Justin Guarini facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Justin Guarini
Guarini in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Justin Eldrin Bell
Born	(1978-10-28) October 28, 1978 (age 46) Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Origin	Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Genres	R&B pop jazz
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter actor television host
Years active	2002–present
Labels	RCA Justice Entertainment

Justin Guarini (born Justin Eldrin Bell; October 28, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He became famous in 2002 as the runner-up on the very first season of the TV show American Idol.

Early Life and Musical Start

Justin Guarini was born in Columbus, Georgia. His father, Eldrin Bell, was the former Chief of Police in Atlanta. His mother, Kathy Pepino Guarini, was a journalist. Justin grew up mainly with his mother and stepfather, Jerry Guarini, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He went to Central Bucks High School East.

Justin's musical journey began very early.

• At age four, he joined the Atlanta Boy Choir.
• After moving to Pennsylvania in 1985, he sang with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Boys Choir.
• In high school, he was the main singer in an award-winning group called The Midnight Voices. This group sang without instruments, known as a cappella.
• They even released an album in 1999 to help fund music scholarships.

Justin also loved theater. He played lead roles in many school and college plays. Besides singing, he plays the piano, guitar, and banjo. After studying music and theater in college, he moved to New York City. He performed in nightclubs and tried out for Broadway shows.

Becoming an American Idol

In April 2002, Justin auditioned for a new TV show called American Idol. This show searched for the next big singing star. He was also offered a role in the Broadway musical The Lion King around the same time. However, he chose to stick with American Idol.

Idol judge Simon Cowell was very impressed with Justin's voice. He told Justin that his voice was truly special. Justin made it all the way to the finale, finishing as the runner-up to Kelly Clarkson. After the show, he signed a record deal with RCA Records. Before the American Idol tour, he was the only contestant invited to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Justin's American Idol Journey

During his time on American Idol, Justin performed many different songs. Here are some of his memorable performances:

• He sang "Ribbon in the Sky" by Stevie Wonder in the semi-finals.
• For the Motown theme, he performed "For Once in My Life", also by Stevie Wonder.
• He sang "Sunny" for the 1960s week.
• For the Big Band theme, he performed "Route 66".
• In the finale, he sang "Before Your Love" and "A Moment Like This".

Music and Acting Career

First Album and Movie

In June 2003, Justin released his first album, named Justin Guarini. Around the same time, he starred in a movie called From Justin to Kelly with Kelly Clarkson. The movie didn't do very well, and his album sold about 146,000 copies. In December 2003, he left RCA Records.

Independent Music and TV Hosting

Justin then decided to produce his own music. In December 2005, he released his second album, Stranger Things Have Happened. This album featured his own versions of classic jazz songs. Critics praised his voice and how he made the songs his own.

From 2007 to 2011, Justin worked as a co-host for Idol Wrap and Idol Tonight on TV Guide Network. He also hosted movie specials and covered awards shows like the Grammy Awards.

Revolve and Family Life

In May 2008, Justin released an acoustic album called Revolve. It included three songs he helped write. In September 2009, Justin married his fiancée, Reina Capodici. They later had two children, born in 2011 and 2013.

Broadway and Other Roles

Justin has had a successful career in Broadway musicals.

• In 2010, he made his Broadway debut in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.
• He also performed in Green Day's rock musical American Idiot in 2011.
• In 2013, he played Paris in a Broadway production of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
• From 2014, he joined the cast of Wicked as Fiyero.
• He has also starred in regional productions of popular musicals like Rent, Chicago, and Mamma Mia!.
• In 2016, he was in In Transit, which was the first a cappella musical on Broadway.
• In 2021 and 2023, he starred as Prince Charming in the musical Once Upon a One More Time.

Besides theater, Justin has appeared in independent films and on television.

• He was in the drama film Fast Girl in 2008.
• He had a guest role on Wizards of Waverly Place in 2011.
• He has done voice work for animated shows like Blaze and the Monster Machines and SuperKitties.

Since 2015, Justin has been known for playing the character Lil' Sweet in Diet Dr Pepper TV commercials. He even released an album for the character in 2016.

Discography

Studio Albums

• "—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Other Music Contributions

Justin has also lent his voice to other projects and cast albums:

• Foreign Shores by David Hughes (2009)
• Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Original Broadway Cast) (2011)
• I Could Use a Drink by Drew Gasparini (2012)
• Paint Your Wagon (cast album) (2014)
• Where the Sky Ends: Music by Michael Mott by Michael Mott (2014)
• In Transit (cast album) (2016)

EPs (Extended Plays)

• Revolve (Acoustic) (May 2008)
• "JG" (2016)

Songs

Justin has also written and performed individual songs:

• Did You Know That I Know Your Journey? (2006)
• Everlasting for the documentary Project Everlasting (2006)
• What You Won't Do for Love for Drivetime Reflections (2010)

Film and Television Roles

Films

Television

Theater Roles

Justin has performed in many stage productions:

• Good Vibrations (2004) as Jan
• The Awakening of Angel DeLuna (2009) as Fred
• Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010–2011 Broadway) as Carlos
• American Idiot (2011 Broadway) as Will
• Rent (2011 Regional) as Roger Davis
• Chicago (2011 Regional) as Billy Flynn
• Ghost Brothers of Darkland County (2012 Regional) as Drake McCandless
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2012 Regional) as Joseph
• It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (2012 Regional) as Jake
• Romeo and Juliet (2013 Broadway) as Paris
• Wicked (2014 Broadway) as Fiyero
• Paint Your Wagon (2015 New York City Center) as Julio
• Company (2015 Regional) as Bobby
• Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical (2015 Regional)
• First Gentleman (2016 NYC)
• Mamma Mia! (2016 Regional) as Sam Carmichael
• Cake Off (2016 Regional) multiple roles
• In Transit (2016 Broadway) as Trent
• Once Upon a One More Time (2021 Regional, 2023 Broadway) as Prince Charming

Images for kids

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  Guarini at the Hard Rock Cafe in Atlanta (2012)

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  Guarini as Fiyero in Wicked

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  Guarini in Ghost Brothers of Darkland County