Hobokenite Looking to be Next American Idol

Hoboken's most famous star—Frank Sinatra—preferred to sing about the city across the river.

Although Tynisha Roches is looking to follow Ol' Blue Eyes' footsteps as a Hoboken-grown star, she said she will continue to sing about her hometown. 

"Sinatra sang about New York, New York. I sing about Hoboken," said Roches, who is currently in Los Angeles as a contestant on the upcoming season of American Idol. "My phone (number) is still 201, I will not change it."

Roches, 25, grew up on Jackson Street and attended Hoboken public schools (she graduated from Hoboken High School in 2003) all her life before going to Kean University.  

"In school she'd participate in the chorus and anything to do with art," said Roches' mother Carmen Pineiro. Pineiro, 53, added that as a little girl, Roches was always singing around the house.  

"She was always auditioning for something," Pineiro said. Pineiro added that her daughter was a cheerleader for the Hoboken Recreational League for about nine years. 

When Roches realized American Idol would be coming to East Rutherford for an open audition, she decided to try out. Out of the more than 2,000 people who showed up, 200 were chosen to go to the next round. Roches was one of them. 

"I was amazed," Roches said. "There were so many beautiful people with beautiful voices."

Now, another three rounds later, she's still in the running and has been flown out to Los Angeles. What happens next is still unclear. 

Fox, the channel on which American Idol airs, is still looking for a new juror for season 10. There was talk of Jennifer Lopez becoming the new judge, but that has fallen through. As the show forms itself and the other contestants are brought to L.A., Roches said she's happy to stay put and wait.

Roches has been in L.A. since Aug. 16 and is waiting to hear from the show to come back for a next round. Since the new season doesn't start until January, she said, she hopes to be in L.A. for another three months. 

Roches is staying with family members, she said, and has some appointments with local agents and record labels set up during her stay. In honor of being a Hobokenite, she said she has also visited Frank Sinatra's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

"I could be cut off at any point," Roches said. "I'll stay as long as they want me to."

And even if she gets cut off, Pineiro trusts that her daughter will find a way to reach fame. 

"She's not the type that will give up," Pineiro said. 

That resilience may come from Roches' youth. At age 14, a tumor was discovered on Roches' trachea and she had to undergo six months of chemo therapy and three months of radiation treatment. 

"I had a tumor, my hair fell off," said Roches. "It was my senior year of high school, but I was still smiling."

Her mother remembered the same. "She didn't sit there and feel sorry for herself," said Pineiro. "And thank God, she pulled through."

Although she is very happy for her daughter, Pineiro misses Roches, whom she's used to live with or at least have around on the weekends. And the uncertainty of what will happen next, of course, is nerve wracking. 

"I'm very anxious," said Pineiro. "I just keep waiting like anybody (else) and cross my fingers."