Ruben Studdard | |
|---|---|
 Studdard in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1978-09-12)September 12, 1978 (age 47) |
| Origin | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | |
Ruben Studdard (born September 12, 1978) is an American singer and actor. He rose to fame as the winner of thesecond season ofAmerican Idol and received aGrammy Award nomination in 2003 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his recording of "Superstar". In the years followingIdol, Studdard has released seven studio albums, including his platinum-selling debut,Soulful, and the top-selling gospel follow-up,I Need an Angel. He is most well known for his recording career, which has produced hits including "Flying Without Wings", "Sorry 2004", and "Change Me", but he has also segued into television and stage work. Most notably, he starred asFats Waller in a national tour revival ofAin't Misbehavin',[2] which spawned a Grammy-nominated soundtrack.
In 2013, Studdard appeared as a contestant on thefifteenth season of weight-loss competition showThe Biggest Loser. He later signed toVerve Records and collaborated with the label's chairman,David Foster, on Studdard's sixth studio album,Unconditional Love, in 2014.[3] That album received strong reviews as a return-to-form[4][5] and included a tour withLalah Hathaway. In 2018, Studdard, who has long been compared to R&B singerLuther Vandross, released a cover album calledRuben Sings Luther and launched his Always & Forever national tour.[6]
He made hisBroadway theater debut with hisIdol runner-upClay Aiken in December 2018 inRuben & Clay's First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show (akaRuben & Clay's Christmas Show) at theImperial Theatre.[7] In 2023, Studdard and Aiken reunited forTwenty The Tour, a joint nationwide tour in celebration of the twentieth anniversary of theirAmerican Idol debut.[8] Studdard also continues to tour the United States in support of hisRuben Sings Luther album, and in 2023, launched his eighth studio album,The Way I Remember It.[9]
Studdard was born inFrankfurt,West Germany, to American parents, while his father was stationed there with the U.S. Army, and grew up inBirmingham, Alabama.[10] The youngest son of two teachers, at the age of three, he sang for the first time at the Rising StarBaptist Church in his hometown of Birmingham. He continued singinggospel in church, performing solos as a child while his mother sang in the local choir. While atHuffman High School, he playedfootball for which he received a scholarship toAlabama A&M University. While at Alabama A&M, he joined the Omicron Delta chapter ofPhi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the men's music fraternity of America.[citation needed]
After growing up listening to his mother'sDonny Hathaway albums,Fred Hammond, and gospel music, Studdard began to pursue a career in the music industry, majoring in voice studies at Alabama A&M. He sang with Just a Few Cats, a popular local Birmingham jazz and R&B band founded by members ofRay Reach's UAB Jazz Ensemble, along with other local musicians. Years later, Studdard stated: "A lot of people don't realize how hard I was trying to get into the business beforeAmerican Idol. I was making demos and just working so hard."[11] A backup singer from Just a Few Cats asked him to accompany her toNashville, Tennessee for an audition on the 2003 second season ofAmerican Idol.
When auditioning, Studdard sangStevie Wonder's "Ribbon in the Sky". OnAmerican Idol, he impressed viewers with his performances of theLeon Russell/Bonnie Bramlett song "Superstar" and thePeabo Bryson/Regina Belle duet "A Whole New World". During his time on the show, Studdard received praise from music legends such asLionel Richie,Neil Sedaka,Robin Gibb of theBee Gees,Luther Vandross, andGladys Knight.
During the televised competition, Studdard gained the nickname "Velvet Teddy Bear" and was noted for his shirts printed with "205," the telephone area code of his hometown of Birmingham.
He won the contest over runner-upClay Aiken by only 134,000 votes out of 24,000,000 cast in the May 2003 finale,[12] becoming the secondAmerican Idol winner. Alabama GovernorBob Riley declared March 11, 2003, as "Ruben Studdard Day".[13]
| Week | Theme | Song | Original artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 32 | Contestant's choice | "Superstar" | Delaney & Bonnie | Advanced |
| Top 12 | Motown | "Baby I Need Your Loving" | Four Tops | Safe |
| Top 11 | Movie Soundtracks | "A Whole New World" -Aladdin | Brad Kane &Lea Salonga | Safe |
| Top 10 | Country rock | "Sweet Home Alabama" | Lynyrd Skynyrd | Safe |
| Top 81 | Disco | "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" | Barry White | Safe |
| Top 8 | Billboard Number Ones | "Kiss and Say Goodbye" | The Manhattans | Safe |
| Top 7 | Billy Joel | "Just the Way You Are" | Billy Joel | Safe |
| Top 6 | Diane Warren | "Music of My Heart" | 'N Sync andGloria Estefan | Safe |
| Top 5 | 1960s | "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" | The Temptations | Bottom 22 |
| Neil Sedaka | "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" | Neil Sedaka | ||
| Top 4 | Bee Gees | "Nights on Broadway" | Bee Gees | Safe |
| "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" | Bee Gees | |||
| Top 3 | Random | "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" | Stevie Wonder | Safe |
| Judges' Choice | "Smile" -Simon Cowell | Charlie Chaplin | ||
| Idol's Choice | "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" | Peabo Bryson | ||
| Top 2 | Finale | "A House Is Not a Home" | Dionne Warwick | Winner |
| "Imagine" | John Lennon | |||
| "Flying Without Wings" | Westlife |
Studdard released his first single, a cover ofWestlife's "Flying Without Wings" (which he had sung on theAmerican Idol finale), produced byThe Underdogs andBabyface. Fueled largely by sales, it debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. In December 2003, advance orders for his albumSoulful topped the one million mark before it was released in stores. The album debuted at number one on theBillboard 200 album chart that month, selling over 400,000 copies in its first week and attaining the second highest first-week sales of anyAmerican Idol winner and the highest ever by a debut male R&B act. The single "Sorry 2004" from this album found substantial airplay, reaching number nine in the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the BillboardR&B singles chart. Studdard received aGrammy Award nomination in December 2003 forBest Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Superstar", nominated alongside his idolLuther Vandross, who ultimately won the category. In March 2004, Ruben won the NAACP Outstanding New Artist award.
Studdard released the gospel albumI Need an Angel on November 23, 2004. The title track and first single "I Need an Angel" was a cover of 2002 single performed byR&B singerDaniel DeBourg and written byR. Kelly. Thealbum sold over 96,000 copies in its first week, entering the Gospel charts at number one and number twenty on the Billboard 200 chart. It since has sold over 500,000 copies, securing Gold certification from theRecording Industry Association of America. It was also number one on the 2005 Billboard Year-End Gospel Albums Chart.
In March 2005, Studdard filed a lawsuit against his godfather and business advisor Ronald Edwards. The suit alleges that Edwards ran up $156,000 on Studdard's credit cards and stole $90,000 from his checking account. Edwards filed a countersuit. On June 15, 2006, Studdard was awarded $500,000 for personal losses and another $1.5 million in punitive damages.[14]
Between his second and third albums, Studdard began a diet and fitness program to deal with his weight, out of concern for a family history ofdiabetes andhypertension, resulting in his losing over 70 pounds on avegetarian diet.[15]
In 2004, Studdard made a cameo in the filmScooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, singing a cover ofEarth, Wind & Fire's "Shining Star". He also made guest appearances on TV shows includingLife on a Stick,8 Simple Rules,One on One,All of Us andEve.
Studdard's third album,The Return, was released in October 2006. Returning to R&B music on this album, Studdard collaborated with a variety of producers, includingScott Storch,Stargate, andNe-Yo. Studdard also co-wrote several songs on the album.The Return sold 71,000 copies in its first week to open at number eight on theBillboard 200 album chart. The lead single, "Change Me", reached number one on Billboard's Urban Contemporary chart, while the follow-up track, "Make Ya Feel Beautiful", also made a strong impression on the R&B charts.
Studdard continued to tour, saying he would play a variety of music: "Coming out to my show is like coming to my house. I'll play the songs I love. It's like a party. For me, a party has all different types of music happening."[11]
Studdard appeared on the finale ofAmerican Idol season 6 in May 2007. He spent a few weeks touring withRobin Givens in the comedy-dramaHeaven I Need a Hug and prepared to take on the role ofFats Waller in a national tour ofAin't Misbehavin' in 2008.[2] The tour is scheduled to begin November 17, 2008, in Atlanta, GA, and end May 14, 2009, in Syracuse, NY.[16]
In December 2007, Studdard had been dropped from his record company,J Records, due to poor sales ofThe Return and "[falling] short of expectations".[17] He remained under contract with19 Recordings[18] and was assigned the high-profile position of performing theseventh season farewell song onAmerican Idol, a recording ofKenny Loggins' "Celebrate Me Home", in a new version produced byTerry Lewis and Jimmy Jam.[18]
Studdard performed "Celebrate Me Home" live on May 20, 2008, at theNokia Theatre for the first night of the two-night grand finale of American Idol's seventh season. In 2008, Studdard also collaborated with gospel singerDeitrick Haddon and duoMary Mary on the hit gospel song "Love Him As I Do".
Studdard announced that his next album, to be released May 19, 2009, would be released onSony Music offshootHickory Records. The new album, entitledLove Is, was produced byJimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.[19] The album spawned the singles "Together" and "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More".
Love Is was released on May 19, 2009, to positive reviews. The album, which features a mix of covers and original songs, sold 15,200 units in its first week to debut at number 36 on the Billboard 200, number five onIndependent Albums, and number eight on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[20]
Studdard appeared with the "David Foster and Friends" ten-city tour beginning October 21, 2009, inChicago, Illinois, and ending November 8, 2009, inVancouver, Canada. A compilation album,Playlist: The Very Best of Ruben Studdard was released on January 26, 2010, by Sony'sLegacy Recordings.
Studdard returned to theAmerican Idol stage on March 31, 2010, to perform "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More". In his on-camera interview withRyan Seacrest after his performance, he announced that he would be touring withClay Aiken in the summer.
Studdard and Aiken brought their Timeless tour to cities in the US and Canada beginning inAsheville, North Carolina on July 23, 2010, and ending inBiloxi, Mississippi on August 14.[21][22] Instead of a concert focusing on each singer's recordings, Studdard and Aiken opted for a variety show format covering medleys of songs from the 1960s to the 1990s, with a few solos and interspersed with comedy bits.[23]
In 2011, Studdard signed with Shanachie Entertainment.[24] His first album for the label and fifth studio release overall,Letters from Birmingham, was released in March 2012.
A concept album that traces a relationship through a series of romantic letters,Letters from Birmingham received mostly positive reviews, especially for his duet withChrisette Michele, "Do It Right", which was praised as "sublime"[25] and "tantalizing".[26] The album also included covers ofBobby Brown's "Rock Wit'cha" and "Pure Imagination" fromWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, recast as a love song. Since its release, "Letters from Birmingham" has sold 22,000 copies, and the lead single, "June 28 (I'm Single)", which referenced his marriage and subsequent divorce, reached the top 20 of Billboard's urban charts.
Studdard joined the cast of the fifteenth season of the NBC weight loss competition showThe Biggest Loser, and was credited as its first-ever celebrity contestant. At 6'3 and 462 pounds, Studdard had the highest starting weight and BMI of the entire cast. A member of the show's Red Team, Studdard was first eliminated in the fourth week after he failed to make his weight loss goal. However, because opposing coachJillian Michaels had given her team caffeine pills in violation of the rules, Studdard's elimination was voided and he returned before once again being eliminated during the competition's eighth week.
At the show's finale on February 4, 2014 (which coincided with the release of Studdard's newest album,Unconditional Love), it was revealed that he had lost a total of 119 pounds for an ending weight of 343 pounds. Studdard credited the weight loss for improving his ability to perform onstage.[27] During the finale, Studdard also performed his new album's lead single, "Meant to Be", accompanied by the song's co-writer and producer,David Foster, on piano.
Unconditional Love is Studdard's sixth studio album and first with his new label, Verve Records. Foster, who has won 16Grammy Awards, was the executive producer of the disc, which primarily consists of covers of love songs along with two originals, including "Meant to Be". Studdard has called it "the album that everybody expected from me when I wonAmerican Idol."[28] The album features collaborations withStevie Wonder,Lalah Hathaway, andEric Benet, and includes covers of songs originally performed by artists such asPaul McCartney,Donny Hathaway,Bonnie Raitt,Marvin Gaye, andPeabo Bryson. Since its release, the album has received some of Studdard's best reviews of his career. According to critics, the album "finds Studdard at the top of his game vocally"[29] and he hits his stride, "exuding grace, confidence and class" as he successfully positions himself as a "stylish crooner".[30]Unconditional Love debuted at #46 on the Billboard 200 and #7 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
Studdard supported the release ofUnconditional Love with the national Born Again Tour with his collaboratorLalah Hathaway.[31]
Studdard continues to appear regularly onAmerican Idol, including mentoring and performing with contestants in itsfarewell season on Fox. He released a new single, "Can't Nobody Love You", on April 8, 2016, and appeared on several talk shows to promote the song. In 2017, he released a cover of "A Change Is Gonna Come" and guested onPatti LaBelle's holiday album, performing "Your Presence with Me" and "Ave Maria".
In 2018, Studdard, who had long been compared toLuther Vandross, released a tribute album,Ruben Sings Luther, on the SEG Music label.[32] He supported the album with the Always & Forever national tour. In an interview withPeople Magazine, Studdard said that "Since I wonAmerican Idol, people have been asking for me to sing Luther songs for a long time. I thought, 'OK. Do you want to hear it? I might as well do it. I thought it was the perfect time to pay homage to one of the greatest song interpreters of all time."[33]
Both the album and tour received strong reviews, withVariety noting that "Studdard truly took wing and made the music of Vandross his own" on tour[34] andThe Philadelphia Inquirer calling the album a "full-on lush-and-funky tribute".[35]
Studdard made hisBroadway theater debut in December 2018, reuniting withClay Aiken inRuben & Clay's First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show (akaRuben & Clay's Christmas Show) at theImperial Theatre, with previews beginning December 7 and the show officially opening December 11. The show continued through December 30, with a portion of ticket sales benefitting theNational Inclusion Project.[7]
Studdard continued to support hisRuben Sings Luther album with a tour of the same name, performing more than 95 shows throughout the United States from 2018 through 2023.[citation needed] In 2023 Studdard performed a joint tour withAmerican Idol runner-up Clay Aiken,Twenty The Tour, across the United States and Canada in celebration of the 20th anniversary since their debuts onIdol.[36]
In 2023, Studdard signed a new record deal with SoNo Recording Group and working on a new album with veteran songwriter and producerBalewa Muhammad.[37][38]
On October 27, 2023, Studdard released his eighth studio album,The Way I Remember It, a ten-track album and his first album of original music since 2014'sUnconditional Love. The album was preceded by the release of three singles: "The Way I Remember It", "W.I.F.E." and "Masterpiece".[39] A music video for "Masterpiece" was released on November 4, 2023.[40]
In 2024, Studdard paired up with Clay Aiken when they competed ineleventh season ofThe Masked Singer as "Beets". They were eliminated during the Group B finals alongsideCorey Feldman as "Seal".[41]
Studdard has worked as anactor in several roles, including single-episode appearances on the television series8 Simple Rules,Life on a Stick,All of Us,Eve, andOne on One, as well as a cameo appearance in the filmScooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. He has also appeared in a television commercial for a Birmingham-areaKia dealer.
Studdard headlined the revival tour ofAin't Misbehavin', starring alongside fellowAmerican Idol alumniTrenyce andFrenchie Davis. Starring asFats Waller, Studdard received positive reviews and was part of the cast recording album released byRhino Records on January 13, 2009.[42] The album was nominated for theGrammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
Studdard's love of music led him to create The Ruben Studdard Foundation for the Advancement of Children in the Music Arts. The foundation's mission statement says its aim is "to promote the essential role of the arts in education through learning initiatives for the development of students in the Greater Birmingham Area."[43]
Studdard also signed on as an official spokesperson for "Be Sickle Smart", a nationwide grassroots health-education program aimed at increasing awareness ofiron overload among people living withsickle-cell disease.[44]
Studdard met Surata Zuri McCants in October 2006, when he was signing CDs at a Walmart in Atlanta.[45] On June 28, 2008, Studdard married McCants in a short, private ceremony in Mountain Brook, Alabama.[45] On November 16, 2011, Studdard's attorney announced that Studdard was in the process of a divorce.[46] Studdard's divorce was finalized in April 2012.[47]
In 2018 Studdard married real estate agent Kristen Moore. The couple has two children.[48]
Studdard received an honorary Master of Arts degree fromAlabama A&M University, where he received a Bachelor's degree in vocal studies. The honorary degree was conferred at the university's December 2015 commencement.[49] He is a member ofPhi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity.[citation needed] In 2022, Studdard taught a master class for performing arts majors at theUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga.[50]
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Male Reality/Variety Star | American Idol | Won |
| Billboard Music Awards | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Sales Single | Superstar/Flying Without Wings | Won | |
| 2004 | American Music Awards | Favorite Male R&B Artist | Soulful | Nominated |
| BET Awards | Best Male R&B Artist | Soulful | Nominated | |
| Best New Artist | Soulful | Nominated | ||
| Grammy Awards | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Superstar | Nominated | |
| Image Awards | Outstanding Male Artist | Soulful | Nominated | |
| Outstanding New Artist | Soulful | Won | ||
| Soul Train Awards | Best New R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist | Superstar | Nominated | |
| 2005 | BET Awards | Best Gospel Artist | I Need an Angel | Nominated |
| Billboard Music Awards | Top Gospel Artist | I Need an Angel | Won | |
| Top Gospel Album | I Need an Angel | Won | ||
| 2009 | GMA Dove Award | Urban Recorded Song of the Year | "Love Him Like I Do" (withDeitrick Haddon andMary Mary) | Nominated |
| 2012 | GMA Dove Award | Special Event Album of the Year | Medicine: Live At The Black Academy | Nominated |
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Sales | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | US Gospel | US Indie | ||||
| Soulful |
| 1 | 1 | — | — |
| |
| I Need an Angel |
| 20 | 6 | 1 | — |
|
|
| The Return |
| 8 | 2 | — | — |
| |
| Love Is |
| 36 | 8 | — | 5 |
| |
| Letters from Birmingham |
| 73 | 12 | — | — |
| |
| Unconditional Love |
| 46 | 11 | — | — |
| |
| Ruben Sings Luther |
| — | — | — | — | ||
| The Way I Remember It |
| — | — | — | — | ||
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Playlist: The Very Best of Ruben Studdard |
|
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | Adult R&B | US A/C | US Gospel | |||
| "Flying Without Wings" | 2003 | 2 | 13 | — | 27 | — | Non-album single |
| "Superstar" | — | 2 | 6 | — | — | Soulful | |
| "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (withTamyra Gray) | — | — | — | 25 | — | American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics | |
| "Sorry 2004" | 2004 | 9 | 2 | 1 | — | — | Soulful |
| "What If" | — | 47 | 14 | — | — | ||
| "I Need an Angel" | — | — | 21 | 32 | 11 | I Need an Angel | |
| "Ain't No Need to Worry" (featuringMary Mary) | 2005 | — | — | 31 | — | — | |
| "Change Me" | 2006 | 94 | 18 | 1 | — | — | The Return |
| "Make Ya Feel Beautiful" | 2007 | — | 32 | 6 | — | — | |
| "Love Him Like I Do" (withDeitrick Haddon andMary Mary) | 2008 | — | — | — | — | 9 | Revealed |
| "Celebrate Me Home"[18] | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Together" | 2009 | — | 60 | 15 | — | — | Love Is |
| "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More" | — | 32 | 12 | — | — | ||
| "June 28th (I'm Single)" | 2012 | — | 61 | 14 | — | — | Letters from Birmingham |
| "Meant to Be" | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | Unconditional Love |
| "Love, Love, Love" | — | — | 25 | — | — | ||
| "Can't Nobody Love You" | 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
| "The Way I Remember It" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | The Way I Remember It |
| "W.I.F.E." | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Masterpiece" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Year | Title | USA | CAN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Flying Without Wings" | Gold | 3× Platinum[56] |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
