William Hung

William Hung embodies the same brand of American grit once associated with Charles Atlas, converting apparent shortcomings into an unforeseen source of appeal that captured millions of fans after his debut on Fox’s American Idol. Before that brief burst of recognition, the engineering major at the University of California-Berkeley had already charmed classmates and dormitory residents during a campus talent competition. In 2003 he stepped in front of the show’s judges and delivered Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs,” unintentionally generating pitches that fell outside conventional scales. Simon Cowell responded with his trademark disdain, Paula Abdul offered maternal encouragement, and Randy Jackson, the onetime Journey bassist once known for spandex trousers, struggled to contain his amusement.

Hung’s upbeat assertion—“I already gave my best, and I have no regrets at all”—echoed the motivational ethos of Vince Lombardi and quickly earned him a devoted audience whose enthusiasm surpassed that of most eventual champions, relegating many other contestants to minor footnotes in the annals of reality television. Network interviews and appearances on the talk-show circuit followed, culminating in a recording deal from Koch Entertainment that was presented to him courtside during a volleyball match at his former university.

The aptly named debut album Inspiration arrived in April 2004 and entered the Top 40. Six months later the seasonal collection Hung for the Holidays appeared, and in 2005 the upbeat set Miracle followed, underscoring the adage that improbable events can indeed occur. Emulating the tireless work ethic of Henry Rollins, Hung maintained an exhaustive touring schedule that took him to shopping centers, benefit functions, sporting-event intermissions, and any other venue his representatives could arrange, demonstrating that a distinctly American aspiration, however altered from its founders’ original vision, continues to thrive.