'American Idol' winner Noah Thompson reflects on life-changing journey - USA TODAY

The 20-year-old construction worker from Louisa, Kentucky, has an interview with "Good Morning America" in New York Monday morning, meaning he's whisked into a car right after stepping off the "Idol" stage and off to an airport to catch a 10 p.m.

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Before "Idol," Thompson says he led a "simple life," working construction while raising his 1-year-old son, Walker.

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Lucky for Thompson, Arthur didn't take no for an answer and signed him up anyway.

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"I remember Lionel had told me to step out on that stage with my big boots and just own the stage, and that always stuck with me," he says. "I think about that a lot."

Underwood, who won Season 4 of "Idol" in 2005, said "American Idol" was created for people like herself and Thompson, "who didn't know to dream that big but knew that they wanted to do something."

Looking toward life after "Idol," Thompson doesn't quite know what his future has in store, other than playing shows and making music. After visiting Los Angeles for the first time for Hollywood Week, he says Nashville is a better fit for him to start his career. "I need trees, you know what I mean?" he says