Jennifer Hudson's 'Where You At' video
Megan Joy posts 'Two Rivers' music video

Chris Medina releases 'What Are Words' single

By Brian Mansfield, USA TODAY

Anyone who watched American Idol's Milwaukee auditions couldn't help but be touched by the story of contestant Chris Medina and his fiancée, Juliana Ramos, severely injured in a devastating accident just two months before their planned wedding.

In one of the most surprising early eliminations in Idol's 10-season history, Chris didn't make the semifinals this season, but he has already released his first single, one written and produced by Rodney Jerkins, whose other credits include Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson.

What Are Words, a ballad about making and keeping promises no matter the circumstances, relates directly and emotionally to Chris' life.

"What are words if you really don't mean when you say them?" Chris sings in the song's chorus, against a backdrop of piano and strings. "What are words if they're only for good times then they're torn?"

"The song embodied what I'm going through and the promises that I kept," Chris tells The Hollywood Reporter.

Jerkins said he wrote the song specifically for Chris after learning of his story. "When I heard the story of Chris and Juliana, the words and music just flowed," he said in a press release Thursday. "Sometimes a song is more than a song, and that's really true with What Are Words."

Chris told Extra's Mario Lopez Thursday that he didn't know that Jennifer Lopez had broken down crying after giving him the news of his elimination until he saw it on television.

When you're in front of her you can tell she's nervous or just doesn't want to break the news to me," he says. "But I had no idea she broke down until actually seeing it myself."

The single marks the first time that the Idol camp has released an original single from one of its contestants during the course of the show. And if this is the level of quality that the contestants who don't even make the Top 24 will produce, it bodes well for the show's ability to create a true hitmaker this season, especially if it keeps giving eliminated contestants material from top-notch writers and producers like Jerkins.

A video for What Are Words will premiere Friday at 2 p.m. Eastern on AOL, and Chris will perform the song will perform the song on The Tonight Show.

Jennifer Hudson's 'Where You At' video
Megan Joy posts 'Two Rivers' music video