Justin Guarini

Justin Guarini, born in Columbus, Georgia, finished second to Kelly Clarkson during the debut season of Fox’s American Idol: The Search for a Superstar. Although he fell short of the title, the curly-haired heartthrob captured the devotion of millions of teenage followers. His vocal training began at age four with the Atlanta Boys Choir and continued through high-school performances alongside the a cappella outfit Midnight Voices. He later sharpened his skills at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and at the School for Film & TV in New York City.

Before auditioning, the 23-year-old Doylestown, Pennsylvania resident earned a living selling home-security systems for ADT and booking acts for Cutting Edge Entertainment, a firm that supplied singers and performers for weddings, bar mitzvahs, and similar events. Selected from roughly 10,000 hopefuls as one of the final ten contestants, Guarini drew notice from judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell with his takes on “Who’s Loving You Now” and “Get Here.” Occasional shortfalls in audience votes threatened his progress, yet forceful renditions of “Route 66” and “Let’s Stay Together,” together with his commanding stage presence, carried him into the championship round.

Though denied the grand prize, he obtained a recording contract from 19 Entertainment, the production company behind the series, and reports circulated that he might contribute a duet to Kelly Clarkson’s debut album. Shortly after the broadcast concluded, Midnight Voices’ 1999 self-titled album was reissued to capitalize on his sudden visibility.