Chris Daughtry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris Daughtry
Daughtry in 2013
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Adam Daughtry
Also known as	Daughtry
Born	(1979-12-26) December 26, 1979 (age 45) Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, U.S.
Origin	Lasker, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres	Rock pop rock
Occupation(s)	Singer musician actor illustrator
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1999–present

Christopher Adam Daughtry (born December 26, 1979) is an American singer, musician, actor, and even a comic book artist! He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist for the rock band Daughtry. He formed the band after finishing fourth on the fifth season of American Idol.

His first album, also called Daughtry, sold super fast. It became the quickest-selling debut rock album ever, selling over a million copies in just five weeks! It was also the top-selling album of 2007. Chris Daughtry is one of the most successful American Idol contestants when it comes to album sales. He has worked with many famous artists like Slash and Carlos Santana. People know him for his strong singing voice.

Early Life and Music Start

Chris Daughtry was born in Roanake Rapids, North Carolina, on December 26, 1979. He grew up in different parts of North Carolina and Virginia. He went to Fluvanna County High School and finished in 1998.

When he was 16, Chris started taking singing seriously. He learned to play guitar and performed with rock bands in high school. He even acted in school plays like The Wiz and Peter Pan.

His Music Journey

Before becoming famous, Chris Daughtry was part of a few bands.

Cadence

His high school band was called Cadence. Chris sang lead and played rhythm guitar. They released one album in 1999 called All Eyes on You.

Absent Element

Later, Chris joined Absent Element as the lead singer and guitarist. This band released an album called Uprooted in 2005. Some songs from this album, like "Conviction" and "Breakdown," were later combined and re-recorded for his band Daughtry's first album.

In 2005, Chris tried out for another TV singing show called Rock Star: INXS, but he didn't make it to the live shows.

American Idol Star

Daughtry performing in 2015

Chris Daughtry auditioned for American Idol in Denver, Colorado. He sang "The Letter" by The Box Tops. Two judges, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, liked him, but Simon Cowell thought he was "too robotic." Still, he got a "Golden Ticket" to Hollywood!

During the show, Chris impressed the judges with his rock performances. He sang songs by bands like Fuel and Seether. There was a bit of a stir when he sang a version of Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" that was similar to a cover by the band Live. Chris explained that he did mention it was a different version, but it was cut from the show. The lead singer of Live even called him to show support!

Chris made it to the Top 4. Many people were surprised when he was eliminated, as he was very popular. He later said he thought his fans might have been too confident and didn't vote enough. After the show, he performed with the band Live during the finale.

Here's a look at his performances on American Idol:

Forming the Band Daughtry

Daughtry during a United Service Organizations visit to Naval Air Station Sigonella

After American Idol, Chris Daughtry decided to form his own band, named simply Daughtry. He turned down an offer to be the lead singer for the band Fuel.

Their first single, "It's Not Over", came out in November 2006. The band's debut album, Daughtry, quickly reached number one on the Billboard charts. This made Chris one of the few American Idol contestants to have a number one album.

Their song "Home" became very popular. It was played on American Idol every time a contestant was eliminated. The band also won several awards at the "2007 American Music Awards," including Favorite Album. They were even nominated for four 50th Annual Grammy Awards!

Their second album, Leave This Town, came out in 2009. Chris Daughtry made history again, becoming the first American Idol star to have two number one albums in a row. This album was the first one the band wrote and recorded together as a group.

Daughtry has continued to release albums, including Break the Spell (2011), Baptized (2013), Cage to Rattle (2018), and Dearly Beloved (2021). In 2023, they released a new song called "Artificial," which hit number one on a rock chart in 2024. Chris has said that his band is now making the harder rock music they truly love.

Working with Other Artists

Chris Daughtry has collaborated with many other musicians.

• In 2008, he sang on a song called "The Past" for the band Sevendust.
• He also provided backing vocals for Theory of a Deadman's song "By the Way" and for the Christian rock band Third Day.
• In 2010, he sang with Jason Wade on a Lifehouse song and performed "Photograph" with guitar legend Carlos Santana.
• He has also helped write songs for other artists, including American Idol winner Kris Allen.

Acting and Comics

Chris Daughtry has also tried his hand at acting.

• He appeared in the 100th episode of the TV show CSI: New York in 2008.
• In 2016, he played Judas Iscariot in a live musical TV special called The Passion.
• In 2019, he was the "Rottweiler" on the TV show The Masked Singer and finished as the runner-up!
• He also played a character named Hugo Strange in a Batman fan film released on YouTube in 2021.

Here are some of his acting roles:

Besides music and acting, Chris Daughtry is also a talented illustrator. He loves comic books, especially Batman. His first published comic book art was a special cover for a Batman comic.

Personal Life

Chris Daughtry has been married to Deanna Daughtry since November 11, 2000. They have four children: two stepchildren, Hannah and Griffin, and twins Adalynn Rose and Noah James. Sadly, Hannah passed away in November 2021.

Chris is good friends with fellow Idol contestant Ace Young. They even shared an apartment during the show. Chris is a Christian.

What Influenced His Music?

Chris Daughtry's musical influences include many rock bands like Creed, Bush, Live, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Journey, Bon Jovi, and Fuel. He grew up listening to rock and hard rock music.

His Legacy

On October 18, 2018, Chris Daughtry was honored by being inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Some people even call him "America’s last rock star," showing how important he is in the world of rock music.

Discography

Here are the albums Chris Daughtry has been a part of:

Cadence

• All Eyes on You (1999)

Absent Element

• Uprooted (2005)

Daughtry

• Daughtry (2006)
• Leave This Town (2009)
• Break the Spell (2011)
• Baptized (2013)
• Cage to Rattle (2018)
• Dearly Beloved (2021)

Other Works

Chris Daughtry has also contributed to other artists' music:

See also

In Spanish: Chris Daughtry para niños