Ruben Studdard

Early Life

Ruben Studdard was born on September 12, 1978, in Frankfurt, West Germany, to American parents while his father served in the U.S. Army. He grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, where he first sang at the Rising Star Baptist Church at the age of three. The youngest son of two teachers, Studdard was influenced by gospel music, particularly the albums of Donny Hathaway and Fred Hammond. He attended Huffman High School, where he played football and earned a scholarship to Alabama A&M University, majoring in voice studies. During his college years, he joined the Omicron Delta chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a men's music fraternity, and performed with a local jazz and R&B band called Just a Few Cats.

Career

Studdard's big break came when he won the second season of American Idol in 2003. His debut single, a cover of "Flying Without Wings," debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, and his first album, Soulful, sold over 400,000 copies in its first week, reaching number one on the Billboard 200. He received a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his rendition of "Superstar" and won the NAACP Outstanding New Artist award in 2004. Following his success, he released several albums, including the gospel album I Need an Angel, which debuted at number one on the Gospel charts.

Personal Life

Ruben Studdard's personal life has seen its share of changes. He married Surata Zuri McCants in 2008, but the couple divorced in 2012. In 2018, he married Kristen Moore, and they have two children together. Studdard has also been active in education, receiving an honorary Master of Arts degree from Alabama A&M University in 2015 and teaching a master class at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2022. His journey from a church singer to a Grammy-nominated artist showcases his dedication to music and his roots in gospel and R&B.