Ex-'Idol' star issues warning to hopefuls

Former American Idol finalist Chris Sligh has warned this year's hopefuls that appearing on the show does not guarantee a glittering career.

The singer, who finished tenth in the sixth season, took to his official blog to caution contestants of season eight that their "days of being a star" are probably over once the Idol tour ends.

"You're not going to be successful. You're not going to be millionaires (with the exception of maybe Kris [Allen] and Adam [Lambert]). You are going to struggle. No one will care about you," he wrote.

"Those fans who've been asking for your autograph all tour long - 98% of them don't give a flying poo about you once next season of Idol starts. They're not going to buy your album when you put it out two years late.

"Chances are you'll never feel the rush of playing in front of 10,000 people who care about you again. Your star is waning and remarkably quickly."

The 31-year-old, who claimed to have found success by working hard, went on to say that although "this season of Idol was one of the most talented, if history repeats itself the majority of these Idols will do nothing in music... Not trying to be mean, just being real."

He added: "In other words, your days of being a star are over. But that's alright - so are mine. And I'm one of the most successful for my season of Idol. I'm not a star. Chances are I never again will be."

Sligh also posted words of wisdom for contestants hoping to continue in the music industry, including the need to have a passion for the subject, to surround yourself with "real people" and to move to a music-orientated city.