Chris Daughtry

Chris Daughtry
Christopher Adam "Chris" Daughtry (born December 26, 1979) is an American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who is the lead vocalist of Daughtry, a popular rock band formed by him in 2006. He is perhaps best known as the fourth-place finalist on the highly publicized fifth season of American Idol, eliminated from the competition on May 10, 2006.

After his departure from Idol, his band's self-titled debut album sold more than 1 million copies after just 5 weeks of release, becoming the fastest-selling debut rock album in Soundscan history, and so far outselling his fellow season 5 contestants' (Kellie Pickler, Katharine McPhee, Elliott Yamin and the season winner Taylor Hicks) debut albums.

In its ninth week of release, the album reached number 1 on the Billboard charts, edging out the Dreamgirls soundtrack. He is currently the best-selling Idol contestant who was neither the winner nor runner-up of their season. His new single 'Home' is currently being used as the final send-off for the season 6 contestants.

Biography
Early Years
Daughtry was born in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. His parents Pete and Sandra Daughtry reside in Charlottesville, Virginia, where Daughtry was raised before he relocated to McLeansville outside of Greensboro, North Carolina. His brother, Kenneth, resides in Victoria, Virginia.

In his spare time, he's an artist, specializing in drawing and painting, and he read comic books avidly. At the age of 16, Daughtry started taking singing seriously as a professional musician and became a performer with other rock bands during high school. It was while than that Chris appeared in two stage productions: The Wiz and Peter Pan. He graduated from Fluvanna High School in Palmyra, Virginia in 1998. While paying his dues, Daughtry's first job was a service worker at a car dealership at Greensboro's Crown Honda, in Greensboro, North Carolina.

American Idol
Inspired by Bo Bice, Daughtry auditioned for American Idol in Denver, Colorado with The Boxtops' "The Letter"; he was portrayed as a young rocker with Southern and hard rock influences. He passed the audition by a split decision: approved by Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, disapproved by Simon Cowell, as he thought Chris at that time was too robotic.

Career
After leaving American Idol, Daughtry traveled the talk show circuit, post-season promotion that has become increasingly commonplace for non-winners as American Idol progressed through the years. He made appearances on The Tonight Show, Total Request Live, and The Today Show. He also appeared on Live with Regis and Kelly and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, in which he performed "Wanted Dead or Alive"?his track on the American Idol Season Five: Encores CD.

Daughtry has proved quite successful since Idol. For the week of June 10, 2006, Daughtry charted #43 on the Billboard Hot 100, being named the Hot Shot Debut of the week.

On June 7, 2006, a duet version of "Mystery", the song Daughtry performed with Live on the American Idol finale, was released via Live's official website. Daughtry is featured on guest vocals.

On June 8, 2006, Daughtry made a cameo appearance on the 2006 MTV Movie Awards, where he performed a parody of Daniel Powter's "Bad Day"?the "theme song" for the fifth season of Idol?with comedian Jimmy Fallon.

On June 16, 2006 Daughtry made a cameo appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in the "Father's Day Gift Ideas" segment. In this segment he played a father who took out the trash to a talking garbage can.

TMZ.com featured a video of Daughtry singing Stone Temple Pilots' "Plush" with a busker on the night of the American Idol finale.

On July 10, 2006 it was announced that Daughtry had signed with 19 Entertainment and RCA Records, and began working on an album that was to be released in November. It was also announced that, like season 4 rocker Constantine Maroulis, he would be forming his own band. His band was formed under the name Daughtry, after the singer's last name.

Daughtry's debut album was released on November 21, 2006. He reportedly told US Weekly that his album "would not be... pop." The first single off Daughtry, "It's Not Over", was released November 21, 2006.

Chris Daughtry reached number one in Billboard Charts for his debut album. He joins Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, and Clay Aiken as the only contestants to reach number one in Billboard 200.

WDCG 105.1's Bob and the Showgram interviewed Daughtry and was the first radio station to play tracks from his new album on October 26, 2006. The North Carolina State University Alumni Association and Student Homecoming Committee hosted Daughtry's homecoming solo concert with the new band. The concert was in Raleigh on November 3, 2006 at Reynolds Coliseum, after a Homecoming Parade on Hillsborough Street and a Wolfpack Pep Rally at Reynolds Coliseum.

On January 21, 2007, he performed The Star-Spangled Banner at the NFL's NFC Conference Championship game in Chicago, IL. He currently lives in Oak Ridge, NC that is right outside of Greensboro, NC.

On January 22, 2007, Daughtry and his band were among the first guests on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet. On the very first show, he talked about his success on Idol, of how his bands' self-titled debut album went platinum in a few weeks, and he also played acoustic guitar on the #1 song, It's Not Over.