New Ladder To Success

Do you dream of being on television? Have you wondered how to break into the entertainment industry? If you have been a fan of American Idol, then you would surely recognize the face of Kristin Holt. Former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, Kristin Holt was one of the contestants in the inaugural season of Fox's popular star search show American Idol. Today, Kristin is not only a popular entertainment news correspondent and the current host of G4's Cheat, she has also kicked off her singing career.

• Philosophy in life: learn to love, learn to forgive, and learn to say “I’m sorry”
• Number one role model: Jesus
• Favorite book: “Freakonomics” by Steven Levitt , and anything by Dan Brown
• Stress buster(s): eating and exercise!
• Second career choice: Politics or International Law

NewLadderToSuccess (NLTS):  Dear Kristin, thank you for speaking for us. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Kristin Holt (Kristin):   I was born and raised in Plano, Texas, graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in Political Science, and I’ve been singing and hosting for the past 5 years in LA. I love traveling, eating, and watching movies!

NLTS:   What made you decide to go on “American Idol”? What was the fondest memory you had on the show?

Kristin:    To this day, I still don’t know what made me audition for AI…I guess I just thought it would be a fun experience. I didn’t even know what the show was exactly. It was the first season, so I had no idea that I was about to be a part of one of the all-time biggest pop-culture phenomenon. I was asked to join the second season as a co-host, and my fondest memories are from that season. There was no pressure to win votes, so I was able to just enjoy my job and have fun.

NLTS:  Can you tell us about the show, “Cheat”? What kind of experience have you had so far as a television host?

Kristin:  Cheat is a fun, upbeat show on G4TV for gamers who like to cheat their way through video games. I don’t have time to sit a play a game for days on end trying to beat every level, so I use cheat codes to speed up the process. I’ve hosted many different shows over the last 5 years, from American Idol to travel shows, but this is my first time hosting a show for gamers and I’m having a blast.

NLTS:   What is the best part of working in the entertainment industry?

Kristin:   I’m fortunate enough to make a living doing what I love. It’s so important to love what you do. I work with great people, I’m constantly challenged, and get to be creative. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

NLTS:   What were the challenges in your career? How did you overcome them?

Kristin:   It’s a constant challenge to stay focused in Hollywood. There are so many distractions and it’s easy to get caught up in things that really don’t matter at the end of the day. Fortunately, I’m surrounded by great friends who keep me in check and love me for who I am, not for what I do.

NLTS:   What are your career goals?

Kristin:   On the hosting side of things, I would love to create and host a music-oriented show. On the music side, I would love to make albums and tour with my band. I also hope to start a global non-profit geared towards empowering the homeless and helping them to become a contributing part of society.

NLTS:   What projects are you working on currently?

Kristin:   I host a show on Verizon Wireless phones called “Vcast This Week”, which keeps me busy and allows me to travel. My band, Stranger Days, is a huge priority for me right now. We all have other jobs that pay the bills, so it’s been a slow process. But I think we are finally at a place where we can make some things happen and I’m looking forward to finally sharing our music with others.

NLTS:   What is one thing people don’t know about you but would be very surprised to find out?

Kristin:  My Dad, brother, and I have matching tattoos of the number 42 in roman numerals. 42 means “I love you” in my family. It’s a long, sweet story…I’ll share with you some other time. We are still trying to talk my mom into getting one!

NLTS:   Is there any other information you would like to share with us?

Kristin:   Please be my friend on myspace…www.myspace.com/strangerdaysband

NLTS:   Thank you so much for sharing your information and your story with us.

Related Links:   Kristin Holt's Official Website, Kristin Holt (American Idol) and Stranger Days

Kristin’s professional career in broadcasting began at the age of 20 when she took a job as a morning show co-host at one of Dallas’s top radio stations, WILD 100.3.  While working at WILD in Dallas, Kristin finished her Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science at Texas Christian University.  She was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader for the 2000-2001 NFL season. Kristin currently resides in Los Angeles.