Jordin Sparks’ music career had a grand start – winning American Idol – one of the best launching pads in the music industry for young and upcoming music artists. The challenge begins once you leave the shores of American Idol.
Sparks says, “”On ‘Idol’ you have to be prepared every week and understand that people are watching and judging you. I carry those lessons (with me) every day.”
Merely a month after winning the competition, Sparks released her first album. The self-titled album sold 1.6 million copies globally, and won Idol’s youngest winner a Grammy and an American Music Award in the adult contemporary category.
Once she had spotted out producers for her next album, she spent almost four months on it. Her 2nd album, Battlefield was launched in July, and earned her much acclaim for her dramatic R&B pop feel that made her one of the firm favourites of American Idol. Two tracks on Battlefield made it to the Billboard top 10: the title track and her cover S.O.S (Let the Music Play).
Sparks opened for the Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears and Alicia Keys – an incredibly clever method of reaching her audience.
Sparks has quite a few honors to her name, some of them include:
– Appointed by President George W. Bush as a member of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation for a two-year term in August 2008
– Youngest person in history to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl
– No Air won New Zealand’s #1 song of 2008