DAVID COOK ‘AMERICAN IDOL’ MENTOR FOR THIS SEASON’S TOP 8: “I WAS HONOURED TO BE ASKED...I DID MY HOMEWORK.”

David Cook 'American Idol' mentor for the Season 13 contestants is as exciting as it sounds. A former 'American Idol' winner and Season 7 victor, Cook excitedly tells The Hollywood Reporter about his new role on the show. David Cook 'American Idol' mentor for the show may actually heighten TV show's ratings.

David Cook told THR: "I wanted their arrangements to be theirs [and] there are a couple I'm really excited about."

David Cook 'American Idol' mentor update was tweeted by Cook himself Sunday on his flight to Los Angeles:

Monday was spent by David Cook 'American Idol' mentor working with Season 13's Top 8 on their Wednesday performances. David expressed to THR Wednesday afternoon from a Nashville recording studio, "I was honored to be asked. I pushed the contestants and hopefully they got something out of it. I did my homework and watched their prior performances. There's a lot of talent this season. I wanted to help them hone that talent."

David Cook was in the Nashville recording studio cutting 18 songs, 11 or 12 of which will be on his next album.

David Cook 'American Idol' mentor says that all eight finalists definitely have their own specialties. When it comes to the contestants' performances, he said: "I want them to connect more. A lot of them come from a live space. They are great with the crowd in the room, but I feel like something is missing when it's time to connect with people at home."

For David Cook 'American Idol' mentor session with the contestants on Monday, the finalists have already chosen their songs prior to working with Cook. The former AI winner and now David Cook 'American Idol' mentor focused on the Top 8's arrangements during the Monday mentorship.

Cook said, "There weren't any songs I thought didn't fit the contestants. I wanted their arrangements to be theirs. There are a couple I'm really excited about, including C.J.'s"

Not only having an experienced recording artist as mentor advantageous, but this season's David Cook 'American Idol' mentor offers the finalists a person to confide in when it comes to the contest itself.

Cook reportedly offered counselling to the Top 8. He said: "Caleb [Johnson] is a real student of the show, so we talked about some of my past song selections and what my experience was like."

As for his counsel to Sam, "I told Sam [Woolf] after the save last week, there is a reason he's here and he's got to let loose and go for it. Now is the time for all of them to get into the next gear. They have to step up and separate themselves from the pack."

David Cook 'American Idol' mentor results have yet to be seen on Thursday's eliminations. However his mentorship may turn out, it is no doubt that Cook is one talented singer, and won the show on Season 7.