Ruben Studdard was dubbed the Velvet Teddy Bear during season two of American Idol. But was he smooth enough to launch a successful music career after Idol?
Rubens's photo © J Records.
- Ruben's first album, Soulful, debut at number one on the Billboard album chart, selling 400,000 copies.
- The album's first single, "Sorry for 2004," peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
- When the album hit stores, critics were buzzing about the fact that Clay Aiken, the singer Ruben beat on American Idol, was selling more records than the Velvet Teddy Bear.
- Ruben was nominated for his first Grammy in 2003, for his vocal performance of the song "Superstar."
- Ruben released a Gospel album in 2004. It sold 96,000 copies in its first week. That number was good enough to send it to number one on the Gospel charts.
- According to his website, Ruben has sold more than 2 million albums in the United States.
- Ruben released the R&B album The Return is Fall, 2006. That album peaked at number 8 on the Billboard album chart.
- In his personal life, Ruben has become a vegetarian. The overweight star has also taken steps to lose weight.
Did you know?
- Ruben was 25 years old when he tried out for American Idol.
- He is from Birmingham, Alabama.
- Ruben was a voice major at Alabama A&M University.