All About "Jordin Sparks"

Birth name: Jordin Brianna Sparks
Born: December 22, 1989 (1989-12-22) (age 19)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.[1]
Origin: Glendale, Arizona, U.S.
Genre(s): Pop, R&B
Occupation(s): Singer-songwriter, plus-size model
Instrument(s): Vocals, guitar
Years active: 2007—present
Label(s): Jive Records/Zomba Label Group
Associated acts: Michael W. Smith, Garry Leach, Alice Cooper, Chris Brown, Jesse McCartney, Alicia Keys, Jonas Brothers


Jordin Brianna Sparks (born December 22, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter and model. She rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol, and followed her victory with the release of her debut album, which led to her reception of an American Music Award and Grammy nominations in 2008. Her self-titled debut album was certified Platinum in the U.S. on December 12, 2008. Jordin has sold over 1 million records in her two year old career alone.


Early life

Sparks was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Jodi Weidmann-Sparks and former NFL defensive back Phillippi Sparks. She has a younger brother PJ (Phillippi Sparks, Jr.) who also plays football. She lived briefly in Ridgewood, New Jersey and attended Orchard Elementary School. After living in New Jersey, Sparks attended Northwest Community Christian School in Phoenix, Arizona through the eighth grade. Sparks attended Sandra Day O'Connor High School until 2006, then she was homeschooled to better concentrate on her singing. Sparks is an evangelical Christian and attends Calvary Community Church in Phoenix, Arizona. On her "American Idol" biography, she thanks her parents and God for her win. She wears a purity ring that symbolizes her desire to remain a virgin until marriage. She also appeared on the cover of World, an Evangelical Christian news magazine. She won an award for best young artist of the year in Arizona for three years.

Before Idol

Before appearing on American Idol, Sparks participated in and won such talent competitions as Sprite Rising Star, Gospel Music Association GMA Academy, The Proof Is In The Pudding Contest, NBC/PAX America's Most Talented Kids, Colgate Country Showdown and the 2007 Drug Free AZ Superstar Search.

In 2006, Sparks was one of six winners who won the Phoenix Torrid search for the "Next Plus Size Model." She was flown to California, where she was used in a number of Torrid ads and promotional pieces. A full-page ad for Torrid featuring Sparks ran in the December 2006 issue of Seventeen magazine.




Sparks performing at the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2007.


President George W. Bush congratulates Sparks after she sang the U.S. National Anthem Wednesday, February 20, 2008, during the welcome for President Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush to the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in Accra, Ghana, by Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater.