Ruben Studdard

Ruben Studdard, an American vocalist, first captured widespread attention in the early 2000s by claiming victory on the second season of American Idol, after which he maneuvered successfully through the unpredictable terrain of the recording business by issuing both rhythm-and-blues and gospel projects while also making a notable mark on the theatrical stage. The single that crowned his post-Idol launch, "Flying Without Wings," rose to the second slot on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 2003, prompting Studdard to follow its momentum with "Sorry 2004" and the encompassing album Soulful. Once he delivered the gospel set I Need an Angel in 2004, he anchored himself as an R&B crooner in the style of his idol Luther Vandross—a connection he later honored with a full-length tribute recording in 2018—while maintaining steady touring commitments and issuing occasional new studio albums, among them 2023’s The Way I Remember It.

Born in Frankfurt, Germany, on September 12, 1978, to a pair of educators, Studdard grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. He performed regularly at his parents’ Baptist church during childhood, yet it was only upon entering college that he committed seriously to music. Setting aside a promising football trajectory that had already secured him an athletic scholarship to Alabama A&M University, he changed his major to voice and completed his degree at the institution in 2000. He subsequently began his professional career singing with Just a Few Cats, a jazz-and-soul ensemble based in Birmingham. In 2002 he accompanied one of the group’s backup vocalists to an audition for the second season of American Idol, advancing through the local preliminary round and ultimately securing a place on the national broadcast.

Studdard distinguished himself immediately with a reserved, unhurried demeanor that contrasted sharply with the eager pop aspirants around him, drawing praise from viewers and judges through the sheer size of his voice and his relaxed assurance. Midway through the season, guest judge Gladys Knight bestowed upon him the moniker “velvet teddy bear,” acknowledging both his smooth, Luther Vandross-inflected timbre and his inviting stage presence; the epithet endured as his popularity climbed. The contest ultimately narrowed to a tight contest between Studdard and Clay Aiken, culminating in a razor-thin margin that awarded Studdard the win by a few thousand votes in May 2003.

Crowned the newest American Idol, Studdard inaugurated his solo career with the triple-platinum single "Flying Without Wings," issued simultaneously with Aiken’s “This Is the Night” in a calculated move intended to sustain public interest in the rivalry. Although Aiken reached the summit first, plans for a joint album launch were soon abandoned in favor of separate releases. While Aiken initially enjoyed greater visibility, Studdard maintained an intense schedule of recording, touring alongside fellow Idol alumni, and filming a cameo appearance in Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. As studio work continued, the release date for his debut album shifted repeatedly—originally set for August, then moved to October, and finally to November.

The recording sessions involved an array of producers and guests whose names, including Fat Joe, Missy Elliott, and R. Kelly, surfaced in the press to bolster Studdard’s standing in hip-hop and R&B circles. When Soulful appeared on December 9, 2003, it omitted the anticipated Missy Elliott and R. Kelly contributions yet retained Fat Joe, revealing a hip-hop-tinged R&B direction that diverged from the pop leanings of albums by fellow Idol alumni such as Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson, and Justin Guarini. Bolstered by two Top Ten singles, one of which was “Sorry 2004,” the album attained platinum certification and earned Studdard a Grammy nomination for Favorite Male R&B Vocal Performance for his rendition of the Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell standard “Superstar.”

The gospel album I Need an Angel arrived the following year, spotlighting collaborations with contemporary gospel figures including Bill Gaither and Walter Hawkins. Although its sales did not match those of the debut, the project performed strongly on gospel charts. Studdard nevertheless returned to R&B territory in 2006 with the aptly titled third album The Return, which enlisted contributors such as Scott Storch and Ne-Yo. Lead single “Change Me” reached the top of the urban contemporary chart that year, yet The Return became the slowest-selling release of his catalog, leading J Records to terminate his contract in 2007.

In 2008 Studdard ventured successfully into theater, portraying Fats Waller in a touring revival of Ain’t Misbehavin’ whose soundtrack later received a Grammy nomination. After the production concluded in May 2009, he resumed his recording career with Love Is on Hickory Records, an album whose themes reflected his recent marriage, which ended in divorce in late 2011. Featuring production from Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Teddy Riley, Ne-Yo, and Stargate, the set reached the Billboard Top 40 and yielded the singles “Together” and “Don’t Make ’Em Like U No More,” alongside covers of Extreme’s “More Than Words,” the Beatles’ “The Long and Winding Road,” and Michael Jackson’s “I Can’t Help It.” To support the release, Studdard and Clay Aiken embarked on a North American tour they called “Timeless.”

Studdard issued Letters from Birmingham, his debut album for Shanachie, in 2012. Alongside interpretations of Bobby Brown’s “Rock Wit’cha” and the Willy Wonka staple “Pure Imagination,” the collection included the track “June 28th (I’m Single).” The next year he expanded beyond music by participating in the 2013 season of the reality series The Biggest Loser. After losing 120 pounds, he concluded his time on the program by releasing his sixth album, Unconditional Love, on Verve in February 2014. Produced by David Foster, the project featured a duet with Lalah Hathaway on a refreshed version of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s 1967 Top 30 R&B single “If This World Were Mine.” In 2015 he was awarded an honorary Master of Arts degree from his alma mater, Alabama A&M.

In 2018 Studdard paid tribute to his late idol Luther Vandross with Ruben Sings Luther, selecting personal favorites such as “Here and Now,” “Always and Forever,” and “A House Is Not a Home.” He continued performing the material through 2023, when he announced a new recording contract with SoNo Recording Group and, in October, released The Way I Remember It, his first collection of original songs in nearly a decade.