The "Idol" winner talks about music with Rolling Stone.

DAVID COOK nabbed 55 million votes to win "American Idol" last month, and now he's opening up to Rolling Stone magazine about how he ended up on the show in the first place.

Cook, who didn't mean to audition for "Idol," only going to the audition in Omaha, NE, as moral support for his brother, ANDREW, tells the rock and roll mag that success didn't come to him overnight.

"The overnight thing is nice and romantic," Cook says in an interview during his first trip to New York City, continuing, "But in this particular instance, it's not the case."

Cook explains that he had musical aspirations from a young age -- he first sang in public in second grade, and he played first the violin, and next, the guitar, during his childhood. He also participated in talent competitions, and went on to form his first band at age 15. It was only after years of being in bands and doing solo projects that he took the "Idol" stage.

Since winning "Idol," Cook has signed a record deal with 19 Recordings/RCA and has come close to breaking records -- 11 of his songs registered on Billboard's Hot 100 shortly after he triumphed on "Idol," according to Rolling Stone, which reported that the only musical act to best that record was the BEATLES in 1964.

And Cook is confident in his own style. While he admires fellow "Idol" rockers BO BICE and CHRIS DAUGHTRY, he tells Rolling Stone: "I don't want to make a Chris Daughtry record, I want to make a David Cook record. I feel like I know who I am."

Rolling Stone's profile on David Cook will appear in the June 26, 2008, issue.