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Watch Jordin Sparks and fellow “American Idols” on CNN's Larry King Live on Friday,
May 25, 2007 at 9 p.m. ET. For more information, please visit www.cnn.com/larryking Enough with that friggin' beat-boxin! America has voted and the winner of this year's American Idol competition is... Jordin Sparks. To get your free Jordin T-shirts and Free Ringtones click on the links above!!!! Show your support for the BEST and YOUNGEST AMerican Idol to ever compete on American Idol. We Love you Jordin!!!!!!!!! The 17-year-old from Glendale, Arizona dazzled with her impressive ability to knock out some really difficult songs. Poor Blake didn't stand a chance. Musical guests included Gwen Stefani, Green Day, Bette Midler and Tony Bennett. Former Idol-ers Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks also stopped in and took the stage. There was some type of Beatles tribute which was lame. Sorry, but Green Day's "Working Class Hero" can't hold a candle to John Lennon's amazing original version. Are you happy with the outcome? Were you rooting for Blake? Talk back right here and let your opinion be heard. Biography Early lifeJordin Sparks was born in Staten Island, New York to Jodi Wiedmann and Phillippi Sparks, a former NFL football player for the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys. She has a younger brother PJ (Phillippi Sparks, Jr). Sparks is currently homeschooled[citation needed], and is a fan of football, reading, and music. She is a resident of Glendale, Arizona.
CareerSparks 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 may have been made in reference to Sparks. Before going on to American Idol, she 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 Jordin ran in the December 2006 issue of Seventeen magazine.
Sparks finished second in 2004 at the Music in the Rockies national competition for aspiring Contemporary Christian Music artists.
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 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 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.
American Idol | Week # | Song Choice | Original Artist | Result | | Top 24 | Give Me One Reason | Tracy Chapman | Safe | | Top 20 | Reflection | Christina Aguilera | Safe | | Top 16 | Heartbreaker | Pat Benatar | Safe | | Top 12 | If We Hold On Together | Diana Ross | Safe | | Top 11 | I (Who Have Nothing) | Shirley Bassey | Safe | | Top 10 | Hey Baby | No Doubt | Safe | | Top 9 | On a Clear Day | Tony Bennett | Safe
Top 3 | | Top 8 | Rhythm Is Gonna Get You | Gloria Estefan | Safe | | Top 7 | A Broken Wing | Martina McBride | Safe | | Top 6 | You'll Never Walk Alone | Rogers and Hammerstein | Safe
Non-Elimination Week | | Top 6 | Livin' on a Prayer | Bon Jovi | Safe | | Top 4 | To Love Somebody
Woman in Love | Bee Gees
Barbra Streisand / Bee Gees | Safe | | Top 3 | Wishing on a Star
She Works Hard for the Money
I (Who Have Nothing) | Rose Royce
Donna Summer
Shirley Bassey | Safe | AuditionJordin Sparks first auditioned in Seattle, Washington. She was featured in the audition episode aired on January 17, 2007. Sparks 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-FinalsIn the first voting rounds, Sparks gave an upbeat and well-received performance of "Give Me One Reason", written by Tracy Chapman in 1995. Jordin continued to deliver solid performances including "Reflection", originally performed by Christina Aguilera and "Heartbreaker", originally performed by Pat Benatar in 1979. Jordin advanced to the final rounds.
Finals - Week 1 - 13 March 2007 with special guest Diana Ross, she performed Diana Ross' song "If We Hold On Together" from the Land Before Time series. All three judges were impressed with her stellar vocal performance, and even went as far as saying that she had earned herself a spot in the "three-girl race" with fellow competitors Lakisha Jones and Melinda Doolittle.
- Week 2 - 20 March 2007 with special guest Lulu, Sparks sang "I (Who Have Nothing)", first made popular by Ben E. King in 1963, and also recorded by Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones. A reviewer on EW.com called her performance "powerful" and "passionate", ranking it one of the top-20 Idol performances of all time.
- Week 3 - 27 March 2007 with special guest Gwen Stefani, Jordin performed "Hey Baby", originally performed by No Doubt in 2001.
- Week 4 - 3 April 2007 with special guest Tony Bennett, Sparks sang "On a Clear Day". She received fairly positive reviews from the judges. That week it was announced that she had been voted in the top 3 alongside Lakisha Jones and Melinda Doolittle.
- Week 5 - 10 April 2007 with special guest Jennifer Lopez, Sparks sang "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You", originally recorded by Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine in 1987. She received fairly positive reviews.
- Week 6 - 17 April 2007 with special guest Martina McBride, Sparks sang "A Broken Wing". After a standing ovation from the audience and positive reviews from Judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, Simon said that it was the first time he had believed that "based on that performance, you [Jordin] could win American Idol."
- Week 7 - 24 April 2007 during the Idol Gives Back special, Jordin sang "You'll Never Walk Alone." Judge Randy Jackson said “I think that’s one of the best vocals by any contestant ever on this show, ever in six seasons, and it’s from someone that’s seventeen years old.” On the results show the following night, after Ryan Seacrest had gone through all the contestants but her and Chris Richardson, he announced that Chris was safe. He mentioned how it was "extremely shocking" that the results turned out like this, but it turned out to be a twist as Jordin was also safe. Because it was a charity night, nobody was let go. Instead, the votes from this week would be added to next week's votes, and it will eliminate not one contestant, but two contestants.
- Week 8 - 1 May 2007 with special guest Bon Jovi, Sparks sang "Livin' on a Prayer". She received mixed reviews for her performance. Randy said that she had pitch problems during the lower notes of the song, and Simon even went as far as to say it was "terrible" and on the verge of shrieking. After a combined total of Weeks 7 and 8's votes, Jordin survived elimination night. Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson were voted off that week.
- Week 9 -8 May 2007 with special guest Barry Gibb, who was the lead singer of the Bee Gees, Jordin performed "To Love Somebody". Gibb said Jordin sang the song better than anyone he had ever seen. The three judges all agreed that it was the best performance and vocal so far for the night. Jordin then sang "Woman in Love", which was not received as well. Randy and Paula agreed that it wasn't her best and was slightly pitchy. Simon went so far to say that she was too pageant-y and old-fashioned, and said that "you are 17, Jordin" to remind her to stay young.
- Week 10 -15 May 2007 Jordin first sang Rose Royce's "Wishing on a Star" and received fairly good reviews. She also sang Donna Summer's "She Works Hard For the Money" and Shirley Bassey's "I (Who Have Nothing)" which received much better reviews than the last song.
Discography Albums (As of 2007, a second album is in development but has been put on hold due to her time on American Idol.) Compilation albums - Live at Mr. Lucky's (2004) "She Thinks I Still Care"
Songs On Sparks' website, new songs have been released, three of which the first three have been co-written with Gary Leach. - "The Inside"
- "When The Pain Goes Away"
- "Just Me"
- "Crazy"
- "Give Me One Reason"
- "Reflection"
AwardsA list of awards and honors that Jordin Sparks has received in the course of her career.
- 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
- PAX TV/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 www.drugfreeaz.com
- Plus-size model search winner for Torrid
- American Idol Finalist
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