Jordin - the bright spark in American Idol Season 6
NOW some people might ask why I want to write something about Jordin Sparks. There's one simple reason, she may just win the title. What!? That's may the reaction of some of you out there but honest to goodness, Jordin has got the vocal ammunication to withstand an all-out assault by some of the top singers in the competition and survive.
The rule of the thumb in any contest is never to underestimate anybody. For one thing, you don't know them that well and not everybody like the whole world to know that they have a few more tricks up their sleeves.
Jordin Sparks is visually hard to ignore. She's plus-sized with a pair of powerful lungs. At 17 years old, she can outshout, outsing and may just outlast everybody within hearing range.
Just consider these facts, in 2003 when she was 14 years old, she bagged the Glendale Youth Fest Teen Talent Show's first prize. One year later in 2004, Jordin again stood on the winner's podium when she was selected as the champion as the Overall Spotlight Winner for the GMA Academy.
Before those two victories, in 2002, this girl with the big voice was named Coca Cola Rising Star. Last year, she took home another trophy to add to the others that she had won over the years.
This time it was the Colgate Country Showdown. She grabbed the top prized. It was an Arizona State championship.
Naturally, when a girl of her rising stature has achieved such musical success, an album won't be far away. So in 2003, Jordin Spark recorded a five-track album entitled For Now. How apt because bigger thing awaited her.
In 2004, she was given the honour of being part of a compilation CD called Live At Mr Lucky's. She has also sung at the Thunder County. For those who are in the dark as to the identity of this place, Thunder County is a very well known country venue for music.
Added to this, Jordin has also appeared at the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns games. Of course, she sung the Star Spangled Banner during those appearances. Her dad, Phillippi Sparks, was a former player for the National Football League.
Three years ago (2004), Jordin took part in the show America's Most Talented Kids. She won. As if that was not enough, she was on a full page advertisement in the "Seventeen" magazine in December 2006.
According to family members, or perhaps by her own admission, Jordin first started singing when she was 18 months old. She is one of the those home-schooled children. Her maternal grandmother brought her up.
One of the highlights of her life was when she performed with Alice Cooper in a Christmas Special back in December 2004 when she was 15.
Very quickly now, her favourite male singers are Justin Timberlake and John Mayer and favourite female singer is Christina Timberlake.
This illustrious daughter who hails from Glendale, Arizona confesses that she's almost hopeless at maths but will pursue music as a career even if she doesn't win the American Idol title.
Besides being the youngest girl in the American Idol at this stage of the contest, Jordin Sparks believes firmly that God, dad and mom are the most important people in her life right now.
One thing this young lady has got going for her is her exuberance, her youthful charm and a nothing-to-lose attitude. With that and some unshakeable support from her hometown folks and lots of prayers, Jordin should give the other competitors to think about as she rises to the next level.
Even Randy Jackson thinks (to some degree) that she stands a chance of landing that coveted title. But we shall see. Right now, I monitoring her progress with great interest. I believe she hasn't peaked yet.