Michael "Big Mike" Lynche — who was voted off American Idol Wednesday night — says he's still dealing with the pain of missing his first daughter's birth to compete in Hollywood Week.
"I don't think you can ever say anything is worth missing the birth of your child and only time will let those wounds heal," he said during a Thursday conference call.
"It definitely gives my family a good chance in the future and gives my daughter a better chance that I did it and took that sacrifice," continued Lynche, who was cheered on Wednesday by his now 4-month-old daughter, Laila, and wife, Christa.
"Of course I didn't want to miss it… but it wasn't a choice," added the 26-year-old Queens, New York resident. "This is what I needed to do with the family at this time. I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time…."
Lynche said it "meant a lot" to have his family on stage with him at the end of the show.
"To know that they would have been there for me if I was working at Home Depot or Dominos Pizza, you know? My wife supports me, no matter what," he said. "I get to be the family man, and I'm not anybody else but that."
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What did Randy Jackson say to him as the credits rolled?
"He was just pointing out that [former finalist Chris] Daughtry [was] No. 4, and I've got a chance to be special and it's not a bad place to be where I am," Lynche said.
Even though he was voted off, "I'm still focused on the show," he told reporters. "Top 10 will all be back for rehearsals on Tuesday and the tour is starting in June. The No. 1 plan this year is put out an album."
