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Now In: Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul
| Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul
(Paperback)
Stories from the Idols and their Fans that Open Your Heart and Make Your Soul Sing
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Stories from Idols and Their Fans for Everyone Who Believes in a Dream. . .
With stories from Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken,
Jordin Sparks, Ruben Studdard,
Melinda Doolittle, Blake Lewis, Sanjaya Malakar,
and many other top Idols from every season!
Do you love the thrill of seeing people's dreams come true? Do you enjoy the excitement of rooting for your favorite contestant ? Has your spirit ever soared from watching a performance on American Idol ? For anyone who has watched America 's best loved television show, here's a collection of captivating stories that take you into the hearts, minds and souls of the Idols, the fans, and the team that makes the show possible.
These are the stories the television cameras don't see—true, uplifting, and entertaining tales told with humor and candor that will leave you laughing, crying, and feeling inspired, whether you are a die-hard Idol watcher or an occasional fan . Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul is the perfect marriage of the #1 show in television history and the #1 non-fiction book series in publishing history—both dedicated to celebrating the triumph of spirit over adversity, the fulfillment of dreams coming true, and the power of love.
In Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul , those closest to the heart of American Idol — from the executive producers to the stylists, from the fans to the judges, from the top finalists to the behind-the-scenes crew —share their moving stories of obstacles overcome, love and support shared, lessons learned and lives touched and changed forever. This is truly the stuff that dreams are made of—and why almost 60 million people faithfully tune in week after week, year after year.
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Now There's Enough for Everybody
Ruben Studdard
American Idol, Season 2
My whole life, I never wanted to do anything but be a singer. But before Idol, it just didn't seem to work my way.
In the fall of 1999, I left college during my junior year to pursue a career in music. This was not welcomed by my mother because both my parents are educators. There were four of us friends in different colleges in the South, and we all decided to leave school. I promised my mom if I didn't make it in five years, I'd go back.
Our group was called God's Gift, and we practiced every day. We practiced, practiced, practiced, but we never seemed to get anywhere. We shopped demos, went out to find deals—we tried just about everything.
Sometimes, it got us down. I remember a minister saying, 'Everything happens in God's time, so be patient.' I was pretty much the only guy in the group who had already been doing this for years, so my thought was, How much more patient can I be?
Eventually, the group gave up because it just wasn't happening. I joined a jazz band called Just a Few Cats. By that point, I wasn't even concerned with making it; I just wanted to have fun. Soon, we became the most popular group in Birmingham. We started playing 500–600 seat venues that sold out almost immediately.
One day, a background singer in our band said she was going to try out for American Idol and asked me to go with her. 'I'm not doing that,' I said.
I thought I was everything the American Idol wasn't. I mean, I wasn't exactly Kelly Clarkson. I was this big guy in a jazz band who in college had been pursuing a degree in operatic performance. I just envisioned going up there and embarrassing myself on national television. All the odds were against me.
But I told my friend I'd go to give her support and to cheer when she made it through. We drove to Nashville and spent all night waiting outside. Fortunately, she brought pillows and blankets because we had to sleep on the ground.
In the morning, one of the producers woke us and asked if we were there to audition. 'Yeah,' I said, still half-asleep. Maybe I meant, 'Yeah,' as in, 'Yeah, she's here to audition and I'm with her,' but next thing I knew, I was singing in front of the assistant producers. I made it through, and my friend didn't.
From that moment on, I had to believe there was a master plan because it all just flowed, one thing after the other.
I was told to come back the following day for the next audition, but I sure didn't want to sleep outside again. Then I found out a friend was in Nashville for an engineering conference and just happened to have an extra hotel room.
When I met the show's producer, Nigel Lythgoe, he said, 'You don't look like an American Idol, but I bet you can sing.'
I sang Stevie Wonder's 'Ribbon in the Sky,' and Nigel said, 'Man, you are going on.'
I was flying high when I went home to Birmingham, but I had to return to Nashville the next week to sing for Randy, Simon, and Paula. I didn't know what to do because my car wouldn't make it.
My brother Kevin offered to take me. This was really something because I always drove him nuts when I sang. He would beg me to stop singing, please. When we were kids and walked to the store, he punched me out for singing all the way down the street. But now he was driving me to Nashville?
When I sang for the judges, all three said, 'Absolutely, yes!'
I just knew something great was going to happen. I didn't think I was going to win the show by any means, but I did feel like it just might give me the opportunity to somehow live my dreams.
American Idol helped me accomplish more than I could have dreamed in a million years on my own. I sang at the American Music Awards. I was nominated for a Grammy®. I went to South Africa and sang in soccer stadiums. I've done concerts for hundreds of thousands of people. I've had a platinum album and Billboard #1 songs. I never would have imagined that I'd sing for the President, but I did that, too—twice. I've done so much since Idol—and I would have been happy just making one album!
When people ask me for advice, I'm always willing to share it: always be prepared. I know that might sound funny since I sure didn't seem prepared for the audition that morning in Nashville, but I can honestly say I've studied my craft since I was ten years old. I went to school to be a classical musician. I took every class I could on music theory. If your opportunity shows up and you're not prepared, you might lose it . . . and it might not come back again.
Last weekend, I sang at Ella Fitzgerald's ninetieth Birthday Benefit with Natalie Cole, Quincy Jones, and Nancy Wilson. When I do a gig, I'm always prepared. I tell people, 'Don't wing it.' You know when someone's winging it, and it's not going to get you where you want to go.
And the other advice I give is to always have a pleasing attitude. The one thing everyone always says about me is I have a good attitude. I believe that will take you further than a great voice or loads of talent.
Needless to say, my life has changed since Idol. But I'm the same guy, the same Ruben—the same son, the same friend, the same brother. Kevin and I still love—and fight with—each other. When people ask if we still fight over the last sandwich in the refrigerator, like I talked about on the show, I tell them that's another thing that's changed since Idol: now there's always enough of everything for all of us.
And don't think I'm not grateful. I'm one of those people who lives life based on gratitude. I believe the more grateful you are, the more good things will come to you. I will always be grateful to American Idol—I will never forget what it has done to help me make my dreams come true.
©2007. Ruben Studdard. All rights reserved. Reprinted from Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Debra Poneman. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the written permission of the publisher. Publisher: Health Communications, Inc., 3201 SW 15th Street , Deerfield Beach , FL 33442. |
 Jack CanfieldJack Canfield is a best-selling author and one of America's leading experts in the development of human potential. He is both a dynamic and entertaining speaker and a highly sought-after trainer with a wonderful ability to inform and inspire audiences to pen their hearts, love more openly and pursue their dreams. He is the author and narrator of several best-selling audio- and video cassette programs, including Self Esteem and Peak Performance, How to Build High Self-Esteem, Self-Esteem in the Classroom and Chicken Soup for the Soul – Live. He is regularly seen on television shows such as Good Morning America, 20/20 and NBC Nightly News. Jack has co-authored numerous books, including the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series, Dare to Win and The Aladdin Factor (all with Mark Victor Hansen), 100 Ways to Build Self-Concept in the Classroom (with Harold C. Wells) and Heart At Work (with Jacqueline Miller). Jack is a regularly featured speaker for professional associations, school districts, government agencies, churches, hospitals, sales organizations and corporations. Jack conducts an annual eight-day Training of Trainers program in the areas of self esteem and peak performance. It attracts educators, counselors, parenting trainers, corporate trainers, professional speakers, ministers and other interested in developing their speaking and seminar-leading skills. Visit the Chicken Soup for the Soul website, at www.chickensoup.com. [ More]
 Mark Victor HansenMark Victor Hansen is a professional speakers who, in the last twenty years, had made over four-thousand presentations to more than 2 million people in 32 countries. His presentations cover sales excellence and strategies; personal empowerment and development; and how to triple your income and double your time off.
Mark has spent a lifetime dedicated to his mission of making a profound and positive difference in people's lives. Throughout his career, he has inspired hundreds of thousands of people to create a more powerful and purposeful future for themselves while stimulating the sale of billions of dollars worth of goods and services.
Marc is a prolific writer and has authored Future Diary, How to Achieve Total Prosperity and The Miracle of Tithing. He is co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series, Dare to Win and The Aladdin Factor (all with Jack Canfield), and The Master Motivator (with Joe Batten).
Mark has also produced a complete library of personal empowerment audio- and videocassette programs that have enabled his listeners to recognize and use their innate abilities in their business and personal lives. His message has made him a popular television and radio personality, with appearances on ABC, CBS, HBO, PBS, and CNN. He has also appeared on the cover of numerous magazines, including Success, Entrepreneur and Changes.
Mark is a big man with a heart and spirit to match — an inspiration to all who seek to better themselves.
Visit the Chicken Soup for the Soul website, at www.chickensoup.com. [ More]
 Debra PonemanDebra Poneman is an award-winning speaker, seminar leader and author. Recognized as one of the pioneers in the field of personal growth, Debra is a popular talk show guest and has appeared on radio and TV from coast to coast.
As founder and president of Yes to Success, Inc., her breakthrough methods for creating success, prosperity and lasting happiness have helped transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
In her most recent book, Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul, the principles Debra has taught for over two decades such as utilizing the power of the Law of Attraction, welcoming obstacles as opportunities and pursuing your passion all come alive in the lives of the American Idols. [ More]
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Inventory:
Available usually ships within 24–48 hours
ISBN-10:
0757306454
ISBN-13:
9780757306457
HCI-Item:
6454
Book Format:
Paperback
Page Count:
288
Publication Date:
11/15/2007
Category:
Inspiration/Entertainment
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