Ruben Studdard

Considered for the role of Fat Albert.

Ruben thought Tamyra Gray was going to win the first season of American Idol.

Ruben will be releasing his third album on September 26, 2006.

he appeared in a TV commercial for Serra KIA, a local dealership.

he appeared in a TV commercial for Serra KIA, a local dealership.

he appeared in a TV commercial for Serra KIA, a local dealership.

In June 2006, Ruben was awarded $2 million in his lawsuit against his ex-manager Ronald W. Edwards for misappropriating his money.

Alabama, his home state, declared March 11, 2003 as Ruben Studdard Day.

His nickname Velvet Teddy Bear was given by Gladys Knight during the competition.

After he graduated in 2000 with his major in voice studies, Ruben gave himself 5 years to make it as a singer.

He was born Christopher Ruben Studdard, and he as known to his family as Chris.

He signed with J Records after he won the 2nd installment of American Idol.

His third album The Return of the Velvet Teddy Bear will be released in 2006.

His first single Flying Without Wings debuted at #2 on the BIllboard single chart.

His second album I Need An Angel was released in November 2004. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard gospel charts (#20 overall).

In March 2004, he won the NAACP Best New Artist Award.

His first album Soulful debuted at #1 on the Billboard.

He attended Huffman High School which he earned a college scholarship for playing football.

The company that made Ruben's 205 jerseys has actually paid Studdard $1,000 - $1,500 per week during American Idol final rounds.

Shortly after he won the American Idol title, he appeared in the TV Guide and Rolling Stone covers.

He was nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 2004 Grammy Awards.

He Beat Clay Aiken for the title of American Idol 2 by only 130,000 votes out of the 24 million votes recorded, the smallest margin in the show's history.

His rendition of Luther Vandross' Superstar earned him a spot in Hollywood for the American Idol competition.

He played football when he attended A&M University.

He often wears a jersey with the number 205 on it. It represents his home town Birmingham's area code.

Ruben is 6' 4".

Among the awards that he performed at include the 9th Annual Walk of Fame Honoring Aretha Franklin (2003), 3rd & 4th Annual BET Awards (2003-2004), and the 18th Annual Soul Train Music Awards (2004).

He sang "'God Bless America" in the 2004 MLB All-Star Game.

In June 2005, Ruben accused his ex-manager Ronald Edwards of identity theft and forgery.