Crooner Ruben Studdard is getting closer to tying the knot with fiancée Surata Zuri McCants. The Season 2 Idol winner and McCants on Monday obtained a marriage license in Alabama. The pair was seen filling out the paperwork midday at the Shelby County Probate Office in Birmingham. Studdard has not publicly announced a wedding date, but the licenses are apparently valid in the state for 30 days (so the countdown is on!). Now we can only wonder if he'll be singing at his own wedding — maybe with a little help from his Idol friends? — Anna DimondUse our Online Video Guide to see some of Studdard's performances.
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"Velvet Teddy Bear" Ruben Studdard, who has been seriously MIA from the music scene lately, is returning to American Idol. The Hollywood Reporter says that the Season 2 winner will serenade contestants as they are eliminated with a special "goodbye" song. What ugly-cry-inducing song will Ruben croon? None other than a cover of Kenny Loggins' "Celebrate Me Home," which will be produced by Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam.Perhaps for contestants who get the boot, like poor Alaina Whitaker last night, Ruben's mellow sound will soothe them into being able to shut off the waterworks and sing their swan songs.Traditionally, these "goodbye" songs have done very well with Idol exposure. Daniel Powter's "Bad Day," (from Season 5) went on to sell 1.9 million copies and was the top download of 2006. Sounds like the Stud needed a little help in the sales department, and Idol producers know the singer is still very popular with the Idol crowd. So now the song will be available on iTunes for download st...
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I have never seen any show transcend the boundaries of age, race, religion, weight and politics as beautifully as American Idol has in the past six years. I can discuss it with my husband's 70-year-old uncle (who thinks Sanjaya should be shot), my cabdriver (who cries when he hears Kat McPhee), my gynecologist (who thinks Paula's hysterical... in a bad way), and my 6- and 4-year-old cousins, who think the sun rises and sets with Simon Cowell. That's right, you heard me, they like Simon (not to mention all the cute boys on the show). So I asked some of my peeps what they thought were some of the best moments from American Idol, and this is what we came up with. — Erin FoxKelly Clarkson, "Stuff Like That There" | Watch on YouTubeThis was not only the moment I knew Kelly would win the first Idol title, it was the moment I knew she could literally sing anything.Fantasia Barrino, "Summertime" | Watch on YouTube I don't think there was a dry eye in America after this stunning, gooseb...
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Controversy may have gotten Frenchie Davis booted off American Idol, but it landed her in a successful Broadway career. Soon, Season 2 champ Ruben "Velvet Teddy Bear" Studdard will be joining her onstage. "I'm so excited," Davis tells TV Guide. "I can't say too much, but we're doing a revival of a Broadway show." Studdard, who has been touring with Robin Givens in the play Heaven, I Need a Hug, may have tipped his hand during an interview with the Atlanta Constitution when he said he's been prepping to play Fats Walker in a tour of Ain't Misbehavin'.Davis, who just finished a four-year run in Rent, wasn't surprised to learn that her former cast mate is tackling theater. "He's so talented," she says. "This role is going to be good for him." Will the part pit the two as love interests? "It depends on how they direct it," she says coyly. — Reporting by Bekah Wright
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Everyone was in the house for the grand finale of American Idol, as Jordin and Blake opened the show with a long-awaited Beatles tune. "I Saw Her Standing There" was a premonition of things to come. We drifted quickly into a performance by the touring Gwen Stefani singing her song “4 in the Morning.” She looked and sounded fantastic. Red-carpet tidbits — there were lots of Idols both past and present. However, the real stars were ushered past me on the red-carpet press line at the speed of light, as though I had a form of jumping leprosy. I spoke to:The crying girl.Blake’s dad, Dallas.Writers of the song “This Is My Now” (as opposed to my later on).Sabrina Sloan — simply lovely.Constantine Maroulis — all business, currently starring in The Bold and the Beautiful. Kelly Clarkson rocked the heck out of “Never Again” will I put up with Clive Davis yelling at me; I’m a star, damn it! I can’t imagine why Clive doesn’t like ...
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