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Jordin Brianna Sparks (born December 22, 1989) is an American pop singer. On May 23, 2007, she was declared the winner of the sixth season of the reality television show American Idol. Sparks won at the age of 17, making her the youngest winner in American Idol history.

Life and career

Early life

Sparks was born at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix,Arizona, to a white mother Jodi Wiedmann and Phillippi Sparks, a black former football player for the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys who at the time was playing in college for the Arizona State Sun Devils. She has a younger brother PJ (Phillippi Sparks, Jr). She lived briefly in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and attended Orchard Elementary School. Sparks attended Sandra Day O'Connor High School until 2006, then she was homeschooled to better concentrate on her singing.

Religious faith

Sparks is a committed Christian and attends Calvary Community Church in Phoenix, Arizona. On her "American Idol" biography, she thanks her parents and God for her win. She also appeared on the cover of World, an Evangelical Christian news magazine. She endorsed Michelle Buckman's Christian novels for teens: Maggie Come Lately and My Beautiful Disaster. On her MySpace page, she displayed a picture of herself posing next to a sign that read "Stop Abortion Now", creating some controversy.

Before-Idol

Sparks finished second overall in 2004 at the Music in the Rockies national competition for aspiring Contemporary Christian Music artists, and won the talent portion of the event. In 2004, Sparks appeared in America's Most Talented Kids twice, winning in her first appearance. She was one of seven to appear in a special championship edition of the show. This appearance followed two noted auditions in 2003, one with American Juniors and the other, Star Search. Sparks has performed the national anthem at various sporting events, notably for the Phoenix Suns, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Arizona Diamondbacks. She has also sung in such events as Country Thunder, a country music venue. She has appeared with Alice Cooper (in his 2004 Christmas show) and has twice toured with Grammy-winning Christian contemporary singer Michael W. Smith. Smith has shown support of Sparks by encouraging Idol viewers to vote for her on his website. In 2003, at the age of thirteen, Sparks recorded a five-song album which is titled For Now, working with Matthew Ward, a legendary Christian music artist, and Gary Leach, an engineer who has worked on several of Leann Rimes' albums. She appeared in a compilation album titled Live at Mr. Lucky's in 2004. As an actress, Sparks has appeared in several plays, recently starring in a dual role as characters Deborah and Bea in Magdalene at the Plumbline Theater in Franklin, Tennessee. She's also performed several times with Vaudeville Youth Theatre Company and Valley Youth Theatre in Phoenix. Her first appearance was in March 2002 as an Emerald City dancer and as a poppy in The Wiz. She also appeared in Viet's production of Cinderella in June 2002 and another production of The Wiz in August 2002.

Sparks appeared on the January 17, 2007 broadcast of American Idol, earning a "gold ticket" and the right to appear in the Hollywood Round. American Idol judge Randy Jackson made the offhand prediction that "Curly hair will win this year," which he admitted was Sparks. Before going on to American Idol, she had won Arizona Idol. In 2006, Sparks was one of two winners who won the Phoenix Torrid search for the "Next Plus Size Model." She was flown to California where she was used in a number of Torrid ads and promotional pieces. A full-page ad for Torrid featuring Sparks ran in the December 2006 issue of Seventeen magazine.

American Idol

Audition

Sparks first auditioned in Los Angeles, California. She was not invited to Hollywood. She returned home to compete in the Fox affiliate-sponsored Arizona Idol, which she won. The winner of Arizona Idol was guaranteed an audition with the producers of American Idol at the Seattle, Washington auditions. Sparks was featured in the audition episode that aired on January 17, 2007. She sang "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion. The judges were overall impressed with her vocals, though Simon criticized her for "being too cute", but Sparks was sent on to the Hollywood rounds of the show.

Semi-finals/Finals notes

Sparks was never in danger of elimination. Sparks is the fourth contestant to have won without ever being in the bottom 2 or 3, joining Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Taylor Hicks. (Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard was in the bottom 2 once, and season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino landed in there twice).

Weight controversy

MeMe Roth, of the National Action Against Obesity group in the U.S., said of Sparks, "When I look at Jordin I see diabetes, I see heart disease, I see high cholesterol. That's what's so sad about this - she is not the vision of health - she is the vision of 'unhealth'. Her extra weight is a reflection of today's society and a culture where many of our children have compromised health due to unhealthful food choices and inactivity ... We have to stop with the 'baby fat,' 'curvy,' 'goddess' euphemisms and own this child health crisis."

As a result of these and other statements, Roth has been the victim of hate-mail and death threats. However, criticism notwithstanding, Roth continues to stand by her statements.

Post-Idol

Sparks' songs from the American Idol have been on sale at the iTunes Store and the American Idol official website as Jordin Sparks - EP (called a "bundle" on Idol official website) shortly after the finale of Idol, along with other songs that did not make the EP's cut that are being sold as individual singles. According to SoundScan figures posted in USA Today, Blake Lewis sold more digital singles than Sparks, but her mini album sold more than Lewis'.

After the finale of Idol, Sparks has made several appearances on television shows. She performed the finale song, "This Is My Now"on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, The Today Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, The Early Show and The View. Sparks had also appeared on Total Request Live, The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet with the runner-up of Idol, Blake Lewis, Larry King Live with contestants who made into the top ten of American Idol. and 106 & Park. On July 4, 2007, Sparks performed "God Bless America" and "America the Beautiful" on Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular with Lewis and Melinda Doolittle.

Along with television and radio appearances,Sparks has been on the cover of Entertainment Weekly and World and featured in VIBE, TV Guide, Glamour and other publications.

Sparks took part in the "American Idols LIVE! Tour 2007" from July 6 to September 23, 2007, along with other contestants in the top ten. She revealed in an AOL interview that the concert will be more group collaborations and duets as well as bringing along her acoustic guitar.

Sparks sang the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLII (the song was then made available on iTunes the next day) as well as performed for Diana Ross for the 30th Annual Kennedy Center Honors. She performed on New Years Eve Live on FOX alongside Blake Lewis. She will perform "Tattoo" at the NBA Rookie game during NBA All-Star Weekend.

2007-present: Jordin Sparks

Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end Template:Sample box end On August 17, 2007, it was announced Sparks had signed to 19 Recordings/Jive Records/Zomba Label Group, becoming the first Idol winner to join the label group — all past Idol winners and runners-up have signed with the RCA Label Group’s J (Fantasia, Ruben Studdard), Arista (Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks) or RCA (Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken, Katharine McPhee) labels. Sparks has stated that she recorded some songs for the album but the bulk of the recording would be done in Los Angeles after the tour is over. She said the album would be "Top 40, radio-friendly, uplifting stuff" hopefully mixing "the pop rock sound of inaugural Idol Kelly Clarkson with the R&B edge of Beyonce". Her debut album came out on November 20 and November 27, 2007. On The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, it was mentioned that the album had gone gold.

The album came out to generally favorable reviews. Some critics felt Sparks' vocals were not suited for modern pop music while others thought the album's atypical American Idol material helped Jordin to find a secure future in today's ever-changing music landscape.

Along with the label announcement, the first single was revealed to be "Tattoo", which was released to U.S. radio on August 27, 2007. The song became the album's first top ten single. The next single is slated to be "No Air" a duet with Chris Brown, but Jordin's official website is polling fans to decided whether "No Air", "Freeze", "One Step at a Time," or "Shy Boy" should be the next single. Sunday, February 3rd announced that "No Air" had won the bid, and the song was already being added to radio stations. The song has already hit #32 on the Billboard Hot 100, even without the official release of the single and its accompanying video.

Discography

The following article is a complete discography of every album and single released by American pop/R&B music artist Jordin Sparks.

Albums

Singles

EPs

Featured-on albums

• Live at Mr. Lucky's (2004) "He Thinks I Still Care"
• American Idol Season 6: Greatest Hits (2007) "This Is My Now"
• American Idol Season 6: The Collector's Edition (2007)

Soundtracks

• This Christmas (2007) "I'll Be Home For Christmas"

Unreleased songs

Before appearing on Idol, on Sparks' old website, new songs were released on it. The first three were co-written with Gary Leach. However, none of these songs were added to Sparks' debut album.

• "The Inside"
• "When The Pain Goes Away"
• "Just Me"
• "Crazy"
• "Give Me One Reason"
• "Reflection"
• "Overcome"

Accomplishments

Honors

• Coca Cola Rising Star 2002
• Family Night Talent Show Five-time 1st Place Finals Winner at Mr. Lucky's in Glendale, Arizona, 2003
• Glendale Youth Fest 2003: Teen Talent Show, 1st Place
• GMA (Gospel Music Association) Academy, Washington, D.C., Overall Spotlight Winner & Country/Southern Gospel First Place Winner, 2004
• Country Thunder Young Guns Second Place Winner, 2004
• The Proof Is In The Pudding Talent Winner, Phoenix, Arizona, 2004
• NBC/PAX America's Most Talented Kids, 2005
• Colgate Country Showdown, Arizona state title, 2006.
• Runner-up in the 2007 Drug Free AZ Superstar Search, Tempe, Arizona
• Plus-size model search winner for Torrid
• Winner of KSAZ Fox 10's "Arizona Idol" contest, giving her a guaranteed chance to audition in front of the judges.
• American Idol Winner, May 2007

Awards

Footnotes

1. ^ Staten Island Advance "Contrary to popular belief, this 'American Idol' is not from Island" June 17, 2007
2. Jordin Sparks American Idol - Jordan Sparks American Idol
3. WORLD Magazine | Today's News, Christian Views
4. Full text endorsement on Michelle Buckman's official web site
5. WORLD Magazine | Today's News, Christian Views
6. GMA Music in the Rockies winner takes a shot at Idol, cmcentral.com, Retrieved March 14 2007
7. Vote For Jordin Sparks... Michael W. Smith
8. News Michael W. Smith
9. VYT Alumni
10. NYPost.com
11. ^ Torrid Model Search winner
12. Arizona Reporter Newswire
13. http://www.realitytvmagazine.com/blog/2007/01/jordin_sparks_d.html
14. Clay Aiken - Biography
15. Access Hollywood
16. NBC 11 Obesity Expert Takes Heat From Sparks Fans
17. Barnes, Ken (July 18, 2007). ""Monitoring the 'Idol' Buzz: Who's Selling the Most Downloads?"". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-07-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
18. ""The Winner of American Idol!" (video)". The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet. May 25, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
19. ""'American Idol' Finalists" (transcripts)". Larry King Live. May 25, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
20. Weinstein, Farrah (July 5, 2007). ""Starry, Starry Night"". New York Post. Retrieved 2007-07-05. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
21. ""TV's Top 5! Macy's Fireworks Spectacular - 'Idol' Top 3 Perform" (video)". AOL.com. July 4, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
22. ^ Jordin Sparks AIM Interview
23. 'Idol' Jordin Sparks to sing anthem at Super Bowl XLII
24. Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis to Perform on "New Years Eve Live" on FOX
25. Graff, Gary (August 13, 2007). "Season Six Idol Stars Prepping Debut Albums". Daily News. Retrieved 2007-09-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
26. Graff, Gary (July 2, 2007). "Idol Sparks Juggling Touring, Recording". Daily News. Retrieved 2007-09-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
27. Jordin Sparks: Jordin Sparks (2007): Reviews
28. Jordin Sparks signs with Jive Records group - Access Hollywood - MSNBC.com
29. Release Date
30. Jordin Sparks
31. "Jordin Sparks worldwide chart positions and trajectories". aCharts.us. Retrieved December 22 2007.
32. All Billboard Charts
33. DrugFreeAZ.com

External links

• Official Jordin Sparks Website
• Biography on American Idol.com
• Please use a more specific IMDb template. See the documentation for available templates.
• Official Myspace

• 1989 births
• African-American singers
• American actor-singers
• American child actors
• American child singers
• American Christians
• American country singers
• American female guitarists
• American female singers
• American gospel singers
• American Idol participants
• American female models
• American rhythm and blues singers
• Arizona actors
• Arizona musicians
• Idol series winners
• Living people
• People from Glendale, Arizona
• People from Phoenix, Arizona
• Performers of Christian music
• Plus-size models
• Reality show winners