Courtesy of Muscular Dystrophy Association

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"American Idol" finalist Ace Young was in Tucson visiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association's national headquarters last week.

The 27-year-old vocalist was selected as a celebrity ambassador for MDA, joining scores of actors, writers and musicians who have helped the organization since its founding in 1950.

Young spent his three days in Tucson meeting with MDA leaders, filming public-service announcements and mapping out his responsibilities for 2008.

His appointment comes at a busy time. Young's debut album will be out this spring, and he is attending the Grammy Awards next Sunday night. He co-wrote Chris Daughtry's "It's Not Over," which has earned a nomination for best rock song.

He and Daughtry were both contestants during Season Five of "American Idol." We talked to Young on Tuesday at MDA headquarters.

"I performed at the (Jerry Lewis) telethon last year. It was a lot of fun for me. It was something I'd always heard about, the MDA. But I never knew in-depth just what it was. I've been doing charity work my entire life. I totally understand when a kid is given a new situation, saying that they have something, a new disease. I understand the challenge and drive it takes to address that situation. These kids are more grown up than me. They could be 6 or 12, but there is something there that makes them old souls. They know the importance of life, and that is to live it."

"I was in Vegas hanging out with Daughtry a week ago. He was there doing a gig. I hadn't seen him in over a year. I flew out to Las Vegas that day and hung out with him during his show. Afterward, we talked until 5 in the morning."

You'll be at the Grammys for your work on the Daughtry song "It's Not Over." How did that come about?

"He had run everything by me while making his album during the 'Idol' tour. I'd give him my two cents and any ideas that came to mind. That was the only time we really had to throw around ideas. 'It's Not Over' was already a song that two other writers had started.

"The chorus was the bridge of the song at first, which didn't work for Chris' album. We were in Tacoma, and he asked, 'Ace, could you come in here and, whatever comes to mind, just let it out?' He began playing and I just started singing with the melody. Within 15 minutes, he and I came up with the chorus, the words and the melody."

"It is set to drop in April. This is all the music I love. I've worked hard doing corporate gigs so I could pay to produce it, and I've put together a team that believes in me physically and as a human being. I have some real quality music that brings out some big names. Desmond Child produced it. He has written songs like 'Dude (Looks Like a Lady)' and a lot of Bon Jovi and Ricky Martin stuff. He is a true rocker. He can layer guitars like I've never heard before."