Soul Sista

Detroit folkie on praise from 'Idol' runner-up Crystal Boxersox, gay rights and living out of her Geo Metro

The real winner of "American Idol" this year wasn't Lee DeWyze or even runner-up Crystal Bowersox, but Detroit's nomadic folk-soul songstress Sista Otis. Otis, who has a syrupy down-home Janis Joplin warble that has given inspiration to Bowersox, gained recent national attention when "Mama Sox" mentioned her on the most popular medium for music in mainstream America.

"I was knocked out that this li'l gal from Ohio was the one to be mentioning me on national TV," Otis says. "Any publicity is good publicity, but the fact that it's coming from such a talented …