Well, there is no denying that season three's Jennifer Hudson has become the shining example of post-Idol success. From here on out no one, who has been or will be a former American Idol contestant, can ever decide it's time to throw in the towel. You just never know when the hard work, dedication and persistence will pay off. I tracked down the other finalists from season three and found that not a single one has given up on their dreams. Many have gone on to bigger and better things.
Fantasia Barrino - The season three winner really put her heart and soul on the line this year with Lifetime's autobiographical TV movie, "The Fantasia Barrino Story," in which she also starred. Filming emotional scenes about her troubled life and raising a child as a single mother nearly brought her to her knees, "I can tell you that it was very hard for me. I went through so many emotions. There were times where I thought I wasn't going to be able to finish the movie. I didn't think I was able to do certain scenes. I would have to walk off and get to myself because I would break down. I would be like 'Oh my god, I can't do it. I can't. I need some time to myself' "
The movie was a huge success for Fantasia, bringing in a huge audience for Lifetime and Fantasia told Access Hollywood if it helps even one person it was worth the struggle, "I just wanted to take my life and use it as a testimony, use it to help somebody else to help another young lady another young man. A lot of people run from the truth but if you are going to give it, you might as well give it! "
Next Up: Fantasia recently released her sophomore album, "Fantasia," in December and just recently embarked on a five week tour with Jamie Foxx on his "Unpredictable Tour," which features a mix of music and comedy. Snoop Dogg, Common, Twista and others will make guest appearances at various stops along the way.
Diana DeGarmo - Season three's runner up has had her ups and downs in 2006. The ups include her starring role on playing Penny Pingleton on Broadway in "Hairspray." The downs include the recent revelation that she was being stalked by a woman whom she met on the internet. A young woman in Australia broke into DeGarmo's Myspace page and began to harrass her.
In an interview with MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, Diana admitted, " I was almost at the boiling point emotionally. I was going nuts, because, you know, she was sending me text messages, and calling me, and e-mailing me, you know, almost 100 times in one day. I finally said, “OK, OK, what do you want? I will give you any autograph. I will give you any videotape, any piece of memorabilia of mine, you know? Just will you please just go away? What do you want from me? I don’t understand; I never did anything wrong to you. And she simply wrote back in an instant message, “1M.” And I said, “Well, what does 1M stand for?” And she said, “$1 million.” And I just remember my jaw absolutely hitting the floor." The woman who’d been harassing Diana for so long eventually pleaded guilty to stalking.
Next Up: Diana's run in "Hairspray" ends February 11th.
Jasmine Trias - After releasing her self-titled debut album in the summer of 2005, Jasmine has kept her self busy. Her single "Excuses" was a number one hit in Asia and she spent the last couple of years touring mostly overseas in countries like the Philippines, Japan and Singapore.
Next Up: In February, Jasmine begins a six week gig with the Society of Seven, a Las Vegas show, comprised of seven of Hawaii's finest performers with an eclectic mix of talents, at The Flamingo Hotel and Casino. Jasmine will also be working for MTV News/TRL as an "American Idol" commentator beginning in March. She is also currently working on her second album though she tells me she is, "Still formulating a direction. It's going to be different. We're looking into European dance. Something different not R&B." In early spring she begins filming her first movie role, a love story titled "Suddenly It's Magic," to be released in Asia.
La Toya London - In 2006, Latoya spent a lot of time visiting with family and friends in between starring in a play called, "Issues: We All Have Em." She also auditioned for the role of Lourell in the "Dreamgirls" movie which eventually went to Broadway star Anika Noni Rose. As for her good friend, Jennifer Hudson's success she says, "All I can say is 'oh my goodness.' She so deserves everything she got. Even before they found Jen for that role, I knew Jen could do that role. She can pull that song off (And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going) just like the original."
La Toya is suffering from a little bit of what I like to call "Idol Envy" watching the perks the finalists from season four and five have gotten, “Heck yeah! I am so envious. They have had so many people coming on as guests not just as judges. Season four they got to actually sing with the performer. I'm just like ok! And they get to perform with a band now! But I think the talent my year was the best by far.”
Next Up: La Toya is making a move to Chicago where she will star as Nettie in a production of "The Color Purple" which begins in May and runs through October. While there she hopes to get back into dancing so she can, "get my chops back up." She is currently working on another album, though she is not yet signed to a label, "I'm going to really try and take my time with this album because I want it to be a great album."
George Huff - Sweet little George was by far my favorite from season three. He never once let the fame go to his head. In 2005, he released his gospel inspired album, "Miracles."
Next Up: George will continue touring with his gospel music. According to his official website he has several appearances lined up in 2007.
John Stevens - The red headed crooner of season three went back and finished high school after the Idol tour. He now attends Berklee College of Music in Boston as a vocal performance major, "I'm dorming it which is an interesting experience." Needless to say he still gets recognized pretty much every day from Idol, "It's kinda hard to miss me, being a red head." His best advice to future Idols on dealing with fans, "Always know the people who come up to you on the street are your fans. Treat them with respect. They got you were you are."
Next Up: John plans to finish college. He is currently composing music and says, "We'll see what happens with a second CD or acting possibilities."
Jennifer Hudson - Unless you have been living under a rock you know that season three's sixth place runner up recently starred in a film version of "Dreamgirls" as wronged singer, Effie White. The role nagged her a Golden Globe and SAG Award for Best Supporting Actress as well as an Oscar nomination, "I'm still trying to get used to the fact that I'm nominated. Every once in a while I'm like, when I hear some one say that I'm like 'did I dream I was nominated or am I really nominated.' "
Standing in that line to audition for American Idol, Jennifer says she could never imagine this is how her life would turn out, "I didn't see it coming at all. I knew it was something in store but I've never dreamed anything to this extent, it never crossed my mind."
Jennifer tells us she still keeps in touch with many of her former Idol cohorts including George Huff, Leah LaBelle and Fantasia, "We try to encourage the ones from each season because we all experienced something together. It's only so many people in America who's shared the same experience. So that kind of gives us all a little bun to connect."
Next Up: Hudson will have to wait until February 25 to see if her name is called on Oscar night 2007. She is currently working on an album and recently told us her wish list of collaborators, "My dream now is I would love to do a song with Whitney (Houston). I would love to. I would love to do something with Beyonce and if I could, because people never got the chance to hear the three divas together, if I could get La Toya, Fantasia and myself on one song I would love that. That is the dream"
Side note: A little advice from me to Jennifer whom I've noticed may have let all of this go to her head: Be careful you don't let the people around you allow you to buy into your own hype. Remember where you came from and how you got there. It's not a given that this ride will last forever.
Jon Peter Lewis - Known to American Idol fans as simply JPL, Jon spent the last couple of years working on his debut album, "Stories From Hollywood" which he released in November of 2006. Jon tells us, "I’m proud to say that it’s finally done and the response has been great. Also, I’ve been playing shows with my band all over the country in support of it."
As for his days on Idol he says it's an experience he would never change, "It was a unique experience, and even if I don’t think it’s the be-all, end-all of musical experiences I’m happy to have been a part of it. Idol has facilitated the career I dreamed of as a kid, and for that reason, yes, I would do it all over again. I’m still surprised once in a while when somebody points and says “Hey there’s that kid who was on American Idol!”
Next Up: Jon tells us, "I’ll be busy all this year touring and promoting my CD in every way I can, and I’ll be doing a lot of writing for a second album."
Camile Velasco - Still living in her home state of Hawaii, Camile has performed all around the United States and also in her native country, the Philippines. She continues to perform a few times a month at cultural events, fairs and colleges all around Hawaii. For her being on Idol was a learning experience, "I grew as a person and performer in every way possible." Before the auditions Camile tells us she was wavering between whether or not even become a performer, "It could have gone either way but Idol was the catalyst that got the ball rolling for my music career."
Next Up: She is currently working on her long awaited album release with several talented producers from California and else where. She has been in the lab working on songs with the likes of Jeru the Damaja, Apl De Ap of the Black Eyed Peas, Cee-Lo, Gen Ruben, Bedrock from Skyblaze Recordings, Tugboat, Jai Freedom Lewis of Subliminal Freedom Records and many more.
The spunky gal with the trademark spiky red hair has found success in musical theater. She recently finished up starring in a Broadway touring company production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Before joining the show she had gotten married and gave birth to a son, Harrison, "It was so much fun and it was wonderful learning some of the aspects of the road. It was also a bonus that I had the chance to explore the country with my new son Harrison... so many wonderful memories."
Considering the signature locks its no wonder that Amy still gets recognized from Idol, "Yes I do still get recognized... it is still alot of fun. It is usually when you are buying tampons and diapers you know sexy stuff like that."
Next Up: Amy tells us, "My plans for 2007 are to be the best mom I can be, to finish my country album and do a Broadway show. All in that order. I will be staying home more this year so my husband can complete the fire academy."
Plus she has got an idea for Simon, "American Idol was an amazing venture and a great addition to my memory bank. I had the chance to meet some wonderful people that have left a stamp on my heart for life. It is something I would do over again... in a heartbeat. So much so I think that they should have an ultimate Idol. A competition of the top 3-12 from the past and present seasons...fun huh? Simon should think about that!"
Matt Rogers - Matt has taken his short stint on Idol and turned it into a career in TV hosting thanks to Ryan Seacrest and Idol hair guru, Dean Banowetz who introduced him to his current agent. He currently does college football commentating for TBS/Turner Sports. He is going into his second season hosting Fox Reality Channel's "American Idol Extra" and every Tuesday night he can be seen hosting Discovery Channel's "Really Big Things."
The road was not always an easy one though. During his time with Idol, Matt, like all the Idols was signed with CAA. They dropped him as soon as the show was over. "I was under the impression that people would be knocking down my door. The second the show was over I was on my own." So, Matt was back out hitting the pavement taking acting classes and meeting with voiceover coaches.
In April of 2006 Matt and his wife Teri welcomed their first son Brayden into the world, "We already have an agent for him. He looks exactly like the Gerber baby. Big old fat, white head with cheeks that are bigger than his head."
Next Up: Matt tells me it's his goal to have four kids!
Leah LaBelle - Like Jon Stevens, Leah went right back to high school after finishing up on Idol. She graduated in 2005 and also like Jon currently attends Berklee College of Music in Boston. (yes, they do run into each other) She spent this past summer working in New York and Florida on some demo music with various producers. Though she had offers right after the show to sign with various production companies her lawyer advised against it and she had to, "pick back up and start back over a few times. Everyday I'm working hard to continue the dream and continue the music and make my dream come true. "
Leah has found many roadblocks to continuing her Idol success but her friend Jennifer Hudson (who was in the bottom two with her the night she got voted off) has allowed her to keep on fighting the good fight, "I'm so proud of her. Every single time I go I cry like a baby. I'm sad because I haven't made it yet but this gives me the thought that this isn't your time yet. To see here there it just gives me much more of a drive."
Next Up: Leah is scheduled to graduate in 2010 but may take next semester off and move to New York City, "I'm going to go out there and do everything I can. I'm going to audition for anything that might be out there. I feel really good about this year. I'm not giving up and not stopping."
Check back next week to find out what's up with your favorite Season Four Finalists. A big thank you to my co-workers, Monica Thomas and Alex Bandy, for additional reporting.
