Kimberley Locke facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kimberley Locke
Locke in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Kimberley Dawn Locke
Also known as	Kim Locke
Born	(1978-01-03) January 3, 1978 (age 47) Hartsville, Tennessee, U.S.
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	R&B, pop, dance
Occupation(s)	Singer, television personality
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Curb, Dream Merchant 21, I AM Entertainment

Kimberley Dawn Locke (born January 3, 1978) is a talented American singer and TV star. She is known for her pop and dance music. You might also know her as a co-host on the TV show Dr. and the Diva.

Kimberley first became famous in 2003 when she competed on the TV show American Idol. She finished in third place, which was a big achievement! Later, in 2007, she also appeared on Celebrity Fit Club, where she shared her journey to a healthier lifestyle.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Kimberley Locke was born in Hartsville, Tennessee, on January 3, 1978. She grew up in Gallatin with her older brother, Ashley. Kimberley started singing in church when she was just five years old. Her parents divorced when she was eight.

As she grew up, Kimberley looked up to famous singers like Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston. When she was a teenager, she formed a singing group called Shadz of U with her friends. They performed at many local churches. Later, this group even sang backup on one of Kimberley's own albums!

Kimberley attended Gallatin High School. She was part of a special performing group there throughout her high school years. She was also chosen twice for the All-Middle State Chorus. After high school, she worked as an administrative assistant in Nashville. Kimberley also went to Belmont University in Nashville, just like another American Idol finalist, Melinda Doolittle.

Music Career and American Idol

Rising to Fame on American Idol

On October 30, 2002, Kimberley auditioned for the second season of American Idol in Nashville. She did great and was chosen to be on the show! She ended up finishing in third place, right after Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken. Kimberley was even invited back to perform on American Idol two more times in later seasons.

Releasing Albums and Hit Songs

After American Idol, Kimberley signed a record deal with Curb Records in September 2003. Her first album, One Love, came out on May 4, 2004. Her first song, "8th World Wonder", became very popular and even made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Other songs like "Wrong" and "I Could" followed.

Kimberley also released popular Christmas songs. In 2005, her version of "Up on the House Top" reached the top of the Adult Contemporary (A/C) charts. The next year, her song "Jingle Bells" also topped the same charts! She released a full digital Christmas album called Christmas in 2007.

Locke performing in 2006

Her second album, Based on a True Story, was released on May 1, 2007. Songs from this album, like "Change" and "Band of Gold", became big hits on the A/C charts. All three singles from this album even reached number one on the Billboard dance club chart!

After leaving Curb Records, Kimberley signed with Randy Jackson's new record label, Dream Merchant 21. She released the song "Strobelight" in 2010.

In 2011, Kimberley started her own entertainment company called I AM Entertainment. Her first release through her own company was a dance-themed album called "Four for the Floor." She also released a cover of "Silver Bells" with a music video. Fans even voted on Facebook for her next single, choosing "Finally Free," which came out in 2012.

In 2013, Kimberley worked with a British music team called Cahill on the song "Feel the Love." This song became very popular in the United Kingdom, reaching number one on both the Club and Pop charts there.

More recently, Kimberley has continued to release new music. In 2018, she released "Raise Your Hands." In 2019, she started an album of lullabies with the song "Sleep Tight Baby Bright." In 2021, she released two more albums: You're My Baby (children's music) and Christmas Is Here (another Christmas album). In 2023, she released a collection of her best songs called Best of Kimberley Locke, which included new music too.

Songs Performed on American Idol

Television Appearances

Kimberley Locke has also had a busy career on television. Since 2005, she has appeared on many different shows.

In 2004, she was a guest host on Good Day Live. She also competed on the game show Family Feud in 2005. Kimberley hosted Word Slam!, a live game show on GSN.

In 2007, Kimberley was a participant on Celebrity Fit Club. This show helped her focus on her health and well-being. She also guest co-hosted The View in 2007. In 2008, she appeared on "Don't Forget the Lyrics!" and won $100,000 for a charity called Camp Heartland.

In 2009, Kimberley became one of the hosts for the talent show Gospel Dream. She also appeared on Celebrity Ghost Stories in 2010. Kimberley has hosted other shows like ABC's Windy City Live and Hallmark's The Better Show. In 2013, she was a judge on Next Great Family Band.

Since 2019, Kimberley has been a co-host of the daytime talk show Dr. and the Diva with Dr. Steve Salvatore. They talk about health, food, fashion, and fitness. In 2020, she also started co-hosting TV commercials for kitchen appliances.

Theatre Performances

In 2019, Kimberley made her debut on Broadway! She was a special guest in Kristin Chenoweth's show, Kristin Chenoweth: For the Girls.

The next year, Kimberley announced her own one-woman show called The Sum of All Parts. In this show, she shares her life story, from growing up to her time on American Idol. She also sings songs and pays tribute to famous artists like Etta James and Judy Garland.

In 2022, it was announced that Kimberley would star in the musical Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. She plays Diva Donna, showing Summer at the peak of her career. Kimberley said she was excited to bring Donna Summer's inspiring story to audiences.

Modeling and Healthy Living

From 2005 to 2006, Kimberley was a model with Ford Models' 14+ Division. She appeared on the covers of Figure magazine and UneQ magazine. She was also a spokesperson for clothing brands like Lane Bryant and Seven7 Jeans.

While on Celebrity Fit Club, Kimberley chose to follow a healthy eating plan. She became a spokesperson for Jenny Craig, a program that helps people live healthier lives. She worked hard and reached her health goals, even being featured in People magazine and Us Weekly for her success. She even shared her story on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Business Ventures

Kimberley has a strong business background. She graduated from Belmont University in 2001 with a degree in Business Administration. In 2006, Kimberley and some partners opened a restaurant called Croton Creek Steakhouse & Wine Bar in New York.

In 2011, she started her own entertainment company, I AM Entertainment, which helps her release her music independently.

Charitable Work

Kimberley Locke is very active in helping others, especially by raising awareness for HIV/AIDS and breast cancer. She worked with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, which took her on a trip to Africa. She has also worked with organizations like YouthAIDS and Camp Heartland.

In 2007, Kimberley received the Red Ribbon award for her work as an HIV/AIDS activist. She spoke about how important it is to help children living with HIV/AIDS. She also won $100,000 for Camp Heartland on the show Don't Forget The Lyrics. In 2010, she joined Camp Heartland's board of directors.

In October 2007, Kimberley partnered with General Mills for the Pink for a Cure campaign. This campaign helps spread awareness about breast cancer, especially in the African-American community. Kimberley's aunt is a breast cancer survivor, so this cause is very important to her.

Kimberley is also part of the Entertainment Council for Feeding America, which is a big organization that helps fight hunger in the country.

Discography

• One Love (2004)
• Based on a True Story (2007)
• Christmas (2007)
• Four for the Floor (2011)
• You're My Baby (2021)
• Christmas is Here (2021)

Videography

• "8th World Wonder" (2004)
• "Wrong" (2004)
• "Coulda Been" (2005)
• "Change" (2007)
• "Silver Bells" (2011)
• "Finally Free" (2012)

Awards and Nominations

New Music Awards

• 2005: Nominated - Female Adult Contemporary Artist of the Year

Teen Choice Awards

• 2003: Nominated - Choice TV Reality/Variety Star - Female
• 2004: Nominated - Choice Love Song - "8th World Wonder"

See also

• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart