Colbie Caillat has won two Grammys and sold more than 6 million albums and 10 million singles in her five-year career.
Not bad for a two-time "American Idol" reject.
Ironically, her second rejection came after she auditioned with her self-penned song "Bubbly" - which became her 2007 debut single.
We caught up with Caillat for a phone interview early this month to chat about her concert Tuesday at Fox Tucson Theatre. (She also will perform at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Zinburger, 6390 E. Grant Road, as part of 92.9 The Mountain's Pink October concert series.)
We learned a few things about the 26-year-old California native, who is touring on her third CD, "All of You."
Songs you will recognize: "Bubbly," "Lucky," "Fallin' For You," "I Never Told You," "I Do," "Brighter Than the Sun."
The show: "It's really fun seeing the audience know every song, and when I play a cover song we get a really big reaction from it. That's why we do it stripped acoustic."
The setting: "I wanted it to look like you're in someone's backyard. Wicker furniture and twinkle lights and paper lanterns and rugs. Really cozy."
Special guests: "Last night Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic came out and sang a couple songs with us. It was very fun. When we play in L.A. next week, Jason Mraz is going to come out and sing 'Lucky'. If I know someone in a certain city and they are there, definitely I'll call them out and have them come."
'American Idol,' take one: "I didn't even want to audition. I am really shy. I have stage fright and that's how I've been my whole life. My family and friends really encouraged me to audition. I had four other friends in high school ... and we all auditioned and none of us made it past the producer judges. ... I knew I wasn't right for the show."
"Idol" take two: "My friends wanted to audition again. And I thought it couldn't hurt. It was like a learning experience, practicing auditioning and conquering your fears. And that's why I did it, and, no, I didn't make it again."
Controlling her stage fright: "Now it's gotten better. In the past, it was at my own shows where I would want to cancel before I went on. I would be crying - 'I can't do this, I don't want to do this.' Now the only thing I'm scared of really is talking between songs. I'm not nervous performing. The crowd makes it really fun."
Working with her dad, producer Ken Caillat (Fleetwood Mac's 1977 "Rumours"): "He actually produced four or five songs on 'Breakthrough' and four or five songs on 'All of You.' I like working with him."
If you go
• What: Colbie Caillat in concert.
• When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
• Where: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St.
• Tickets: $32 to $46 at www.foxtucsontheatre.com
