-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Kimberley Locke knows a thing or two about singing competitions . '' American Idol '' finalist Kimberley Locke is the new co-host of `` Gospel Dream . '' Having placed third during season two of `` American Idol '' -- just behind winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken -- the singer is back in reality show action as the new co-host of `` Gospel Dream . '' The Gospel Music Channel 's talent search is going into its fourth season , and Locke joins fellow host Mike Kasem -LRB- son of Casey Kasem -RRB- and the judges -- gospel artist J. Moss , Destiny 's Child member Michelle Williams and industry executive Mitchell Solarek -- on the show . Locke has worked steadily since she first burst onto the `` Idol '' scene in 2003 . She has modeled , served as a spokesperson for plus-sized clothier Lane Bryant and Jenny Craig and appeared on VH1 's `` Celebrity Fit Club . '' All the while , she has continued to pursue her music . Her `` 8th World Wonder '' was a big hit , making the Top 10 on Billboard 's Adult Contemporary charts . She 's had three dance chart No. 1s . Locke recently spoke with CNN about the `` Gospel Dream , '' life after `` American Idol '' and the one reality show she really wants to appear on next . CNN : How did you get involved with `` Gospel Dream ? '' Kimberley Locke : Funny enough , I 've been wanting to do more hosting , and I had been talking to my manager about it . They contacted me out of the blue , and I was like `` Oh , I put it out to the universe , and here it is . '' CNN : Are you a gospel music fan ? Locke : I am a gospel music fan . Of course I grew up in the church singing gospel music . I do n't listen to as much as I used to , but I used to sing in a girl a cappella group and that 's how we started , performing in church . CNN : Why do you think so many performers in the music industry come out of the church ? Locke : I think a lot of people become stars in their church . ... The church environment is so supportive . When you are first starting out and learning how to sing in front of an audience , that 's the kind of audience you want to be in front of . Even if you mess up and you sound horrible , they kind of let you stand there and collect yourself while the pianist keeps playing . Then they plow through it with you . That 's a part of the business , a professionalism that really comes in handy when you get to this level . CNN : You 've had some experiences with singing competitions . How is `` Gospel Dream '' different ? Locke : It 's different in that the contestants are very focused on where they want to be and the type of music they want to sing . When you are on `` Idol , '' you are forced to fit into all of these different genres you may or may not want to do and you may or may not even be familiar with them . The `` Gospel Dream '' contestants ' direction is really clear and defined , so they are picking songs that really speak to them on a personal level . Watch Locke talk about the show '' CNN : How has life been for you post - `` Idol ? '' Locke : Life has been great post - `` Idol . '' So many opportunities , so many things I would have never imagined . Things that I did n't even associate with singing , like modeling , hosting , being a spokesperson , owning a restaurant . It just opened so many doors . CNN : You were a plus-sized model and spokesperson for Lane Bryant , but now you are way too small to do that . Locke : That really opened me up to bond with my fans . I tell people I 'm still a big girl at heart . CNN : When is your next album coming out ? Locke : I just started working on the next album . We are in the very preliminary stages of putting together the concept of the record and we just compiled a bunch of songs to start listening to . CNN : Are you planning on doing any other reality shows ? Locke : I 'm not really a big reality show fan . I did `` Celebrity Fit Club '' because there was a purpose behind that in my wanting to lose weight . There is only one reality show I really , really want to do , and that 's `` Dancing With the Stars . '' I want to be on that show because then I 'd lose the extra 10 to 15 pounds I want to lose .