Season Three – American Idol - R&B singer Fantasia Barrino (2004)
- 03.14.2009
- Article Number: 8
| Fantasia was only 19 years old when she tried out for American Idol. She is from High Point, North Carolina and is a single mother raising a beautiful daughter.
As season three winner Fantasia Barrino was a young, struggling single mother when she tried out for American Idol. Here is how it has changed her life changed.
• Fantasia's first single "I Believe" debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. According to Billboard, she was the first new artist in history to debut a single at number one.
• Fantasia's first album, Free Yourself, peaked at number three on The Billboard Charts. The album included singles such as Baby Mama, which only made it number 60 on the Hot 100 singles chart.
• In 2005, Fantasia released the book, Life Is Not a Fairytale, which revealed Fantasia's struggles as a single teen mother and high school dropout. She also revealed that she was functional illiterate.
• In 2006, Fantasia starred in a TV movie based on Life Is Not a Fairytale.
• Fantasia released her second, self-titled album in December, 2006. It received praise from critics, but debuted at number 19 on the Billboard album chart.
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Season Two – American Idol - R&B singer Ruben Studdard (2003)
- 03.14.2009
- Article Number: 7
| Did you know Ruben was 25 years old when he tried out for American Idol. He is from Birmingham, Alabama, where he was a voice major at Alabama A&M University.
Ruben was known as the “Velvet Teddy Bear” during season two of American Idol. But was he smooth enough to launch a successful music career? Here are the facts:
• Ruben's first album, Soulful, debut at number one on the Billboard album chart, selling 400,000 copies.
• The album's first single, "Sorry for 2004," peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
• When the album hit stores, fans were buzzing about the fact that Clay Aiken, the singer Ruben beat on American Idol, was selling more records than he was.
• Ruben was nominated for his first Grammy in 2003, for his vocal performance of the song "Superstar."
• Ruben released a Gospel album in 2004. It sold 96,000 copies in its first week. That number was good enough to send it to number one on the Gospel charts.
• According to his website, Ruben has sold more than 2 million albums in the United States.
• Ruben released the R&B album The Return is fall, 2006. That album peaked at number 8 on the Billboard album chart.
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The First American Idol – Season One - Kelly Clarkson (2002)
- 03.14.2009
- Article Number: 6
| Did you know Kelly Clarkston was only 20 years old when she tried out for American Idol? She is from Burleson, Texas and worked as a cocktail waitress before she won American Idol in 2002.
That was only her first of many accomplishments in her long career which is still going strong. Here are just a few of what she has done since winning American Idol in 2002.
• Her first single, "A Moment Like This," set a record when it went from number 52 to number one on the Billboard singles chart in one week.
• Kelly’s first album, Thankful, debuted at number one on the Billboard album chart, selling 297,000 copies in its first week. It was certified as double platinum.
• Kelly has recorded songs for the soundtracks of movies which includes Love Actually.
• Her second album, Breakaway, went five times platinum by 2006. The album also included hit singles including "Since You've Been Gone," and "Breakaway."
• Kelly has won countless awards, including Grammy awards for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album.
• Kelly's videos have been well-received on MTV, often reaching number one on the network's TRL video countdown.
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AMERICAN IDOL
- 02.02.2009
- Article Number: 5
| AMERICAN IDOL returns for the much-anticipated eighth season on January 13. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the No. 1 hit series empowers contestants and viewers to share their voice in deciding who will be America's next singing superstar. This season promises to be one of the best yet with new talent, a new judge and plenty of surprises along the way.
Every year, tens of thousands of hopefuls from across the nation audition for a shot at stardom. The show's judges – Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and recent addition Kara DioGuardi - traveled to East Rutherford, NJ; Jacksonville, FL; Kansas City, MO; Louisville, KY; Phoenix, AZ; Salt Lake City, UT; San Francisco, CA; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, in search of the next American Idol. They winnow down the competitors to a select group of semifinalists who sing their hearts out each week for a studio audience and television viewers.
The judges have their say after every performance, but it's the viewing public that determines who will advance to the next round of competition and who will go home. Voting via telephone and text-messaging begins immediately after each performance show, and the results are announced during the following night's broadcast.
Eventually the competition is narrowed down to two finalists who compete for a major recording contract and the American Idol title. Past winners Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and recently crowned David Cook have become household names and have risen to the top of the recording industry.
Emmy Award-winning AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment. The series is executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc. |
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`American Idol' adds L.A. audition on Sept. 22
"American Idol" is expanding the talent search for its next season with an audition in Los Angeles later this month.
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:26:12 -0700
American Idol Auditions Come to L.A.
`American Idol' adds L.A. audition on Sept. 22 LOS ANGELES - "American Idol" is expanding the talent search for its next season with an audition in Los Angeles later this month.
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:47:17 -0700
American Idol: Randy Jackson Confirmed For New Season!
The recent resignation of Ellen Degeneres from American Idol left alot of empty seats at the judges table. Luckily, we are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, as Randy Jackson is coming back for another season! Keep reading to hear the current news! The confirmation of Randy Jackson still leaves a few openings, [...] SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "American Idol: Randy Jackson ...
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:01:13 -0700
'American Idol': Kara DioGuardi officially stepping down
Kara DioGuardi is officially leaving "American Idol." FOX and DioGuardi released a joint statement on Friday (Sept. 3) announcing her departure.It can't come as a huge surprise. In the past several weeks, Ellen DeGeneres has left and rumors have been swirling that the entire judges' panel would be revamped. We do know that Randy Jackson is returning, but the general feeling was that DioGuardi ...
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:24:42 -0700
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