Ruben Studdard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ruben Studdard
Studdard in 2009
Background information
Born	(1978-09-12) September 12, 1978 (age 46) Frankfurt, West Germany
Origin	Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Genres	R&B pop gospel
Occupation(s)	Singer actor
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2002–present
Labels	19 J Hickory Shanachie Verve

Ruben Studdard (born September 12, 1978) is an American singer and actor. He became famous after winning the second season of American Idol. In 2003, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for his song "Superstar".

After American Idol, Ruben released seven studio albums. These include his first album, Soulful, which sold over a million copies, and his popular gospel album, I Need an Angel. He is best known for his music, with hit songs like "Flying Without Wings", "Sorry 2004", and "Change Me". He has also worked in TV and on stage. He played Fats Waller in a play called Ain't Misbehavin', which also had a Grammy-nominated soundtrack.

In 2013, Ruben was a contestant on The Biggest Loser, a TV show about weight loss. He later signed with Verve Records and worked with David Foster on his sixth album, Unconditional Love, in 2014. This album was well-received and led to a tour with Lalah Hathaway. In 2018, Ruben released Ruben Sings Luther, an album of songs by Luther Vandross, whom he is often compared to. He then started his "Always & Forever" tour.

Ruben made his Broadway theater debut in December 2018 with Clay Aiken, who was the runner-up on his American Idol season. They performed in a Christmas show called Ruben & Clay's Christmas Show. In 2023, Ruben and Clay went on a tour together called "Twenty The Tour". This tour celebrated 20 years since they first appeared on American Idol. Ruben also continues to tour for his Ruben Sings Luther album. In 2023, he released his eighth studio album, The Way I Remember It.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Ruben Studdard was born in Frankfurt, West Germany. His parents were Americans, and his father was in the U.S. Army there. Ruben grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. He was the youngest child of two teachers. When he was just three years old, he sang for the first time at a church in Birmingham. He kept singing gospel songs in church as he grew up.

While at Huffman High School, Ruben played football. He even received a scholarship to Alabama A&M University for it. At Alabama A&M, he joined a music fraternity called Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Ruben grew up listening to his mother's music, including Donny Hathaway and gospel artists. He decided to pursue a music career and studied voice at Alabama A&M. He sang with a local jazz and R&B band called Just a Few Cats. Ruben later shared that he worked very hard to get into the music business before American Idol. A backup singer from his band asked him to go with her to an audition for American Idol in 2003.

American Idol Journey

For his American Idol audition, Ruben sang "Ribbon in the Sky" by Stevie Wonder. During the show, he impressed people with his performances of "Superstar" and "A Whole New World". Famous musicians like Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, and Gladys Knight praised his singing.

While on the show, Ruben earned the nickname "Velvet Teddy Bear". He was also known for wearing shirts with "205" on them, which was the phone area code for his hometown of Birmingham.

Ruben won the competition in May 2003, beating Clay Aiken. The vote was very close, with Ruben winning by only 134,000 votes out of 24 million cast. The Governor of Alabama, Bob Riley, even declared March 11, 2003, as "Ruben Studdard Day".

American Idol Performances

Here's a look at some of Ruben's performances and results on American Idol:

Music Career Highlights

Soulful and Early Success (2003–2004)

Ruben released his first song, "Flying Without Wings", which he had sung on the American Idol finale. This song quickly became popular. In December 2003, his first album, Soulful, was released. It sold over 400,000 copies in its first week and reached number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. This was the second-highest first-week sales for any American Idol winner.

The song "Sorry 2004" from this album was played a lot on the radio. It reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In December 2003, Ruben was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Superstar". In March 2004, he won the NAACP Outstanding New Artist award.

Gospel Album and Health Journey (2004–2005)

Ruben released a gospel album called I Need an Angel in November 2004. The main song, "I Need an Angel", was a cover of a song by Daniel DeBourg. The album sold over 96,000 copies in its first week and reached number one on the Gospel charts. It has sold over 500,000 copies and received a Gold certification.

Between his second and third albums, Ruben started a diet and fitness program. He wanted to improve his health because of a family history of diabetes and hypertension. He lost over 70 pounds by following a vegetarian diet.

In 2004, Ruben had a small role in the movie Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. He sang a cover of "Shining Star". He also appeared as a guest on TV shows like 8 Simple Rules and One on One.

The Return and Broadway Debut (2006–2008)

Ruben's third album, The Return, came out in October 2006. This album brought him back to R&B music. He worked with different producers and co-wrote several songs. The Return sold 71,000 copies in its first week. The main song, "Change Me", reached number one on Billboard's Urban Contemporary chart.

Ruben continued to tour, performing a mix of different music styles. In 2008, he took on the role of Fats Waller in a national tour of the musical Ain't Misbehavin'.

In December 2007, Ruben left his record company, J Records. However, he remained with 19 Recordings and sang the farewell song for American Idol season 7, "Celebrate Me Home". He performed this song live on the American Idol finale in May 2008. In 2008, Ruben also worked with gospel singers Deitrick Haddon and Mary Mary on the song "Love Him As I Do".

Love Is and Tours (2009–2010)

Ruben's next album, Love Is, was released in May 2009. It was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The album included songs like "Together" and "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More".

Love Is received good reviews. It sold 15,200 copies in its first week. Ruben also joined the "David Foster and Friends" tour in 2009. A collection of his best songs, Playlist: The Very Best of Ruben Studdard, was released in January 2010.

Ruben returned to the American Idol stage in March 2010 to perform "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More". He also announced that he would be touring with Clay Aiken that summer. Their "Timeless" tour started in July 2010 and featured a variety show format with songs from the 1960s to the 1990s, along with comedy.

Letters from Birmingham and The Biggest Loser (2010–2014)

In 2011, Ruben signed with Shanachie Entertainment. His fifth album, Letters from Birmingham, was released in March 2012. This album told a story through romantic letters. It received mostly positive reviews, especially for his duet with Chrisette Michele, "Do It Right". The album also included covers of "Rock Wit'cha" by Bobby Brown and "Pure Imagination" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The song "June 28 (I'm Single)" reached the top 20 on Billboard's urban charts.

In 2013, Ruben joined the TV show The Biggest Loser. He was the first celebrity contestant on the show. Ruben weighed 462 pounds when he started, which was the highest starting weight on the show. He lost 119 pounds during the competition, ending at 343 pounds. Ruben said that losing weight helped him perform better on stage.

During The Biggest Loser finale in February 2014, Ruben performed "Meant to Be", a song from his new album, Unconditional Love. This album was his sixth studio album and his first with Verve Records. David Foster produced the album, which mostly featured covers of love songs. Critics praised the album, saying Ruben was "at the top of his game vocally". Unconditional Love debuted at #46 on the Billboard 200 chart. Ruben supported the album with the "Born Again Tour" with Lalah Hathaway.

Ruben Sings Luther and Recent Work (2015–Present)

Ruben continues to appear on American Idol, including mentoring contestants. In 2016, he released a new song called "Can't Nobody Love You". In 2017, he released a cover of "A Change Is Gonna Come" and appeared on Patti LaBelle's holiday album.

In 2018, Ruben released Ruben Sings Luther, a tribute album to Luther Vandross. He then started the "Always & Forever" national tour. Ruben told People Magazine that people had been asking him to sing Luther's songs for a long time. Both the album and tour received great reviews.

Ruben made his Broadway theater debut in December 2018, reuniting with Clay Aiken for a Christmas show at the Imperial Theatre. The show ran through December 30, and part of the ticket sales went to the National Inclusion Project.

Ruben Studdard performing in The Villages, Florida.

Ruben continued his Ruben Sings Luther tour from 2018 to 2023. In 2023, he went on a joint tour with Clay Aiken called "Twenty The Tour". This tour celebrated 20 years since their American Idol debut.

In 2023, Ruben signed a new record deal and worked on a new album with songwriter Balewa Muhammad. His eighth studio album, The Way I Remember It, was released on October 27, 2023. It was his first album of new original music since 2014. The album included songs like "The Way I Remember It", "W.I.F.E.", and "Masterpiece".

In 2024, Ruben and Clay Aiken competed together on The Masked Singer as "Beets". They were eliminated during the Group B finals.

Acting Roles

Ruben Studdard has acted in several TV shows. He appeared in single episodes of 8 Simple Rules, Life on a Stick, All of Us, Eve, and One on One. He also had a small role in the movie Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.

Ruben was the main star in the touring musical Ain't Misbehavin'. He played Fats Waller and received good reviews. He was also part of the cast recording album for the musical, which was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Helping Others

Ruben Studdard loves music and created The Ruben Studdard Foundation for the Advancement of Children in the Music Arts. This foundation aims to show how important arts education is. It helps students in the Birmingham Area learn about music.

Ruben also became a spokesperson for "Be Sickle Smart". This program helps teach people about iron overload in those with sickle-cell disease.

Personal Life

Ruben Studdard met Surata Zuri McCants in October 2006. They got married on June 28, 2008. They later divorced in April 2012. In June 2018, he married Kristin Moore. They have a son born in 2020 and a daughter born in 2024.

Ruben received an honorary Master of Arts degree from Alabama A&M University. He had earned his Bachelor's degree in vocal studies there. In 2022, Ruben taught a special class for performing arts students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Awards and Nominations

Ruben Studdard has received several awards and nominations for his music and performances.

Discography

Studio Albums

Compilation Albums

Singles

Single Certifications

Other Albums and Collaborations

• American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs (2003)
  • "What the World Needs Now" (with Season 2 Finalists)
  • "God Bless the U.S.A. (Proud to Be an American)" (with Season 2 Finalists)
  • "Superstar"
• American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics (2003)
  • "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
  • "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (American Idol Ensemble)
  • "This Christmas"
• Genius & Friends (2005)
  • "Imagine" with Ray Charles and The Harlem Gospel Singers
• Revealed (2008)
  • "Love Him Like I Do" with Deitrick Haddon and Mary Mary
• Ain't Misbehavin': The 30th Anniversary Cast Recording (2009)
  • "Honeysuckle Rose" a duet with Frenchie Davis
  • "The Jitterbug Waltz" with Patrice Covington & Company
  • "Lounging At The Waldorf" with Frenchie Davis, Trenyce Cobbins & Patrice Covington
  • "Your Feet's Too Big"
• Hit Man Returns: David Foster & Friends (2011)
  • "Home" with David Foster
• Unbelievable (2011)
  • "Saturday Love" with Keke Wyatt
• Sing Pray Love, Vol. 1: Sing (2014)
  • "Back 2 Love" with Kelly Price
• Patti LaBelle Presents: Home for the Holidays with Friends (2017)
  • "Don't Save it All for Christmas"
  • "Your Presence with Me"
  • "Let It Snow"
  • "Ave Maria"

Filmography

Ruben Studdard has appeared in these films and TV shows:

• One on One (2004)
• Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)
• 8 Simple Rules (2005)
• Life on a Stick (2005)
• All of Us (2005)
• Natural Born Komics (2006) (direct-to-DVD)
• Eve (2006)
• Lifted (2011)
• The Perfect Gift (2011)

See also

In Spanish: Ruben Studdard para niños

• List of Idols winners