Y. student hits his next stage

It's been almost a month since Provo's John Preator found out he was one of 32 contestants to advance to the latest round on "American Idol."

Now he's finally about to get his chance to perform before some 30 million people and try to win a spot among the 12 finalists.

"It's been a long time," said the 23-year-old Provo native — a Brigham Young University student and Timpview High School graduate — who added that the wait was both good and bad.

"The benefits were being able to watch the other contestants on TV and learn from their strengths and weaknesses, and kind of shape my own game plan," Preator said by telephone from Los Angeles. "But, definitely, it's been hard having to sit around, biting your nails and waiting your turn. It definitely adds to the increased nervousness level.

"I think, after all of this, the biggest thing I've learned, and the thing that I want to do the most, is just go out, be true to myself, be true to my voice and just show America who I am through my song."

Exactly what song he'll be singing during his first "American Idol" appearance on Tuesday (7 p.m., Channel 13), well, he's not allowed to say. "You don't want me to give away the big surprise, do you? That would be like showing the Christmas presents before Christmas morning."

And there's a certain similarity to the excited anticipation that leads up to Christmas — excitement he's trying to keep in check.

"I think if you let it get to you, then you lose already. . . . This is further than I ever dreamed or imagined I would ever get, starting out this whole ordeal," said Preator, who failed to win a trip to Hollywood when he auditioned in Los Angeles, and then traveled to New York for another chance, which paid off.

"I just consider it a huge honor to be able to sing on Tuesday night. And I want to do the best job I can. I feel like I owe that to the 70,000 other kids who would like to be in my shoes right now."

The big questions come after he sings. What will the judges say, and how many votes will he get from viewers? Of the eight who perform Tuesday, the top two vote-getters advance to the finals. Even if he doesn't make it, there's still a chance he could be selected as one of four "wild-card" entrants — the road that Utahn Carmen Rasmusen took to last year's finals.