Rounds has stated that she began to sing when she was just 3 years old. She once lived in Memphis, Tennessee, along with her husband and three children. Rounds was a Customer service advisor. Before she entered the competition, a tornadoripped through Memphis on February 5, 2008, severely damaging her apartment complex and forcing her and her family to live in a motel. Her grandfather once worked with blues legend B.B. King. She said her dream mentor would be Stevie Wonder.
''American Idol''
Overview
Rounds auditioned in Kansas City Missouri, where she received high praises from all judges saying that she was one of the best to audition, and that they thought she was a combination of Mary J. Blige and Fantasia. In Hollywood week round 1, she received a standing ovation from Kara DioGuardi and Paula Abdul after her rendition of "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton. Her semifinal performance, "Be Without You", was highly praised by the judges allowing her to join the finals. After the top 36 performance, she was considered an early front runner in which Simon Cowell stated he would think Rounds would be in the top 3 along with Adam Lambert and Danny Gokey during his interview on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. She was eliminated on April 22 along with Anoop Desai, and returned for the Season 8 Finale on May 20, 2009 performing "Cue the Rain" with Queen Latifah.
Performances/Results
Rounds was saved first from elimination.
When Ryan Seacrest announced the results in the particular night, Rounds was in the bottom three, but declared safe second, as Matt Giraud was saved from elimination by the judges.
Due to the judges using their one save to save Matt Giraud, the Top 7 remained intact for another week.
Post-''Idol''
After Lil's elimination, she made guest appearances on Live with Regis and Kelly, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Larry King Live, some local FOX television affiliates and numerous radio stations across the country. She performed on the Grand Finale of American Idol season 8, including a group medley of So What and a duet of Cue the Rain with original artist Queen Latifah. On the tour, Rounds sang "Be Without You" by Mary J. Blige, "No One" by Alicia Keys, and Beyoncé's "Single Ladies." Rounds has said in numerous interviews that during the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009 she will begin working on her album. She says her album will be contemporary R&B, soul, popgospel and jazz. She is currently in the studio working on her album, and will have a new website up soon. She has stated that her album will be out in the spring of 2010. It has been reported that she has signed with Bungalo Records. On December 23, 2010, Rounds announced that she has left what she called a "bad record deal" and was now working on her album independently to be released in 2011. Her album with Bungalo Records is believed to have been scrapped.
