Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks was the winner of the sixth season of American Idol and, at 17, is the youngest winner in the history of the show. Born in Phoenix, AZ to an African-American father (a former NFL player) and a Caucasian mother, Sparks left her high school in 2006 so that she could be home schooled and have more time to focus on her singing. She performed twice on the TV show America's Most Talented Kids, winning the first time.
When she was thirteen, she recorded a five-track album, although she has never had a record contract (which would have prevented her from appearing on American Idol.) She also sang the national anthem at a number of sporting events and twice toured with Michael W. Smith, a contemporary Christian musician. Sparks is well known for her strong Christian faith. She attends Calvary Community Church in Phoenix and has appeared on the cover of the Christian publication World.
Sparks was not invited to Hollywood after her original American Idol audition, but she was guaranteed a second audition in Seattle as the winner of Arizona Idol. Early on, Randy made a prediction that she would be the winner. Indeed, she was extremely popular with voters, who never allowed her into the bottom three. After her win, she appeared on a number of different talk shows. She has also appeared on the cover of a number of different publications, including Entertainment Weekly.
In 2007, Sparks released her self-titled debut album. Featuring a mix of pop and R&B, it received primarily positive reviews, though some critics felt the music style wasn't the best for her voice. Her first single, "Tattoo", reached the top ten. The album sales were somewhat disappointing to start, but it was expected that they would pick up after Sparks performed at the Superbowl.
On July 20, 2009, Jive Records released Sparks' second album Battlefield. The title track was a Top 10 single, helping the album debut at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 200. However, the album failed to reach the platinum level hit by Sparks' debut album. Sparks toured the United States through 2010 in her first headlining tour, and announced that she is working on her third studio album, with an anticipated release date in 2011.
Jordin Sparks Official Website
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