Ohio native, stylist has an 'Idol' time

Art Conn accompanies the singers as they shop to put together their look.
LOUISVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- For "American Idol" contestants aiming to become superstars in the image-obsessed music world, an Ohio man is one of the most important people in their budding careers.
Art Conn, 34, of the Canton suburb of Louisville, is the stylist for the hit television talent show -- and helped last season's winner Carrie Underwood put together a look despite her hatred of shopping.
He says his own journey from obscurity to Hollywood includes a heavy dose of fate.
On a vacation in Los Angeles in 1990, Conn met a casting agent who gave him his first big break with a role on the show "California Dreams."
"My r & eacute;sum & eacute; wasn't put together well, my photos weren't good at all. The agent kind of really let me have it. I was 18," Conn said.
After graduating from the University of Dayton in 1994 with a degree in communication management, Conn moved to Hollywood with a friend.
"At home, I was a big fish in a small pond," he said. "I got to LA with that kind of swagger, and they knocked it out of me with reality."
Worked his way up
Conn worked at various retail stores popular with celebrities. He got to know a stylist for the stars who later hired him.
"And from that moment on it just snowballed. I was calling Gucci and other designers, getting clothes for a photo shoot with Daisy Fuentes, just calling everyone," Conn said.
Last season was his first with FOX's "American Idol." He worked closely with eventual champion Underwood.
"She hated going shopping," he said.
His job is to help the 12 finalists find their stage wardrobe, shoes, hairstyles, accessories and makeup. A typical day finds him, a bodyguard and the singer shopping in Los Angeles for the perfect look.
"Some love it, some hate it. It's hard if someone thinks they know their own style and don't need any help, because things don't always look the same on TV as they do in the mirror," he said.
Assessments
A key moment last year was when Conn and finalist Nadia Turner worked on a look for a rock performance. They decided on a mohawk that wasn't popular with judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.
"She got blasted for it, but, looking back, it was the most edge-pushing outfit ever for an American Idol performer," Conn said.
Assessing this season's contestants, Conn predicted that a few "divas in the making" won't last long.
"A lot of them are really just normal kids who a few weeks ago were doing chores and getting an allowance," he said. "Those are the ones that really pull at your heartstrings."
Hauling bags through a mall isn't always the most glamorous work, he said. "A lot of times you have to put everything on your own credit card, sometimes $10,000, which is just insane."
Belying the often tense on-camera bickering among judges, Conn said backstage is a pleasant place to work.
"Everyone is so wonderful backstage. You see Simon and Paula hugging," he said. "It really feels like a family."