Last year's "American Idol" winner David Cook rocks his way to the region next week.

Cook will perform Wednesday at The Venue at Hammond's Horseshoe Casino.

"The tour has been great," said Cook, during a recent phone interview from a concert stop in Oklahoma. "This is our 138th show."

The singer/songwriter/guitarist and his band, touring in support of his self-titled debut album, have been on the road since February.

Cook, who hails from Kansas City, Mo., said he's enjoyed bringing his original music to fans across the country.

"Coming off of 'Idol', which was such a big production, the goal for us was to come out without all the bells and whistles and get back to a grassroots rock show," he said, adding his show is purely dedicated to the music .

Through the last year, Cook has been caught in a whirlwind of escalating fame, activity, and travel, in addition to sadness and heartache after the loss of his brother Adam to cancer in May.

He's had three tunes -- "Light On," "Time of My Life" and "Come Back to Me" -- rank in the Top 40 on the Billboard charts And he's racked up various accolades including Top 40 Male Artist of the Year at The New Music Awards in 2008 and Song of the Year Award for "Time of My Life" at the Nashville Music Awards this year. In addition, Cook has given his time to various charities and performed for troops during a USO tour.

How has he juggled and survived so much so fast?

"In everything, there are going to be ups and downs. I've been able to handle it all with the support of family and great friends," he said. According to Cook, it could be pretty easy to get "caught" up in all of the trappings and "absurdity" of the business but the important people in his life have kept him grounded.

Cook, who is the seventh "American Idol" winner, said participating in the show was a plus on so many levels.

"The best part about it was it confirmed a lot of things for me.It showed me that I could really keep up from week to week and it gave me a lot of confidence as a musician," he said.

During the "American Idol" competition, judge Randy Jackson called Cook "the most original and most bold contestant" they'd ever had on the show. Ironically, Cook never intended to try out for the contest. He was encouraged to audition for "Idol" by his younger brother Andrew, who tried out and didn't make it.

Cook, 26, said he's pretty much always been someone who believed in dreams coming true.

"You kind of have to think that if you're going to chase it," he said.

While being on the road for the past nine months could take its toll on anyone, Cook said he and the band are enjoying the travel. "We've kind of gotten used to it," he said.

Once the tour concludes, Cook plans to get back into the studio to work on another album.

Among events Cook recently attended was the premiere of Michael Jackson's "This Is It," where he walked the Red Carpet.

"It was fun. I'd never been to anything like that. To be involved in that aspect of celebrity was a little odd, though," he said.

For his show at The Venue, Cook said the band will concentrate on material from his album but there may be a few surprises.

"Being that it's Hammond and we'll be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the album, maybe we'll do something a little different," he said.

Perhaps that performance will be his rendition of "Billie Jean" which he blew judges away with on "American Idol." That would be fitting, in light of Michael Jackson's Northwest Indiana roots.

David Cook, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18

WHERE: The Venue at Horseshoe Casino, 777 Casino Center Drive, Hammond

COST: $35 and $25

FYI: (219) 473-6060; Irish pop band The Script opens