http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.12542569&rws=%2Fjordin-sparks%2Fmusic-videos.rssYou might call Jordin Sparks an amateur talent contest professional, although prodigy is perhaps more accurate. In 2007, the 17-year-old Sparks won <I>American Idol</I>. But before that, she appeared twice on <I>America's Most Talented Kids</I>, received two awards from the Gospel Music Association Academy and finished second at Music in the Rockies, a competition for aspiring contemporary Christian artists. The year before she won <I>Idol</I>, the multitalented Sparks also won Torrid's search for the "Next Plus Size Model" and appeared in a <I>Seventeen</I> magazine ad for the clothing line. So winning <I>Idol</I> was just the big, fat cherry on top of a talent show sundae -- and the culmination of a life spent working towards performance career.<p> <p> The child of NFL player Phillippi Sparks (formerly of the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys), the baby-faced belter grew up singing and doing children's theater. She got a string of gigs singing the national anthem at professional sporting events in her home state of Arizona, toured with CCM star Michael W. Smith and recorded an EP (2003's <I>For Now</I>) at age 13. Despite all her experience, Sparks did not initially make the cut when she auditioned for <I>Idol</I> in Los Angeles. She did, however, win the local Arizona Idol contest, which earned her the right to audition again in Seattle and, eventually, to become the youngest ever <I>American Idol</I>. Following her win, she toured with the other <I>Idols</I> and began work on her debut album. - Rachel DevittPopen720Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:19:29 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.12542569&rws=%2Fjordin-sparks%2Fmusic-videos.rss You might call Jordin Sparks an amateur talent contest professional, although prodigy is perhaps more accurate. In 2007, the 17-year-old Sparks won <I>American Idol</I>. But before that, she appeared twice on <I>America's Most Talented Kids</I>, received two awards from the Gospel Music Association Academy and finished second at Music in the Rockies, a competition for aspiring contemporary Christian artists. The year before she won <I>Idol</I>, the multitalented Sparks also won Torrid's search for the "Next Plus Size Model" and appeared in a <I>Seventeen</I> magazine ad for the clothing line. So winning <I>Idol</I> was just the big, fat cherry on top of a talent show sundae -- and the culmination of a life spent working towards performance career.<p> <p> The child of NFL player Phillippi Sparks (formerly of the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys), the baby-faced belter grew up singing and doing children's theater. She got a string of gigs singing the national anthem at professional sporting events in her home state of Arizona, toured with CCM star Michael W. Smith and recorded an EP (2003's <I>For Now</I>) at age 13. Despite all her experience, Sparks did not initially make the cut when she auditioned for <I>Idol</I> in Los Angeles. She did, however, win the local Arizona Idol contest, which earned her the right to audition again in Seattle and, eventually, to become the youngest ever <I>American Idol</I>. Following her win, she toured with the other <I>Idols</I> and began work on her debut album. - Rachel Devitt