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Those eyes. Those teeth. That hair. American Idol finalist Ace Young may have had the looks of a superstar, but after this week's show, apparently not the fans. Jessica Shaw had a phone date with the latest reject to clear up questions about Queen, his brother, and, of course, his love life.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Ace, you sound kind of quiet. Were you out partying last night?
ACE YOUNG Don't let the soft-spokenness fool you. I've just done 50 interviews already and I have to perform on the Ellen show, so I'm trying to save my voice.

Your rendition of ''That's All'' was one of your strongest, and then you got voted off. Were you feeling confident when you went into last night's show?
I felt really good about the performance. For the first time in a long time I received good remarks from judges. And I got to buy my first suit ever. I bought it with my own money and one of my friend's money.

I thought they give you money for clothes each week.
Yeah, but it was $2,000 suit. What they give us didn't even cover 25 percent of the cost.

Dolce? Armani?
It was [Alexander] McQueen. I got to get all cleaned up. My grandparents were at the show. My grandpa is 88. My grandma is in her 80s. My parents came out from Colorado. And my brother Ryan is always there. You can't miss him. He's the 6-foot-7 one.

Not only can you not miss him, but Ryan has become a mini-celebrity. When I was in the audience last week a fan called out during a commercial break, ''I love you, Ace's brother!''
Yeah, I remember that. That was funny. Actually the first week or two he was always called ''Ace's brother.'' Then finally people started calling him Ryan. I walked up to him and said, ''Congratulations on your own identity, Ryan.''

Nice brother who shows up every single Tuesday and Wednesday to cheer you on.
Well, we're the last two of five boys. We're very close. He went through a big car accident when he was 20 and had to learn how to walk again. I'd come home from high school every day during lunch to be with him. I'd sit next to him and we'd talk. After getting over that and being able to dunk a basketball again, he moved out to California two and a half years ago to be with me. I wouldn't be here without him.

Back to the show: Even Simon, one of your harshest critics, was nice to you this week! Shocker?
Yeah, he said my performance was charming. Anything positive from him is a backhanded compliment. I was blown away that he said anything nice. Last night was really nice for me because I really thought I was safe. I was standing next to Chris and Paris. We all got praise from the judges. And then when Ryan said we were the bottom three, the first thing that ran through my mind was, ''Wow. I can't believe Chris is in the bottom three.''

Ryan Seacrest said on the show last night that you two are like Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. You really got that close, or are you just writing a screenplay together?
Chris and I are friends for life. I would step in front of a train for him. When it was down to the two of us, if we had to decide between us who would go home, I wouldn't have let him go.

I have to ask you about the whole Queen debacle from a couple of weeks ago. On the video before you performed ''We Will Rock You,'' guitarist Brian May made it sound like he hated you and your singing. But the next day he defended you on his website. Were you upset at how that drama went down?
I didn't get to see it until I performed that night. What really got me was after I saw it I had to field all these worries from my families and friends. Everyone was curious, like, ''Did you guys get along?'' I was like, ''Yeah, we got along great. He called me a genius. It was amazing.'' I have to put out much thanks to Brian May for sticking up for me. I respect him and all of Queen so much.

I was sure you'd go home last week after he trashed you on the air.
Yeah, me too. The thing is, we came up with that rendition together. The editing hung me out to dry. It made everyone think Ace is doing something to a classic. I thought I was gone.

Did you have it out with the producers over it?
I didn't. That's not up to me. If I did that, what control did I have on the next week's show? You just have to compete week to week.

What was the most meaningful thing said about you last night at your kiss-off dinner?
Everyone was speaking from their heart, and it was very emotional. I've been a big brother to a lot of people — Kevin Covais, Lisa, and Paris. Paris and I had a good little release of tears last night. Aside from the contestants, I got a lot of respect from people who worked on production and security. The highest compliment I received was that I'm one of the easiest guys to work with in Idol history.

A lot of fans got to see the softer side of Ace when you revealed the scar on your chest. What's that from?
The scar is actually from a basketball game. I was playing outdoors — I went up in the air into a garden and landed on a bar that was supposed to hold up a tree, but there was no tree. It hit me in the chest and bent with me all the way to the ground. It split me right open, but thankfully it didn't hit me in the throat. I thought showing the scar was fitting with the song.

On Tuesday night you assured fans that even though your hair was slicked back you didn't cut it. Will you ever cut it?
I enjoy it. I enjoy having it. I like feeling it fall wherever God wants to let it fall. If people want me to cut it I will. If people start talking about it too much or not listening to what I'm saying or singing, I'll get rid of it.

Yeah, you don't want to become Michael Bolton. Anyway, Paula said you should be a TV or movie star. Any plans to go into acting?
I've done a little acting and I would love to get into more acting classes so I can experience more emotions that you go through as an actor. I'm so excited by this launching pad American Idol has given me. I see it as a starting point. So many people love me. It blows me away. I have people walk up to me and give me a sincere hug. They don't even say a word.

That sounds kind of creepy. Does it freak you out that you went from relative anonymity to a celebrity?
If you voted for me I'm going to hug you. I'm the youngest of five; I've always been the underdog, fighting for recognition. I had four older brothers who were gifted athletes, so I was always the one entertaining in the house. I was the one who settled the mood.

I don't think you'll have a problem getting recognition now.
I'm a people person. I can't wait to do the tour and see the millions of people who voted for me so I can give them the handshakes and hugs they so deserve. I'm so grateful. In Denver I had a group of people who go by ''Ace's High Rollers.'' Last week they raised $2,000 in my name and donated it to Denver Children's Hospital. It's amazing that people know me. They know I go to Children's Hospital every year and go from room to room and sing for people. I've done it seven years in a row and I'll do it again this year.

You've been performing in public since you were 11. Did you like doing mall gigs?
I'd sign pictures, dance, even rap a little. I liked Kris Kross a lot then.

Did you wear your jeans backwards?
No, but I wore a Braves hat everywhere because it had an A on it and I thought that was cool.

Will you be watching and voting for the remainder of the show?
Yeah, I'm going to vote, but based on the performances. I'm not going to stick to one person. You're going to have to fight for my vote.

What's next for you: Singing? Acting?
I'm doing Regis & Kelly tomorrow. Then I have press stuff until Tuesday, and then I'm going back to Colorado for a few weeks to give those hugs to everyone who voted for me and kept me there. I can't wait to see what opportunities come my way — modeling, acting, music, fundraisers. Even my personal life, I can't wait to see who knocks on my door.

Let's talk about your personal life. Some might say you're a sex symbol now.
[Coyly] Thank you, Jessica.

I didn't say I did. I said some do. I'm married.
Your husband's going to come find me on the basketball court. Well, I'm flattered that my name is out there, that I'm a household name. What a great starting point for me. If I'm going to be in the sex-symbol category, all I can say is I'm flattered and I'm still going to give you a hug if you voted for me. I'm still Ace. I haven't changed from day one here. I'm not going to change.

When you were out on the town during the show, did any women ever slip you their phone numbers?
Yeah, they did, actually.

Are you going to call any of them?
I let [brother] Ryan accept all of them. You'll have to ask him.

Okay, I'll check with your pimp brother about that one. But for all the ladies out there, you are still single?
Single and available. So is my 6-foot-7 brother. Let's get the double dates going!