‘Idol’ Bucky grateful for Simon’s criticism

‘Great things happened to me’ because millions watched, singer says

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Former ‘American Idol’ Bucky Covington performs onstage during the Season 5 finale in Hollywood last May.

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updated 5:44 p.m. ET Feb. 7, 2007

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - While some “American Idol” contestants might fear Simon Cowell’s biting criticism, Bucky Covington says he’s grateful for it.

“Because of him being mean, millions of people watch that show,” said Covington, who finished eighth last season. “So I say ‘thank you’ for being mean. You turned on a lot of people to this show, and because of that a lot of great things happened to me.”

Cowell and fellow judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson have been accused of being nastier than usual this year on News Corp.’s Fox network talent show, pouncing on some of the more awful “Idol” wannabes during auditions.

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Covington, 29, says he doesn’t think so.

“I didn’t see them being really nice to me — no pushovers, you know,” the Rockingham, N.C., native said recently.

“I never knew Simon to be nice. If you said, ‘Hey, Simon is being nice this year,’ you would have caught my attention. But being mean is just what I expect. It’s what he does. It’s his job.”