ruben studdard change me on american idol

The following year, he won an NAACP Outstanding New Artist award. Studdard earned a 2003 Billboard Music Award, plus a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (he lost to his own idol, Luther Vandross). To no one’s surprise, it immediately landed at number one on the Billboard 200. Over a million fans placed advance orders for his debut album Soulful before its December 2003 release. Like Kelly Clarkson before him and the countless winners after him, Studdard went straight to work on releasing an album after his win. What Happened To Ruben Studdard After ‘American Idol’? (Debby Wong / ) But unlike the outcome of other close races, no one stormed the set in protest, and Studdard was declared the winner. All of the confusion caused some mistrust among viewers. “Our accountant was drunk,” he quipped.īy the time the final figures were tallied, there was a difference of roughly 134,000 votes. But he corrected himself later in the program and said the actual gap was 1,335 votes. During the finale, host Ryan Seacrest announced that Studdard was ahead of Aiken by 13,000 votes. Unfortunately, his win came with a dose of controversy. On May 21, 2003, he edged out Clay Aiken and claimed victory as the second “ American Idol” in history.

Studdard’s performances throughout the season relied heavily on the work of R&B and soul singers before him: Peabo Bryson, Barry White, Stevie Wonder, etc.Ī final performance of “A House Is Not a Home” by Dionne Warwick and “Imagine” by John Lennon sealed the deal for him.

He earned the nickname the “Velvet Teddy Bear” for his husky physique and smooth voice. Studdard was a 24-year-old repping Birmingham, Alabama, when we were introduced to him on Season 2 of American Idol. Ruben Studdard Won ‘American Idol’ In 2003

So what exactly has the “Velvet Teddy Bear” been up to these days? Check out our update on Ruben Studdard in 2021. A heated finale and successful debut album made him a household name, but he never quite reached the status of fellow champs like Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson. Take Ruben Studdard, who won the series’ second season. Singers who’ve been crowned the winner have gone on to achieve varying levels of fame. Appearing on American Idol can be a life-changing experience, but it doesn’t guarantee superstardom.

Ruben studdard change me on american idol