The Top 4 "American Idol" contestants said on Friday they felt they were all winners in the TV singing show, whichever one of them is crowned with the coveted title in three weeks time.

They also took questions from the press in Los Angeles. Here are a few highlights:

Casey James, 27, of Fort Worth, Texas, agreed, saying, "It's really a matter of how badly you want to do this and how hard you push yourself."

Bowersox, 24, said: "I never intended to quit I just missed my son". The Internet reports last month that she had contemplated quitting the top-rated TV show had been blown out of proportion.

"Our ultimate goal is to be able to make our own music albums. We are all really psyched to get to that point," she said.

"We're all friends," said Lee Dewyze, 24, of Mount Prospect, Ill. "But as far as the show, at the end of the day, all of us do want to win. That's why we're here: We want that No. 1 spot 鈥?(but) we want it for ourselves, not because we don't want anyone else to win."

There is a sense of competition when song choices are made for their weekly performance, conceded Michael "Big Mike" Lynche, 26, from Queens, N.Y.

But when worry sets in about grabbing the best tune, Lynche said, "you realize nobody sings the songs that you sing" or has the same style. He hoped to make an album of music "that makes you feel good, that inspires you and does something to your heart."

Only the winner of "American Idol" is guaranteed a record contract but in past years several of the other contestants have also been signed by record labels.