Music History Events: American Idol
June 16, 1987 Diana DeGarmo, runner-up on Season 3 of American Idol, is born in Birmingham, Alabama.
June 30, 1984 Fantasia Barrino is born in High Point, North Carolina. She wins the third season of American Idol and later stars in both Broadway and film adaptations of The Color Purple.
July 21, 1981 Blake Lewis, runner-up from Season 6 of America Idol, is born in Redmond, Washington.
October 28, 1978 Justin Guarini, who comes in second to Kelly Clarkson on the first season of American Idol, is born Justin Eldrin Bell in Columbus, Georgia.
September 12, 1978 Ruben Studdard is born in Frankfurt, Germany, where his father is stationed with the US Army, but grows up in Birmingham, Alabama. He goes on to win Season 2 of American Idol.
July 20, 1978 Elliott Yamin is born Efraym Elliott Yamin in Los Angeles, California.
November 8, 1977 Country singer Bucky Covington is born William Joel Covington III, along with identical twin brother Robert, in Rockingham, North Carolina. Bucky will go on to compete on Season 5 of American Idol, taking eighth place.
June 1, 2013 American Idol alums Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young get married at Los Angeles' Luxe Sunset Boulevard hotel. DeGarmo was a runner-up to Fantasia Barrino in Season 3, while Young was a finalist in Season 5.
May 25, 2011 Judas Priest perform "Living After Midnight" and "Breaking the Law" on American Idol with contestant James Durbin, a rare heavy metal showing on the program. It's the debut of guitarist Richie Faulkner in Judas Priest; he replaces K. K. Downing, who is having health problems.
May 20, 2009 Kris Allen wins season 8 of American Idol, defeating Adam Lambert in a surprise victory.
May 8, 2009 San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders declares "Adam Lambert Day" after Lambert's performance of "Black Or White" and "Mad World" on American Idol.
March 24, 2005 After Carrie Underwood performs "Alone" on American Idol, Simon Cowell, by far the harshest critic on the panel, predicts she will win the competition and sell more records than any previous Idol winner. He's right: She becomes the first country singer to win and ends up surpassing Kelly Clarkson as the best-selling alum of the show.
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