Taylor Hicks may have won over America as the Season 5 champion of American Idol, but the singer says life after the finale wasn’t nearly as effortless as many viewers imagined.

Nearly 20 years after his victory, Hicks is looking back on what came after the confetti fell, revealing the biggest misconception about winning one of television’s most recognizable singing competitions.

“It is a lot tougher than it seems,” Hicks exclusively told Fox News Digital.

“I think opportunity creates luck. But with a little faith and a little luck, you can accomplish your dreams.”

While American Idol opened plenty of doors, Hicks says there are lessons he only learned after becoming an overnight star.

“Well, 20 years is a long time to be in show business, but if I could look back and somebody would tell me some advice, I would probably say, ‘Be patient and trust in God.’”

The singer also credits his Alabama upbringing for helping him stay grounded throughout the highs and lows of the entertainment business.

“One trait that my parents taught me and my values is to stay grounded and make sure that you are nice to others,” Hicks said.

“Karma’s a real thing, so be nice, be sweet and be happy.”

Hicks believes today’s aspiring reality TV stars face an even tougher path than he did when he auditioned nearly two decades ago, thanks to the explosion of televised talent competitions.

“Luckily for me, ‘American Idol’ was the only game in town,” Hicks previously told Fox News Digital. “I think the last talent show that was on television was ‘Star Search.’ And once ‘Idol’ became so successful, I think ‘America’s Got Talent,’ ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’ There’s all these entities that kind of popped up that you really have to compete for now. So I think it is tougher for contestants on shows like that, because they’re kind of spreading the love.”

Despite the challenges, Hicks says he’s thankful for everything his American Idol win made possible. If he could revisit that life-changing moment, he’d offer himself one reminder.

“The first thing that I would tell myself right when I won ‘American Idol’ is enjoy the wave as much as you can because in this business, sooner or later, it’s going to crash, and you’ve got to catch another one.”

Hicks has also been taking part in events celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, including a performance of “Nineteen,” a tribute honoring the young Americans who answered the call to serve after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

“Well, I think we’ve come a long way as a country. From where we started, from our Founding Fathers to this point, this is an amazing time in history for our country and we all should be proud that we’ve made it to 250, and here’s to 250 more,” Hicks told Fox News Digital.

The singer remains busy on the road this summer, with performances scheduled at the Flora-Bama Lounge on July 11 and the Connecticut Country Music Festival on Aug. 1, where he’ll serve as host.