Ruben Studdard

Ruben Studdard is an R&B, pop and gospel singer and actor. He rose to fame as the winner of the second season of American Idol and received a Grammy Award nomination in 2003 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his recording of "Superstar."

Studdard not only earned a spot on American Idol, but he eventually won first place in May 2003 thanks to more than 24 million viewers who cast their votes. Dubbed "The Velvet Teddy Bear" by guest judge Gladys Knight, he crooned to triumph over his rival, fellow Southerner Clay Aiken.

Shortly after the win, Studdard produced his debut single, a cover of Westlife's "Flying Without Wings." After completing a 39-city tour with his fellow competitors, he returned to record his first album, Soulful. Advance orders for the album topped the 1 million mark before it was even released in December 2003.

In the years following his debut album, Studdard released six studio albums, including his top-selling gospel follow-up, I Need an Angel. He is most well known for his recording career, which has produced hits including "Flying Without Wings," "Sorry 2004," and "Change Me," but he has also segued into television and stage work. Most notably, he starred as Fats Waller in a national tour revival of Ain't Misbehavin', which spawned a Grammy-nominated soundtrack.

In 2013, Studdard appeared as a contestant on the fifteenth season of weight-loss competition show The Biggest Loser. Having struggled with his weight since competing on Idol 10 years prior, Studdard jumped at the chance to battle his obesity. It was on the show that Studdard learned he was at high-risk for diabetes. it was revealed that he had lost a total of 119 pounds for an ending weight of 343 pounds. Studdard credited the weight loss for improving his ability to perform onstage.

Studdard made his Broadway theatre debut in December 2018 in Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show at the Imperial Theatre.

Studdard's love of music led him to create The Ruben Studdard Foundation for the Advancement of Children in the Music Arts. He also signed on as an official spokesperson for "Be Sickle Smart", a nationwide grassroots health-education program aimed at increasing awareness of iron overload among people living with sickle-cell disease.