'Idol' Season 12 winner Candice Glover offers words of advice to Bluffton's Lee Jean

Candice Glover has a bit of advice for Bluffton's American Idol contestant Lee Jean.

"I want to tell him don't let anybody try to change his opinion or his choices," the St. Helena Island native and "American Idol" season 12 winner said Thursday.

Jean, 16, appeared on the premiere of the 15th and final season of "American Idol" on Fox Wednesday night where he received the coveted golden ticket to "go through to Hollywood" -- something Glover is familiar with.

After all, Glover tried out three times before making through the auditions.

Glover talked by phone briefly about her own experience on the show. While she had high praises for "Idol" as fans call it, she also said she had to "stand up for herself" and the songs she wanted to sing -- a move she said at times put her at odds with the show's producers.

"So I would just say stand up for what songs he wants to do and just stay true to who you are," she said. "More than anything, that is the key to doing well on the show."

On Wednesday night's show, Jean performed for judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr.

Jennifer Lopez said Jean was "cute" and "so talented" and while Connick said he needed to work on singing in tune, all three greenlighted Jean's move to the next round.

Glover, who is preparing to head out on tour in March, said she'd be happy to share the limelight with Jean if he was selected to become the next American Idol.

"Let him know I'm rooting for him and I believe in him," Glover said. "South Carolina really stood behind me when I was on the show. I know they'd do the same for him."

Follow reporter Mindy Lucas on Twitter at twitter.com/MindyatIPBG.

This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 2:09 PM with the headline "'Idol' Season 12 winner Candice Glover offers words of advice to Bluffton's Lee Jean."