TAYLOR HICKS talks to ET about his new CD! The "American Idol" winner releases his self-titled album on Tuesday, December 12.

"I'm excited about it," Taylor told us from Times Square. "I'm excited about performing it."

Judging from the reaction from the crowd outside our studio in New York, Taylor's not the only one who's excited! It's been a little over six months since millions of fans voted him the new "American Idol," and they're ready to hear him go solo.

"It's been an insane ride," Taylor says. "A year ago, I was playing acoustic at restaurants, while they were serving spaghetti and steak."

This 30-year-old may be ready to top the charts now, but inside he's the same working man's musician from Birmingham, Alabama that he always was.

"I know what it's like not to be successful," he says. "Your surroundings can change, but your person can't."