Ruben Studdard
News (Page 2)

Ruben Studdard recently sat down with The Associated Press to talk about his music, weight loss and why he is looking for love.

Q: How hard has it been to break away from the American Idol typecast?
RUBEN STUDDARD: Honestly, I never want people to forget I won the show but I do want people to take me seriously as an artist outside of American Idol.

Q: Do you look at Kelly Clarkson as a model since she is now a Grammy-winning, multiplatinum star with cred?
STUDDARD: Of course. I think everybody who has left that show looks at her as a model for what we want to do to further our career. It wasn't easy for her to get that American Idol stigma changed. She really had to work hard for it. The hard work paid off.

(For me), on the first album, I really didn't have to go out and do radio promos and in-stores because people already knew who we were. With these sophomore projects in the mainstream, we have to reintroduce ourselves to the market.

Q: Did you anticipate that you would have to work so hard to promote this album?
STUDDARD: Every time an artist comes out they have to reinvent themselves and that is why it was necessary for me to come in and get in shape just to have something different going to promote this album.

Q: You've lost weight; did you do it because the album was coming out?
STUDDARD: I really wanted to get in shape because I have a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure and things of that nature. I felt like it was necessary for me to combat those issues at a young age before it became a bigger issue. I went to this place called Duke Diet & Fitness Center for a month and learned how to change my eating habits. Two weeks after leaving there I turned to a vegetarian diet. It's been wonderful.

Q: The Today show reported that you lost 100 pounds.
STUDDARD: They said 100 pounds. I told them 70. They kept saying, "Ruben's lost 100 pounds." I only lost 70.

Q: What has been the hardest food to give up?
STUDDARD: I think the hardest thing for me to give up was chicken. Right now I am trying my hardest to stay away from french fries.

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You may remember Ruben Studdard.

The portly crooner with the sheepish grin bested Clay Aiken for American Idol's second season crown. But Ruben's gleam was quickly dulled by some seriously stiff competition from lower-ranking American Idol standouts (including Aiken) and subsequent Idol winners.

Studdard is intent on proving his staying power on The Return, which hits stores today.

He says the title is a reference to the fact that many people thought he had not recorded since his debut album, Soulful, was released after he won the TV contest three years ago.

A more-quietly received disc of gospel tunes, I Need an Angel, was also issued during that time.

The title cut, "The Return (of the Velvet Teddy Bear)," is an affirmation of that statement -- along with a statement of Studdard's romantic prowess.

"I meet expectations, better yet, exceed them," Studdard boasts amid a sensual, shifting beat. It's not quite SexyBack, but the song does set a confident tone for the rest of the disc, writes the Houston Chronicle.

Lush first single "Change Me" casts Ruben Studdard as a lover wounded by his partner's hurtful remarks, though it also showcases a welcome sense of humor.

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With his third album set to drop next week, Ruben Studdard is making the rounds and giving fans a number of opportunities to catch him on TV. Here is where the man who won the second season of American Idol, and who is affectionately known as the Velvet Teddy Bear, can be seen for the next week and a half:

• Thursday, October 12: Jimmy Kimmel Live
• Thursday, October 12: Megan Mullally Show
• Monday, October 16: The View
• Tuesday, October 17: Good Morning America
• Wednesday, October 18: Charlotte Walmart Signing
• Wednesday, October 18: Rachael Ray Show (New)
• Friday, October 20: Martha Stewart Show
• Saturday, October 21: CBS Early Show

AIW's sources tell us that Ruben's forthcoming CD, aptly titled The Return, can also be previewed on VH1. We're eagerly anticipating getting our hands on the disc and uploading the lyrics for all to enjoy. We'll have our exclusive review ASAP as well.

With a new album about to hit stores, Ruben Studdard is ready to return to the spotlight. But will fans recoginize the American Idol winner once he's there?

As he publicizes The Return, Studdard has followers doing a double take. That's because he's lost over 100 pounds - yes, 100 pounds! - thanks to a regimen from the weight management center at Duke university.

The Velvet Teddy Bear told the Today show he was placed on a 1,200 to 1,500 calorie diet during the program and used to weigh over 400 pounds. He's now a vegetarian, as well.

As for the album - available October 17 - Ruben named it The Return because not many people bought I Need an Angel, and are under the impression he hasn't recorded in awhile.

This is too bad - and may not be a great sign for the upcoming Ruben Studdard album.

Studdard's charity concert on Oct. 13 to benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children Transportation Fund has been postponed indefinitely, officials said Friday.

Although ticket sales have been slow, Benny Eggler, recorder for the Hamasa Shriners and building manager of the Temple Theatre, said the postponement was "due to scheduling conflicts."

He hopes another date for the American Idol winner can be worked out in the future. Eggler said plans will still be in place for the concert to be a benefit for the Shriners, who attended to the needs of 123,385 patients in 22 hospitals throughout North America last year.

Eggler said the theatre will refund money for all tickets purchased at its box office.

An all-ages crowd of about 500 gathered at Foster Field in West Texas to see and hear finalists from American Idol on Tuesday, the San Angelo Standard-Times reports.

Some danced, some sang along. Some nabbed autographs from their favorite performers. Others just sat in the stands and enjoyed the performance.

Bob King and his wife, Barbara, were given tickets up front as a present for their 47th anniversary, but traded tickets with a couple of kids from the stands so they could enjoy the show from good seats without the extra noise.

"The performers are good, and I enjoy watching the young kids enjoy it,'' said Barbara, excited to see her favorite pick from the show last season, Kevin Covais.

"I wanted him to win. He's a nice kid."

The audience also loved William Hung, the season three reject who became an unexpected fan favorite, and Justin Guarini, the first American Idol runner-up.

Brenna Gethers, a popular American Idol finalist, said before the show, "I'm looking forward to bringing some good music to Texas," and she delivered. Her a cappella version of Selena's "I Could Fall In Love" was a hit with the audience.

Performers included Anthony Federov, Olivia Mojica, Lindsey Cardinale, Will Makar and Melissa McGhee. But Perhaps the most popular Idol Tuesday night was season two winner Ruben Studdard (pictured) who noted that this was his first visit to West Texas.

Pearl Hardin won her tickets by being the 24th caller at a local radio station Tuesday morning. She and her 14-year-old daughter, Brittney, said they were excited about seeing Studdard.

Rebecca Baxter brought her 10-year-old daughter, Allison. The Baxters recently moved to San Angelo from Tampa, Fla.

"At least San Angelo is big enough to bring in some big name entertainment. Hopefully it will kick-start bringing some other shows here," Baxter said.

Barbara King agreed.

"I just don't think there's enough entertainment like this in San Angelo, so we go to whatever comes. We've got to back the city," she said.

The Velvet Teddy Bear is coming to Meridian, Miss., for a charity event, the Biloxi Sun-Herald reports today.

The venerable Ruben Studdard, who was given his nickname from R&B legend Gladys Knight, will be performing a concert on October 13 to benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children Transportation Fund.

"I'm coming up there to do a concert to support the kids. I am just a firm believer that you do unto others that you would have them do unto to you," Studdard said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

A native of Birmingham, Ala., Studdard rose to success after winning Fox's smash hit American Idol in 2003, narrowly defeating Clay Aiken in the show's second season.

He has released two albums under the label J Records and plans to release his third album, titled The Return, on October 17.

The proceeds from the Meridian show will go to the transportation fund of the Hamasa Shriners, who serve 32 counties in eastern Mississippi from Corinth down to Hattiesburg, according to Benny Eggler, the recording secretary for the Meridian-based Shriners.

The Hamasa Shriners help transport 500 children and their families each year to hospitals in Shreveport, La.; Galveston, Texas; Chicago; St. Louis; and Philadelphia, Pa.

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We're sure Ruben Studdard will hit the talk shows and major performing arenas soon, in order to publicize the release of his upcoming album, The Return.

Tonight, however, the American Idol winner will appear at the 17th annual Henry Street Heritage Festival, Roanoke, Virginia's celebration of African-American culture.

Studdard’s visit to Roanoke will be more appearance than performance, according to the people from Vibe 100 who brought him here.

“Ruben will go on right before the Bar-Kays,” said Walt Ford, programming director for Vibe 100, Roanoke-Lynchburg’s classic soul and rhythm and blues FM radio station.

Meanwhile, Justin Guarini, one of the most popular contestants in American Idol history despite not winning his season, makes his local debut tonight at the Commerce Bank Arts Center in New Jersey.

Guarini will be joined by The Business, a popular local band, as well as three actors: David Proval (Richie Aprile on The Sopranos), Johnny Williams (Johnny Roast Beef in Goodfellas) and Sal Mazzotta (Mafioso) of Glendora, whose Eagle Films is producing the concert.

Of all the American Idol albums coming out this fall, one may have the biggest impact.

Granted, that may be due to the (lovable) girth of its crooner, Ruben Studdard, but there are other reasons why fans should be excited for The Return, Ruben's second R&B album that hits shelves across the nation on October 17.

"This album is all me," said Studdard, who followed up his platinum 2003 debut, Soulful, with a hit gospel album, I Need an Angel. "The first album was more of a souvenir project for fans of American Idol. On this one, people will get a lot more of who Ruben is."

And who is that?

According to MTV.com - and judging by songs like the LP's likely second single, the 1980s falsetto funk of the Scott Storch-produced "What Tha Business Is," - he's the kind of dude who spots a girl across the bar, compliments her "thick thighs," offers to share a shot of XO and tells her, "You might not know me/ but I wanna show you/ I can give you what you need."

Say hello to Raunchy Ruben, fans!

The album's first single, a slow dance ballad called "Change Me," bridges the gap between the classic soul of the Isley Brothers and the smooth-talk R&B perfected by Studdard's hero, R. Kelly. It's an example of the maturity Studdard said he wants to show off this time out.

"I was in the studio in L.A. working with the [song's producers] Underdogs and I [realized] I was apologizing for things we do as men," he explained. "But there's so many different aspects of relationships, so I told them, 'What if we talk about how it is when guys feel like the girl is always trying to change what they do?' And it came out hot."

The album also features two songs written by hot R&B star Ne-Yo ("Make Ya Feel Beautiful" and "Rather Just Not Know"), which Studdard said the pair banged out at a furious pace.

"I'm a fan of his work I was in love with song he [co-] wrote for [Mario Vazquez] and I asked my A&R guys to hook up a session - and we ended up with two smashes."

Aside from their bond as young R&B hitmakers, Studdard revealed an even deeper connection that most people don't know about.

If you do a search on the Web, you can find a nearly decade-old clip of an "It's Showtime at the Apollo" performance by a Boyz II Men-style vocal group from Las Vegas that features a flame-haired Ne-Yo and none other than disgraced ex-Idol contestant Corey Clark.

"I remember seeing them on that show!" said Studdard with a rumbling laugh.

Kind of like fellow alum, Kelly Clarkson, Studdard feels that his second album is a coming-out party for his personal style and an opportunity to show people that he's much more than a TV talent-show winner. But he's careful not to dismiss his roots.

"My motivation is not to break away from American Idol," he said. "We wouldn't be having this conversation if not for that show. My objective is to show people who I am through my music."

American Idol's second season winner, Ruben Studdard, and the first season runner-up, Justin Guarini, will be taking part in a mini-tour in Texas the first week in October. The tour will be called, fittingly, "Superstar Idols Live!"

The concerts will be sponsored by several Texas radio stations. Joining Ruben and Justin will be Olivia Mojica (Season 2), Anthony Federov and Lindsey Cardinale (Season 4), Kevin Covais, Brenna Gethers, Will Makar and Melissa McGhee (Season 5), along with the incomparable William Hung.

Here are the dates and ticket info:

San Angelo, TX
October 3, 2006, 6:00 p.m.
Foster Field Stadium
Tickets: $25-90; 325-942-6587 or Etix.com

Laredo, TX
October 4, 2006, 6:00 p.m.
Laredo Veterans Field
Tickets: $25-90; 956-723-BASE or Etix.com

Edinburgh, TX
October 5, 2006, 6:00 p.m.
Edinburgh Stadium
Tickes: $25-90; Etix.com

Corpus Christi, TX
October 6, 2006, 7:00 p.m.
Concrete Street Amphitheater
Tickets: $35-85; Ticketmaster.com

Beaumont, TX
October 7, 2006
Beaumont Civic Center
Tickets: $30-50; 409-833-7747 or Ticketmaster.com