American Idol judge Steven Tyler was a big fan of season 11 champion Phillip Phillips, predicting both his win and a career as an actor for the vulnerable Georgia native. He even went so far as citing the singer’s potential as the next James Dean.

When Phillips spoke about Tyler’s departure from the Idol panel with MIX 105.1 recently, it was apparent that Phillips was a fan of the Aerosmith frontman as well. “There’s nobody like Steven on this earth, I’ve kind of realized that. There’s not another human being,” he said.

VIEW PHOTOS OF PHILLIP PHILLIPS
IN THE MIX 105.1 ALL ACCESS LOUNGE

But when it came time to share his idea for the perfect replacement for Tyler, it wasn’t an easy task. Phillips eventually settled on an artist that he had successfully covered on Idol with his rocking rendition of “Superstition.”

“Stevie Wonder, that would be a good one,” Phillips confided.  ”He wouldn’t be able to see you and it wouldn’t be about looks or anything. It would just be about the notes you sing, so that’d be a good one.”

Sounds kind of like another singing competition, doesn’t it?