Who is American Idol winner Ruben Studdard and where is he now?
RUBEN Studdard captured viewers’ hearts when he won the second season of American Idol.
But who is the Grammy-nominated singer and where is he now? Here you will find everything you need to know.
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Who is Ruben Studdard?
Ruben Studdard is an American Idol winner, singer and actor.
He was born in 1978 to American parents in Frankfurt, West Germany.
His father was stationed in the country with the US Army, but the family moved to Birmingham, Alabama before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Ruben excelled as a high school football player and earned a scholarship to Alabama A&M.
However, he found his passion in the gospel choir of the Rising Star Baptist Church and joined the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity for male musicians in college.
He majored in singing and sang in a local jazz band called Just a Few Cats before taking the plunge and applying for a TV talent show.
When was Ruben Studdard on American Idol?
At just 24, Ruben took part in the second season of American Idol, which aired in 2003.
At his audition, he sang Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon in the Sky,” wowing the judges week after week.
His performances have earned him praise from music icons such as Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross and Gladys Knight.
He also became a fan favorite and rose to fame for wearing t-shirts with the number 205, the Birmingham area code.
Ruben’s silky voice and cuddly looks earned him the nickname velvet teddy bear.
He then went on to win the competition, defeating Clay Aiken in the final.
Where is Ruben Studdard now?
Ruben has had a successful career since appearing on American Idol.
He was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2003 for his cover of the Luther Vandross hit “Superstar.”
He has also won a Teen Choice Award and two Billboard Music Awards.
He has released seven albums, the last of which was released in 2018.
Away from music, he appeared in the fifteenth season of the weight loss show The Biggest Loser, where he lost over 100 pounds.
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He made his Broadway debut in late 2018 when he reunited with Clay Aiken for a joint Christmas show.
In 2023, they’re hosting another show to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their American Idol finale.
His other acting credits include a cameo in Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleased and a commercial for a car dealership in his hometown.
He married Surata Zuri McCants in 2006 but the couple divorced in 2012.
The singer met his second wife Kristin in 2018 and they have a son together.