Īfter growing up listening to his mother's Donny Hathaway albums, Fred Hammond, and gospel music, Studdard began to pursue a career in the music industry, majoring in voice studies at Alabama A&M. While at Alabama A&M, he joined the Omicron Delta chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the men's music fraternity of America. While at Huffman High School, he played football for which he received a scholarship to Alabama A&M University. He continued singing gospel in church, performing solos as a child while his mother sang in the local choir. The youngest son of two teachers, at the age of three, he sang for the first time at the Rising Star Baptist Church in his hometown of Birmingham. Army, and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. Studdard was born in Frankfurt, Germany, to American parents, while his father was stationed there with the U.S.
Most notably, he starred as Fats Waller in a national tour revival of Ain't Misbehavin', which spawned a Grammy-nominated soundtrack. He is most well known for his recording career, which has produced hits including " Flying Without Wings," " Sorry 2004," and " Change Me," but he has also segued into television and stage work. He rose to fame as winner of the second season of American Idol and received a Grammy Award nomination in 2003 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his recording of " Superstar." In the years following Idol, Studdard has released seven studio albums, including his platinum-selling debut, Soulful, and the top-selling gospel follow-up, I Need an Angel. Christopher Ruben Studdard (born September 12, 1978) is an American singer and actor.