Sometimes 'Idol' losers are winners - The Ocala Star-Banner - 1/15/07
Notices
Welcome to the Kellie Fans forums.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.
Kellie Pickler spent the night before her loss on "American Idol," in prayer.
"We sing on Tuesdays and someone goes home on Wednesday, and I just knew it was going to be me" said Pickler, who was eliminated from "Idol's" final six contestants last spring.
"I just took it as God's will. I had prayed about it on Tuesday night," said Pickler, who performs tonight at 6 at the Paddock Mall. "I packed my bags and I had a sense of peace come over me. I know that may sound weird to some people, but that's the way I felt."
Sometimes, losing on "Idol" is the best thing that can happen to a performer.
Jennifer Hudson lost on Idol and turned into a superstar overnight with the release of the current movie "Dreamgirls."
The soundtrack for the movie is currently No. 1 on the Billboard charts and critics are predicting an Oscar nomination for Hudson's performance.
Other prominent Idol losers include Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken, LaToya London, Diana DeGarmo and Katharine McPhee.
Pickler released a country album last fall, "Small Town Girl," and it has sold close to 400,000 copies. Her current single "Red High Heels," is No. 17 on Billboard's country singles chart.
Without "Idol," Pickler might still be roller skating at Sonic, selling corn dogs.
"Idol gives you all this exposure and experience and I ran with it," Pickler said. "That's what any contestant should do, whether they win or get eliminated."
After her loss, Pickler returned to her small town of Ablemarle, N.C., to a parade crowd of 15,000 people. "They supported me win or lose, and made me feel great," she said. "I didn't feel like a loser."
Neither did the following other Idol performers who didn't win the big vote:
JENNIFER HUDSON
She lost in Idol's third season but Hudson has risen to new heights during the past year with "Dreamgirls." Hudson plays Effie White with a ground-breaking singing and acting performance. She is nominated for a Golden Globe Award and look for her name when the Academy Awards nominations are announced. Hudson has turned "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls into a classic and has been compared to such singers as Aretha Franklin, Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand.
CHRIS DAUGHTRY
He made it to the final four last year before getting the boot. Then, in the fall, Daughtry's self-titled album sold more than 300,000 copies its first week and then topped a million. Daughtry was a rare hard rocker on "Idol" but his music and style could not be denied.
CLAY AIKEN
He lost to Ruben Studdard in 2003 but Aiken has found an enduring audience. He continues to make soft pop records and describes himself as "nerdy." Aiken has had his share of sexual preference controversy. Rosie O'Donnell caused a national furor after she accused TV host Kelly Ripa of making a homophobic jibe at Aiken. Ripa denied it and Aiken just keeps on singing and selling albums. His first CD, "Measure of a Man," debuted at No. 1 on Billboard in 2003. A year later came a Christmas album and last September Aiken released "A Thousand Different Ways," that hit the charts at No. 3.
KATHARINE MCPHEE
She couldn't beat Taylor Hicks in the finals last year and now sweet Katharine has sexed up her image on her new CD, due out later this month, which features her showing plenty of skin. McPhee releases the first single next week called "Over It." She took losing Idol in stride, telling reporters: "I don't need sad faces or anyone to feel bad for me. I have got a record deal, pretty much. It wasn't about winning the title, I just wanted to give the best performance I could."
LATOYA LONDON
"Idol" fans will remember LaToya London as the petite woman with the powerhouse voice. In Season 3, she battled it out against fellow big belters Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson and ultimately finished fourth. Post-'Idol' she released "Love & Life" on the jazz recording label Peak Records. The album received glowing and positive reviews, but didn't find success in mainstream radio. In its first week, it landed at 82 on Billboard Top 200 Albums chart and 27 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Last year, the former wedding singer turned her sights to theater, starring in a play on the urban theater circuit called "Issues: We All Have 'Em" and in a production of the retro musical, "Beehive," in Los Angeles.
DIANA DEGARMO
In season 3, Diana DeGarmo, who was 16 at the time, finished second to Fantasia and lost the competition by a close 1 percent margin. In December 2004, DeGarmo, a Snellville, Ga., native, released her first album "Blue Skies" on RCA Records. The album fell short - it peaked at 52 on the Billboard 200 Album chart and to date has sold less than 200,000 copies. DeGarmo has found success on stage in musical theater. She starred in a regional production of "West Side Story" before making her Broadway debut as Penny Pingleton in the musical "Hairspray" last February. Her run in the show ended in May, but she was asked to rejoin the cast. DeGarmo reprised the role in September and will continue with the production until February. Last summer, she also was cast in the lead role in the touring musical, "Brooklyn, The Musical."
Lashonda Stinson contributed to this story. Anthony Violanti can be contacted at 867-4154 or anthony.violanti@starbanner.com
I was at the Ocala / Paddock Mall show last night. She sang with 2 guys playing acoustic Guitar. Nice Crowd ,but I have no way of estimating how many people were there. She Sang "Small Town Girl" , Things that Never Cross A Man's Mind" , "Stand By Your Man" , " Red High Heels" and "My Angel"
Great Time... Go KELLIE
Linear Mode
