Taylor Hicks Career

Hicks' professional music career began with performances at various venues, including the Playboy Mansion. He released two independent albums, In Your Time (1997) and Under the Radar (2005), prior to appearing on Idol though he never held a recording contract so he did not violate their requirements for contestants. Hicks has also spoken on Tapestry, a radio program on National Public Radio affiliate WBHM in Birmingham, in December 2005. Hicks has also performed with James Brown, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, Drive by Truckers, and Robert Randolph. Hicks is currently collaborating with contemporary blues legend Keb Mo.

American Idol

Hicks auditioned for American Idol in Las Vegas, Nevada. He originally wanted to try out in Memphis but the site was cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina. Also, he was touring in New Orleans with his band, the Little Memphis Blues Orchestra, on the night Hurricane Katrina hit and used a ticket voucher to fly to Las Vegas. Hicks passed the audition by the approval of judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, but not Simon Cowell, who said that Hicks would never make it to the final round. Cowell called back to this quote in a later episode and admitted he was wrong. After advancing to the final three contestants, Hicks gave a short concert and promotional appearance before several thousand fans at the Riverchase Galleria.

On the May 10, 2006 results, Hicks was in the top 2 along with Katharine McPhee, and they made the Top 3 with Elliott Yamin, who became his best friend on the show. On May 12, Idol producers brought Hicks to Birmingham for a weekend of promotional events including television interviews for the local FOX affiliate, a downtown parade and mini-concert, another concert at the Riverchase Galleria, a mall in his hometown, an evening appearance at the Birmingham Museum of Art, and a campaign appearance with Governor Bob Riley and Mayor Bernard Kincaid. May 12 was proclaimed "Taylor Hicks Day" and Hicks was given the key to the city.

Hicks was named the new American Idol on May 24, competing against Katharine McPhee. Over 63.4 million votes were cast in total, with Hicks receiving more than any previous Idol winner. With his win, Hicks (at 29) became the oldest person to win American Idol, only the second male to win the contest (after Ruben Studdard), and is the only man to win the contest against a woman in the finale. He is also the first and only white man to win American Idol and the fifth Southerner to win American Idol. He is the second American Idol from Alabama after season 2 winner Ruben Studdard, but is the third finalist from Alabama along with Studdard and Season 4 runner-up Bo Bice. He is the third person to win the competition without ever being in the bottom two or three (after Kelly Clarkson & Carrie Underwood) and the only man (as of Season 5) to attain such a feat (although Clay Aiken was never in the bottom 2 or 3, he did not win the Idol competition).