Tamyra Gray: Following American Idol, Tamyra Gray was cast in David E. Kelley's Boston Public, a role that allowed her to both act and sing. She also made guest appearances on All of Us, Half and Half, Tru Calling, What I Like About You, and Las Vegas. In addition to acting, Tamyra has stayed true to her musical roots. She performed a duet with Kelly Clarkson on Clarkson's first release, a duet that Gray helped write. Well versed in music composition, Tamyra returned to Idol to help compose the singles for season three.
Putting down the pen and picking up the microphone, Tamyra eventually released her own album, The Dreamer, and obtained a role in the Broadway show, Bombay Dreams. In October 2005, she jumped to the big screen in an independent film called The Gospel. Months later, she helped write songs and sang backup for Jessica Simpson's newest record. In her personal life, she married Color Me Badd singer Sam Watters in early September, 2006. She is now working on a new album and looking for a new record label.
Nikki McKibbin: American Idol season one's resident punk girl, Nikki McKibbin was signed by RCA following the show. The label, however, wanted Nikki to record a country album and she wanted to be true to her rock 'n' roll roots. This resulted in no album ever being produced, leading her to stay true to some other roots — reality shows.
She appeared on Fear Factor, Battle of the Network Reality Stars, and Kill Reality, which documented the creation and filming of The Scorned. In The Scorned, a movie featuring a cast made up entirely of former reality stars, Nikki played a singer. She also appeared in a music video for Rivethead and joined the Dallas-based rock band, Downside, a band she left in late 2005. Returning as a solo artist, she released a single in 2006 and her debut album, Unleashed, is scheduled to be released on May 1, 2007.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
Justin Guarini had great hair. That's all I remember about him -- that hair. Reminded me a character on The Simpsons.
2 - Kaonashi
I heard that Dunkleman left because he didn't like the way the contestants were treated, not just by Simon, but by the whole AI system.
Will you be talking about forgotten ex-contestants from other seasons in future articles? I'd be curious to know what's happened to them.
3 - Lara
Not a bad summary, but I'm always dumbfounded by the way Tamyra Gray's information is misrepresented. For example:
-Gray was dropped by two labels (Jive and 19 Records), but it's never mentioned.
-Nor is her one album described as "ill-received", although it sold less in over a year than Guarini's "ill-received" album did in the scant 16 weeks he was given by RCA.
-Her role in Boston Public was a limited guest role lasting only a few weeks. Other television spots were one shot guest roles (in most cases a cameo), with the exception of the two episodes on Tru Calling .
-Bombay Dreams closed early due to poor tickets sales and tepid reviews ("ill-received"), eight weeks into Tamyra's planned limited engagement of 11 weeks.
-She's been out of the spotlight for over two years, with the exception of her minor work for Jessica Simpson's album alongside her husband who was a main contributor on the album.
Warts and all... for everyone. Otherwise, it's a lopsided mispresentation.
4 - Lauren
How about a thing for Ryan? Ejay? RJ? Christina? AJ? 'Cause you know they didn't just drop off of the face of the earth
5 - Greg Gonedes
What ever happened to Christina Christine. She was so pretty and glamorous. I really liked her next to kelly clarkson and tamyra gray. she place 3 rd in my book. Can you email me updates on her were abouts today.
Thank you