perform.

"If I'm home with my family, everything in my world is right," Glover said. "I can't wait for that family feeling again."

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