'Masked Singer' contestant, 'American Idol' winner Ruben Studdard talks life after sudden fame

'masked singer' contestant, 'american idol' winner ruben studdard talks life after sudden fame

Ruben Studdard

It's been 22 years since "American Idol" introduced the world to unknown singers who would become household names, like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson — and a former college football player affectionately dubbed the Velvet Teddy Bear.

Proudly repping his hometown then and now, Scripps News caught up with "American Idol" Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard in Birmingham, Alabama, where he's gotten married and started a family.

"You know, it's good to travel and it's good to understand different cultures and different places of living. But there is no place, as Dorothy says, like home," he told Scripps News.

While his journey after the show has taken him to world tours, a platinum selling album, Broadway and back, Studdard says he still remembers those "Idol" days fondly.

"If you can understand a child at 3 years old having an understanding of seeing or hearing people on the radio and saying that's what he wants to do — that was me. And it took 21 years after that realization for it to come to life, so to speak," he reflected.

"I thank the people at 'American Idol' for giving me the opportunity to do something that, you know, other record companies passed on," he continued.

He says he left the show with a wealth of knowledge.

"I tell people that 'American Idol' is the best music college outside of a university you'll ever get. Because you go there and there's Stevie Wonder's musical director," he said.

A lot has changed since Studdard won the show. Recent winners haven't enjoyed the success or the staying power of those first big names.

SCRIPPS NEWS' AMBER STRONG: Have we lost a step since that first 10 years, that first generation?

RUBEN STUDDARD: Well, I think that everybody has taken a page from their playbook. I mean, you have "The Voice," you have, all these other shows that are competing with "American Idol." and that's fine too. I tell people that any place where young people can get an opportunity to express their talent and be noticed for it, I'm all for it," he said.

For Studdard, "Idol" wasn't just about boosting his singing career.

He also forged meaningful relationships – including one with an onstage rival, turned real-life friend.

STRONG: I watched this interview with Clay (Aiken) and he said Ruben has been a faithful friend for 20 years. What does faithful friendship look like?

STUDDARD: Faithful friendship looks like just showing up for each other. I don't think that with any friendship you are going to agree about everything. And Clay and I definitely have our share of disagreements, you know, and have had them over the past 20 years. But I think that you know, whenever there's a need for something, as a friend, you show up. And that's what we've been able to do for each other.

He also says that's true of the entire Season 2 cast, who still keep in touch.

Aiken and Studdard have connected quite a bit over the years, like a recent tour together, or a stint on this season's hit show "The Masked Singer," wowing as the Beets.

"It's like, you know, being yourself but not, " he said of the show.

"You know, being able to act, so to speak. And they encourage it. You know, they encourage you to like you know, kind of like throw people off a bit. So it was a good time," he said.

Now Studdard is working on a new challenge: New music.

He says his latest album, "The Way I Remember It," pays homage to his first albums. The hit single "Masterpiece," a tribute to his wife, has made its way into the top 20 on the Billboard Charts.

Just like the longevity of his older hits, Ruben says some things never change — like trips to his childhood church, where he grew up singing. That was his first big stage — where the support was abundant.

"Every opportunity there was for me to sing, perform, do anything where I was in front of a mic, I did it here first," he said on a visit to the church.

And no trip through the old neighborhood is complete without saying hello to a few fans who stopped him ahead of our interview.

STRONG: Is that normal when you come here?

STUDDARD: Listen, the people in this community I am connected to unlike I am connected to people anywhere else.

That means pouring into that community, through his foundation, supporting the next generation of Alabama's musicians and artists, showing them the many paths to success.

"There are numerous things that people can do in entertainment and in music that don't involve being at the microphone. So I try to introduce our young people to those jobs and bring people here that can give them real life, a real life understanding of what they do in the music and entertainment industry," he said.

OTHER NEWS

12 minutes ago

Copa América continues Monday at NRG Stadium with Colombia taking on Paraguay

15 minutes ago

This Apple Pencil can make drawing, writing, and sketching easier for $60

19 minutes ago

Anti-Israel couple in Range Rover arrested at gunpoint during LA protest with keffiyeh-clad toddler in backseat

19 minutes ago

AI Creates The Perfect '90s Lord Of The Rings Movie Trailer & Cast

19 minutes ago

Active shooting incidents in the US declined by 4% from 2022 to 2023: FBI

19 minutes ago

Why Lando Norris’ stone-faced response to Spanish GP missed opportunity speaks volumes

19 minutes ago

Aileen Cannon To Rule if Jack Smith Can Use 'Highly Incriminating Evidence'

19 minutes ago

Tennis-Sinner more confident ahead of Wimbledon after first grasscourt title

19 minutes ago

Top 15 schools to have produced the most Springboks – UPDATED

19 minutes ago

South Africa send West Indies crashing out of T20 World Cup

19 minutes ago

Switzerland floods: One dead and search continues for others as resort left completely cut off

19 minutes ago

At this Dubai café, you can get Maggi and tea for Dh1

19 minutes ago

Japanese emperor to reconnect with the River Thames in state visit meant to bolster ties with UK

20 minutes ago

Kaizer Chiefs assistant to assess 32 players

20 minutes ago

Parents release ‘last known image’ of Jay Slater

20 minutes ago

Crowd work is the hottest thing in standup comedy – and not everybody is laughing

20 minutes ago

Victorian racing’s war of words heats up

20 minutes ago

UBS says renewable energy can meet 70% of electricity demand growth — these stocks benefit

25 minutes ago

Inflation data coming with big implications for Bank of Canada. What to expect

26 minutes ago

Violent Clashes Engulf Southern Russia as Putin 'Distracted' by Ukraine

26 minutes ago

Supermarkets ordered to play by new rules

26 minutes ago

Soccer-Dalic cites leaky defence, ageing squad for Croatia's struggles

26 minutes ago

David Adams: The powerful are against reconciliation in Northern Ireland because their positions depend on division

26 minutes ago

The Last Breath review – Julian Sands’s last film is solid shark-meets-shipwreck thriller

26 minutes ago

Households ‘must brace for tax rises over next five years’

26 minutes ago

NASA Identifies Asteroid with 72% Chance of Earth Impact

26 minutes ago

Opinion poll round-up with 10 days to go until the General Election

26 minutes ago

UK's Farage accused of 'Kremlin propaganda' after claiming the West provoked Ukraine invasion

26 minutes ago

Wounded pride - and some sore heads today! Dejected Tartan Army finds makeshift places to sleep after Scotland crashes out the Euros in bruising 1-0 defeat to Hungary

26 minutes ago

Video: Austin Butler leaves The Project's Sarah Harris 'flustered' by the actor's 'piercing gaze': 'Making me nervous'

26 minutes ago

How to spot YOUR home is at risk of subsidence and fix it without breaking the bank: Our property experts' guide to tackling the problem before it knocks a fifth of the value off your house

31 minutes ago

How Chris Boardman changed the game for the Tour de France in 1994

31 minutes ago

My GP dismissed my son's concerns he could get cancer from his fatty liver. What can he do? Ask DR MARTIN SCURR

31 minutes ago

The 'best kept secret in Essex' and the top 28 other villages in Britain to raise a family: Use our interactive guide to discover property experts' picks for safety, schools and community spirit

31 minutes ago

"I got so tired of everybody talking about these foreigners" - Nick Young says the Boston Celtics won the title for America

31 minutes ago

JK Rowling comments on Labour's transgender rights stance 'sad and depressing', says Wes Streeting

31 minutes ago

Custodian of Holy Kaaba passes away

31 minutes ago

Michael Jordan was hell-bent on tying Wilt Chamberlain's ASG scoring record:" Why didn't you tell me I was two points short of Wilt?"

31 minutes ago

Wim Hof in tears as he explains how he recovered from tragedy of losing his wife

31 minutes ago

Death toll in house fire rises to seven