Crystal Bowersox, quitting American Idol???

Crystal Bowersox, who some consider the front-runner, almost quit American Idol! According to reports on Access Hollywood, she was ready to throw in the towel and return to her family in Ohio.

The pressures of a show like American Idol must be incredible. Performers, usually very young, are put under extreme scrutiny. Crystal was born in August, 1985, making her 25 years old.

Do you remember last month when they switched the women to performing after the men, so Crystal could recuperate from an illness? She seems to be having a difficult time, but the show producers obviously are impressed with her talent.

Ryan Seacrest gave Crystal a pep talk in the parking lot following the taping of the show in front of a group of people. "What's the point?" Crystal asked him. When he said, "The greatest thing I ever did was make enough money so I could buy my mom a house. You can buy your mom a house." perhaps he gave her something to keep her motivated to continue.

If you had the opportunity to make a lot of money, but it was going to mean sacrifice and surviving a stressful time, what would motivate you to keep going? What would you use the money to do, making it all worth it?