American Idol Winner Bios
Courtesy of Fox
Courtesy of Fox
Courtesy of Fox
The seventh season of American Idol has finished up and we have a new American Idol winner joining the ranks. David Cook beat out 17-year-old David Archuleta for the win. Check out the goods on the current and past American Idols!
Season Seven :: David Cook
Birthdate: December 20, 1982Birthplace: Houston, Texas
Growing up in Blue Springs, Missouri, David Cook got his first guitar at the age of two and began singing in the school choir in second grade. By then music was pumping through this talented guy’s veins and he performed virtually every chance he could all the way through high school. When American Idol rolled into Tulsa, Oklahoma, David originally went to support his younger brother Andrew but was convinced to try out himself. Not a bad decision, since his versions of Livin’ On A Prayer, and I Do It For You blew the judges away. Throughout the contest, especially on his rock version of Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, DC has performed with the confidence of someone destined to be a star, and now he has won the chance to be one of the biggest stars on the planet!
Season Six :: Jordin Sparks
Birthdate: December 22, 1989Birthplace: Staten Island, New York
Jordin Sparks may be the youngest AI winner to date, but she has a voice that contradicts her age and musical experience beyond her years. Jordin has been watching American Idol since she was 12, and released an independent EP when she was just 13 years old. She became an Idol at the ripe old age of 17!
Season Five :: Taylor Hicks
Birthdate: January 24, 1977Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama
Taylor Hicks brought a sound as unusual as his grayer-than-average look to American Idol. His Alabama upbringing gives his sound a soulfulness that his fans love. Taylor's been singing since he could crawl and had already been performing at various venues around the US since he left university. He has even already put out an album called Under the Radar. Taylor tried to audition for American Idol at its Memphis audition but that was canceled after Hurricane Katrina so he went to the Vegas one instead. Taylor's first post-Idol album (called - what else - Taylor Hicks) was dropped in 2006.
Season Four :: Carrie Underwood
Birthdate: March 9, 1983Birthplace: Checotah, Oklahoma
The contestants from season four of American Idol were whittled down and the winner was Carrie Underwood! This country crooner wowed America week after week with her powerful voice. Before driving for seven hours to audition in St. Louis, Carrie was enrolled in college taking Mass Communications. Carrie's first single, Inside Your Heaven, debuted at number one in the charts. Her second single, Jesus Take the Wheel, peaked at number one in the country charts and her full album, Some Hearts hit shelves in November 2005.
Season Three :: Fantasia Barrino
Birthdate: June 30, 1984Birthplace: High Point, NC
Fantasia Barrino brought a new flavor to American Idol during season three. Her raspy voice set her apart from the thousands of other contestants she was up against. Since her win Fantasia has released her first album, Free Yourself. There are some pretty big appearances on this disc - Missy Elliot is featured on the track Selfish! Fantasia published her memoir in late-2005 called Life is Not a Fairy Tale and her second album, Fantasia, hit shelves in late 2006. She went on to star in the Broadway musical The Color Purple, produced by Oprah Winfrey.
Season Two :: Ruben Studdard
Birthdate: September 12, 1978Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama
Before American Idol, Ruben Studdard was a voice major at Alabama A&M University. He also performed with his bands, Just A Few Cats and God's Gifts. Ruben auditioned for American Idol in Nashville, Tennessee and all three judges said they got goosebumps when he sang. Later, guest judge Gladys Knight nicknamed him The Velvet Teddy Bear. Ruben beat Clay Aiken by 134,400 votes in the season two American Idol finale. He has since released two albums, Soulful and I Need an Angel. His third album, The Return, met with poor sales in 2006.
Season One :: Kelly Clarkson
Birthdate: April 24, 1982Birthplace: Burleson, Texas
Kelly has really come a long way since her big win on American Idol. The competition launched her into the spotlight and her first disc, Thankful, made a huge splash. Tracks like Miss Independent and Beautiful Disaster became instant summer anthems. Critics may have thought that Kelly would fade out fast, but with the release of Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson has proved that she has real staying power in the industry. Kelly's third album, My December, drops in June 2007.
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