09:50 AM EST on Tuesday, February 22, 2005

By MARK WASHBURN / The Charlotte Observer

Interactive Partner

Although tonight is Sarah Mather's first live appearance on "American Idol," the 22-year-old Providence High grad says she's learned a lot already from the show.

"Most of all, you have to believe in yourself," she says. "When doubt creeps in, a lot of stress comes in with it."

Mather is a finalist after surviving repeated cuts in the preliminary rounds. She has rehearsed her performance for tonight for about five hours a day -- enough, she says, to know her music by second nature.

"American Idol" has made vocal coaches available to contestants who want advice on their arrangements, she says. "They want us to do the best we can," she said in a telephone interview from Hollywood.

This season's 24 contestants have been busy in the last week with publicity appearances and learning their roles for group and individual appearances. Men performed Monday night and tonight the women hit the stage. The first two eliminations will be announced in Wednesday's episode (9 p.m., Fox, Channel 18).

Contestants get along well, Mather said, despite the hard work. "When you're in a situation like this together, you bond pretty quickly. We're having fun."

After graduating from Charlotte's Providence High School in 2000, Mather went to Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington for a cosmetology degree. She works in a Wilmington day spa, which has given her as much time off as she needs to pursue "Idol."