'Idol' champ Ruben Studdard preparing to begin work on fourth album June 14, 2007 Ruben Studdard sang in gospel choirs as a child and graduated from Alabama A&M University with a voice studies degree in 2000, but the 28-year-old couldn't break into the music industry until he auditioned for a certain reality competition series in 2002.
Rosie O'Donnell and 'American Idol' in Antonella Barba "racist" feud March 7, 2007 Rosie O'Donnell called American Idol's 2003 decision to disqualify second season semifinalist Frenchie Davis but allow current sixth season semifinalist Antonella Barba to remain on Idol "racist" during Tuesday's broadcast of The View -- a sentiment that apparently didn't sit too well with Idol, which responded by revoking the ABC talk show's permission to air video clips of the Fox reality competition series.