We are heading into Week Three of American Idol. As the auditions roll on into Birmingham, Alabama and San Antonio, TX now it's time to check in with the contestants from Season Two.
By far this has been the hardest group to track down. While many of them have had great success, others have had troubles with the law.
Ruben Studdard - The Velvet Teddy Bear, as he was referred to on the show, took some time out of his busy schedule to actually drop by Season Six's Birmingham auditions last September. He surprised a huge slew of auditioners and then took us on a tour of his favorite hotspots around town. Ruben spent the back half of 2006 promoting his third album, "The Return." While his first album after Idol, "Soulful", went Platinum and sold over 1.7 million copies, "The Return" did not sell as well with less than 200,000 copies so far.
On a bright note, Ruben has been able to shed over 100 pounds recently thanks to his switch to a Vegan diet over the summer. He told us back in September it was a life saving change, "I wanted to change my eating habits. I wanted to live the second half of my life a lot different. I know what great food tastes like and I know I have been to all the best restaurants so it is not like I am missing anything."
Next Up: Ruben has started the "Scaled Back Alabama" initiative", an eight-week, weight-loss program that began with an official, statewide weigh in on Jan. 22 and will end with a similar weigh in on March 19. It is designed to help people lose weight and to do so in a healthy manner, by eating sensibly and getting exercise.
Clay Aiken - The second runner up took some major flack this year after his surprise appearance at the Idol Finale. His darker, longer locks was the source of many late night jokes.
His contentious interview with Diane Sawyer, where she pressed him about his sexuality, didn't help the situation.
While working to promote his album covering classic love songs, "A Thousand Different Ways", he cut his hair and lightened the color and tried to soften up his image but the Kelly Ripa controversy where he jokingly put his hand over her mouth to keep her from talking (during a co-hosting gig on Live with Regis and Kelly) caused a huge firestorm.
Then Rosie O'Donnell chimed in and the whole thing just got ugly.
Next Up: Back in November, just before the Ripa incident, Clay told us he would like to do an album of new material soon, "I would love to do that. That was the intention at the beginning of making the second album in the process Clive (Davis) came up with a different idea. It's my intention hopefully, to do an album of all new material next. We'll kind of see what the record label has in store for us." He also told us he's not adverse to following in the footsteps of Celine Dion, Prince, Barry Manilow or Elton John and doing a show in Las Vegas should anyone want to make the offer.
Kimberley Locke - Of her time on Idol, the third place finisher says, "It was a great boot camp on how to be an entertainer and it was a wonderful chapter of my life. Idol gave me the opportunity to be going down the path I'm on right now and I appreciate that."
She released her first album, "One Love" which featured a hit single, "Eighth World Wonder." Signed with Ford Modeling Agency, Kimberley is in her second year as spokesmodel for the popular fashion retailer Lane Bryant and is currently seen in the national campaign.
Next Up: Look out soon for her music video for the song, "Change", off her sophomore album titled "Based on a True Story" which is scheduled for release in April 2007. A Christmas album is also finished and will be available in Winter '07. She is also currently filming "Celebrity Fit Club 5", which will debut on VH-1, in April, and she has an endorsement deal with Jenny Craig.
Josh Gracin - This former Marine has found a great deal of success in the country world. His first album, " I want to Live" was certified Gold by the RIAA having sold over 750,000 copies.
He has toured with the likes of Brad Paisley and Trace Adkins and is the spokesperson for the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, an organization which provides opportunities to at-risk youth to improve their employment potential.
In November, Josh and his wife, Ann Marie Gracin, welcomed to the world their third child, Gabriella Ann Gracin. She joins older siblings Briana and Landon.
Next Up: Josh's new single, "I Keep Coming Back", off his sophomore CD of the same name is scheduled for release in early 2007. The song is written by the team who wrote Rascall Flatts hits "What Hurts the Most" and "My Wish."
Trenyce - Like many former Idols, Trenyce is finding much success in the theater world. She recently finished a run playing Deena Jones in an Indianapolis production of "Dreamgirls" and now has joined the touring production of, "Love in the Nick of Tyme" starring Morris Chestnut and featuring songs by singer, Vivian Green.
The show kicked off in Boston and continues traveling around the country through May. She was among the 700 plus who tried out for the feature film version of "Dreamgirls" which of course went to her American Idol acquaintance, Jennifer Hudson.
Her best bit of advice to the next round of finalists is to - “Live in each moment. I think it’s very important to stay focused on what you are doing too. Work towards saving up and setting your life up after the show while you are on it. You are not guaranteed to shoot off after the show. Keep the stress down, eat healthy, and take care of your instrument, the voice.”
Next Up: Between show dates Trenyce will be working on a record and is possibly doing a movie this year.
Carmen Rasmusen - After leaving Idol, Carmen entered Brigham Young University in 2003.
That same year she had a role in and a song of the soundtrack to a version of Pride & Prejudice featuring unknown actors that barely hit theaters. In 2005, Carmen married Brad Herbert in Bountiful, UT. He's the son of the LT. Governor of Utah.
Last year (along with Season Four's Anthony Federov) she tried her hand at Fear Factor attempting stunts that included a demolition derby, a spider dive and being submerged in a bug box.
Next Up: Carmen is working on recording a country CD .
Kimberly Caldwell - Kimberly has taken her American Idol fame and used it successfully to become a popular TV host on the TV Guide Channel with two shows, Idol Chat and Idol Tonight.
Kimberly told us, "I'm so fortunate to have been chosen to be on this show and also so fortunate that the show has mass appeal that continues to open so many other doors. Idol was like a celebrity boot camp that I was glad to be a part of. I definitely would take the same path if I had to do it all over again.
American Idol has been so good to me and without the show, I might still be a starving, struggling singer. Now, I've had the opportunity to travel all over the nation and perform live, be in the recording studio with some of the biggest names in the music business, have my own television talk show and star in movies! I'm one lucky girl!"
Next Up: "Idol Tonight", an exclusive live pre-show from outside the Idol tapings goes into its second season this year. Kimberly also recently shot a movie, "Wrong Turn 2", a horror movie where she will be playing herself. She continues to work on her album, writing and recording in the studio. She is also hoping to buy her first house.
Rickey Smith - Rickey was the Idol finalist who was known for clapping his hands ala The Nutty Professor and saying "Hercules", "Hercules."
Rickey recently graduated from college last June, where he mostly studied Opera.
Next Up: Rickey is currently bartending in Oklahoma City and working on recording an R & B CD.
Vanessa Olivarez - Season Two's pink haired finalist left Idol and landed a role in Toronto production of Hairspray as Tracy Turnblad.
In 2003, she released a single, The One, that spent one week on the Canadian Top 10 chart.
In 2006, she had a role on the short film, Give Us This Day.
Next Up: Vanessa is currently singing country music with the Atlanta based band, South 70.
Corey Clark - Idol's only Top 12 contestant to be kicked off the show (for lying about an arrest record) gained more notoriety when in 2005 he alleged he had an affair with Paula Abdul.
He then went on to write a book released via the internet, "Sex, Lies and Paulatics."
Trying to put the whole sordid mess behind him Corey is currently working construction in Nashville.
Next Up: Doesn't he seem perfect for Britney Spears? I kid. I kid.
Julia DeMato - Another Idol who has had some trouble with the law, DeMato was arrested Dec. 3, 2005 in the parking lot of a restaurant.
She failed a sobriety test and was charged with drunk driving. A police search turned up two marijuana pipes, a small quantity of marijuana and cocaine according to the local newspaper in her Connecticut hometown.
She successfully took part in an alcohol education and community service labor program and the charges were dropped.
Next Up: Demato is currently working as a cosmetologist and raising her one and a half year old son, James, as a single mom.
Charles Grisgby - In 2005, Grigbsy released an album with just six tracks on it.
He had yet to sign with a major record label.
Next Up: Grigsby is currently residing in his hometown of Oberlin, Ohio. He is taking a break after losing a cousin to diabetes.
