American Idol season 5 winner Taylor Hicks joined his fellow contestants for the 20th anniversary episode titled “Class of 2006: Reunion” on May 4. Ahead of his appearance, Hicks, 49, told AL.com:
“‘Idol’ has always been something that’s been very near and dear to my heart, and something that I’ve always embraced from Day One. And I will always embrace it for the rest of my life, because it is truly my big break. It’s allowed me to be able to have decades in show business.”
Stating that he was “thrilled” to reunite with former judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, Taylor Hicks added:
“I’m thrilled to be able to see them and in the old familiar way, which is in the ‘Idol’ halls and on the ‘Idol’ stage. It’ll be very nostalgic. They were very integral to my ‘Idol’ win, and I think it’ll be all smiles all the way around, minus Simon [Cowell].”
In the aftermath of his victory in May 2006, Taylor Hicks appeared on several talk shows, headlined the American Idols LIVE! Tour with his fellow top 10 finalists, and released many hit singles and studio albums, including the chart-topping Do I Make You Proud.
Besides his much-anticipated American Idol return, Taylor Hicks also released a new single called The Mirror on Monday. He described it as a “revenge love song” on his recent IG post and also told AL.com that it revolves around:
“A kind of selfish relationship with a narcissistic person, where one person only sees themselves in the relationship.”
Co-written by Adam Hood, the track also got a “Southern, soulful vibe” to it. Hicks added in his interview:
“It’s like Otis Redding meets the Alabama Shakes and has a baby Black Crowes. … As far as lyrical composition, I think it might be one of the strongest songs I’ve ever written. It’s short and sweet, but very impactful.”
Here’s what Taylor Hicks did after his 2006 ‘American Idol’ win
Following his American Idol victory, Taylor Hicks signed with showrunner Simon Fuller’s record label Arista Records (formerly 19 Recordings Limited). Under the label, he released his debut single Do I Make You Proud which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart alongside a RIAA gold certification.
Subsequently, Taylor headlined the ‘Idols’ tour from July to September before rebranding his eponymous band (founded in 2004) into Little Memphis Blues Orchestra.
Elsewhere, Hicks won back his 1997 master recordings after suing his former producer in Nashville, Tennessee, in August 2006. Next came his memoir Heart Full of Soul: An Inspirational Memoir About Finding Your Voice and Finding Your Way. It was ghostwritten by Rolling Stone writer David Wild and released in July 2007.
The following year, Taylor Hicks joined the Broadway production of Grease! musical in the role of Teen Angel and toured across the USA for over 18 months and performing in over two dozen live shows.
Hicks continued to release more singles, three studio albums, including The Distance, two live albums, and a compilation record called Early Works. Despite the initial success, he turned out to be one of the lowest-selling American Idol winners until then and was eventually dropped by Arista in 2008, followed by J Records, a Sony-BMG affiliated label.
This is when the Alabama native signed a distribution contract with Vanguard/ Welk Records. Subsequently, he formed his own label, Modern Whomp Records and dropped songs, including What’s Right is Right.
In May 2009, Forbes included him in their list of “Top Ten Earning American Idol Stars.” Reports cite that most of his earnings at the time came from album sales, promotional tours, and Broadway gigs.
Five years after rising to national fame, Taylor Hicks became a restaurateur and opened the ORE Drink and Dine restaurant in his hometown of Birmingham. By that fall, he also opened another barbecue and live music joint called Saw’s Juke Joint.
That same year, Hicks was part of the Bama Rising: A Benefit Concert to raise funds for Alabama tornado victims.
In 2012, Taylor performed at the Republican National Convention and announced his yearlong Las Vegas residency. He also appeared as a celebrity contestant on the FOX dating show The Choice and went viral for his 2013 performance of the Grammy-winning song Friday (from the comedy album ‘Blow Your Pants Off’) on Jimmy Fallon’s late-night talk show.
Taylor Hicks’ multi-faceted career also saw him competing on Evolution 2013 as part of team Super Smash Bros. 2017 was also a special year for him as he released his first song in eight years, Six Strings and Diamond Rings, and also recorded the theme song Call Paul for Paul Finebaum’s ESPN show.
From 2016 to 2018, Taylor Hicks hosted the food and travel reality series State Plate on INSP. Next, he was also seen in an important role in the 2019 production of Shenandoah. Before Monday’s release of The Mirror, Taylor’s last song, Porch Swing, came out in February 2023. It was followed by his Grand Ole Opry debut.
The singer-songwriter, who earned a dedicated fanbase called Soul Patrol back in his ‘Idol’ days, was a struggling nightclub performer during his pre-fame days. He also earned the title of the “Most Eligible Bachelor,” crowned by PEOPLE in 2006, starred in the indie film Stars Fell on Alabama, and was a celebrity guest on the ‘Masked Singer’ tour.
Taylor Hicks has also been part of the annual golf charity event called Regions Tradition Celebrity Pro-Am with prominent figures like country musician Riley Green, PGA champion John Daly, and Senator Tommy Tuberville.
Ahead of Monday’s 2-hour reunion episode, where he performed a duet of Stevie Wonder’s Living for the City with fellow Idol Keyla Richardson, Hicks reflected on his time on the show, telling AL.com:
“We created something historic. There were a couple of nights on that show where we knew history was being made, just from a sheer number perspective (with ratings). And there were nights where everything was flawless, from the viewership to the interest in the show to the entertainers to the theme … It was just absolute magic.”
Taylor continued:
“That season had some of the most legendary entertainers that have ever walked the planet. And those moments I had with them each week, I will cherish forever. Some of their advice, on camera and off, I still heed today. … My life was already changing as I was going through each week on the show.”
Recalling his emotional winning moment, Taylor Hicks said:
“I just knew I would able be able to have opportunities for a long time, and be able to make the most of those opportunities. What a great blessing that my name was called in that instance. I thank God every day for that. I felt like I won the national championship. And I knew, as a proud Alabamian, that we like our winners.”
The 20th anniversary episode also saw other coveted season 5 members, including Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry, Elliott Yamin, Kellie Pickler, Paris Bennett, and Bucky Covington. American Idol is currently in its 24th season. In 2018, it changed the channel from FOX to ABC after a 15-season run.
Edited by Pallavi K