Chris Daughtry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris Daughtry
Daughtry in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Adam 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 songwriter musician illustrator
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1999–present

Christopher Adam Daughtry (born December 26, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and 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 the TV show American Idol.

His first album, called Daughtry, sold over a million copies very quickly. It became the fastest-selling first rock album ever and was the top-selling album of 2007. The album reached number one on the Billboard chart. Chris Daughtry is one of the most successful American Idol contestants in terms of album sales. His band was nominated for a Grammy Award for their song "It's Not Over". Chris Daughtry has worked with many other artists and is known for his strong singing voice.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Chris Daughtry was born in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, on December 26, 1979. He grew up in Lasker, North Carolina, until he was 14. Later, his family moved to Palmyra, Virginia. He graduated from Fluvanna County High School in 1998.

When he was 16, Chris started taking singing seriously. He learned to play guitar from different teachers. He also got advice from Andy Waldeck, a musician who helped with his first album. During high school, he performed with rock bands in local places. He even opened for a band that included his future bandmate, Brian Craddock. Chris also acted in two school plays: The Wiz and Peter Pan.

Music Career

Daughtry performing in 2015

Early Bands

Chris Daughtry's high school band was called Cadence. He was the lead singer and played rhythm guitar. They released one album in 1999 called All Eyes on You.

Later, he was in a band called Absent Element. Chris sang and played guitar, Mark Perry played lead guitar, Scott Crawford played drums, and Ryan Andrews played bass. Absent Element released an album called Uprooted in 2005. This album included songs that Chris later combined and re-recorded for his band Daughtry.

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

American Idol Journey

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." Chris still got to go to Hollywood. There, he sang "The First Cut Is the Deepest" and performed "Emotion" with two other singers.

He made it to the Top 24. On March 1, 2006, Chris's performance of "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" by Fuel received great reviews from all three judges. He was even offered the chance to become Fuel's new lead singer, but he decided to form his own band instead.

A performance of "I Walk the Line" by Johnny Cash caused some talk. Chris sang a version similar to one by the band Live. He later explained that he had mentioned this in an interview, but it was cut from the show. The lead singer of Live, Ed Kowalczyk, even called Chris to support him. They later performed the song together.

Chris Daughtry was eliminated from American Idol on May 10, 2006, finishing in fourth place. Many people were surprised by this. Chris later said he thought his fans might have been too confident and didn't vote enough. During the show's finale, Chris performed "Mystery" with the band Live.

After American Idol

After American Idol, Chris Daughtry appeared on many TV shows. He was asked to be the lead singer for the band Fuel again, but he turned it down. He wanted to start his own band.

In December 2019, Chris Daughtry was the runner-up on the TV show The Masked Singer. He performed as "Rottweiler."

Forming the Band Daughtry

Daughtry in 2013

In July 2006, it was announced that Chris Daughtry had signed with 19 Entertainment and RCA Records. He started working on an album and formed his own band, named Daughtry. The band's first album, Daughtry, was released on November 21, 2006. The first song from the album was "It's Not Over". The album quickly reached number one on the Billboard Charts.

The band Daughtry currently includes Chris Daughtry, guitarists Josh Steely and Brian Craddock, bassist Andy Waldeck, drummer Robin Diaz, and keyboardist Elvio Fernandes.

Their song "Home" was played on American Idol's sixth season every time a contestant was eliminated. Daughtry performed the song live on the show's finale.

In November 2007, the band won several awards at the "2007 American Music Awards." They won for Favorite Album (Pop or Rock), Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist, and Favorite Breakthrough Artist. In December 2007, the band was nominated for four 50th Annual Grammy Awards.

On May 6, 2009, Daughtry performed "No Surprise" on American Idol. Chris Daughtry wrote this song with Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger. The band's second album, Leave This Town, was released on July 14, 2009. Chris Daughtry became the first American Idol contestant to have two number one albums in a row. Leave This Town was the first album the band wrote and recorded together.

In July 2009, Daughtry performed an acoustic cover of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" which became very popular online.

The band Daughtry has continued to release new music. Their album Break the Spell came out in 2011, followed by Baptized in 2013. In 2016, they released It's Not Over...The Hits So Far, a collection of their popular songs. Their album Cage to Rattle was released in 2018, and Dearly Beloved came out in 2021.

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

In August 2023, Daughtry released a new song called "Artificial." This song reached number one on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in February 2024. Chris Daughtry has shared that he is now focusing on making harder-sounding rock music, which he is very passionate about.

Collaborations with Other Artists

Chris Daughtry has worked with many other musicians. In 2008, he sang on a Sevendust song called "The Past" and on a Theory of a Deadman song called "By the Way". He also sang on the Christian rock band Third Day's song "Slow Down."

In 2009, the band Daughtry worked with Timbaland on their song "Long Way Down." Chris Daughtry also helped write songs for the band Day of Fire and for American Idol winner Kris Allen. In 2010, he sang with Jason Wade on a Lifehouse song called "Had Enough." He also sang Def Leppard's "Photograph" with Carlos Santana for Santana's album.

Acting Roles

Chris Daughtry has also tried acting. He appeared in the 100th episode of CSI: New York in 2008. In March 2016, he played Judas Iscariot in a live TV musical called The Passion.

In 2021, Daughtry played Hugo Strange in a fan-made Batman film called Batman: Dying Is Easy, which was released on YouTube.

Comic Book Art

Besides music and acting, Chris Daughtry is also an illustrator. He specializes in drawing comic books. He is a big fan of Batman. His first published comic book art was a special cover for a Batman comic book.

Personal Life

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

Chris Daughtry and fellow Idol contestant Ace Young became good friends during the show. They even shared an apartment for a while. Chris Daughtry is a Christian.

Musical Influences

Chris Daughtry's musical influences include 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.

Legacy and Recognition

On October 18, 2018, Chris Daughtry was honored by being inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Some people in the music industry consider Daughtry to be one of America's last true rock stars.

Discography

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)
• Shock to the System (Part One) (2024)
• Shock to the System (Part Two) (2025)
• A Complete Shock to the System (2025)

Other Works and Collaborations

See also

In Spanish: Chris Daughtry para niños