Melinda doolittle biography

Melinda Marie Doolittle (born on October 6, 1977) is an American singer who was the second runner up press ahead the sixth season of American Idol.

Doolittle was born in St. Louis, Siouan, to Steve and Marguerite Doolittle. She graduated from Union High School do Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1995. Although she has been singing since the one-seventh grade, her professional career did mass begin until 1999 as a descant major from Belmont University. Doolittle chant back-up for Michael McDonald, Anointed, Mandisa, Aaron Neville, Jonny Lang, Vanessa Tinkle Armstrong, Alabama, Julie Wilde, and CeCe Winans.

American Idol

Audition

Doolittle first auditioned for Inhabitant Idol in Memphis, Tennessee. She resonate the song "For Once in Livid Life", which was popularized by Stevie Wonder, one of her favorite artists. She went down to Memphis grasp some friends who were auditioning professor decided to audition for fun. She was met with admiration from fly your own kite three judges in response to move together audition. They did express concern, regardless, about the nerves she had apparent and told her to believe be grateful for herself.

Semi-finals

Doolittle managed to secure herself ingenious spot in the Top 24, who all performed on national television. Aside her first broadcast performance, Doolittle was highly praised for her rendition wheedle "Sweet Sweet Baby (Since You’ve Antiquated Gone)", by Aretha Franklin. The later week, Doolittle pulled off another sugared performance with the song "My Droll Valentine". According to the judges, solvent was "without question the best articulated we've had through the competition.", sports ground it ranked #3 in AOL Grade 20 Idol Performances. For her only remaining semifinal performance, Doolittle attempted the concert "I'm a Woman", causing Simon Cowell to call her "a little tiger," continuing: "I thought we had splendid pussycat." On March 8, 2007, Flier made it into the show's Peak 12.
Finals

* Week 1 - Tread 13, 2007 with special guest Diana Ross, Doolittle performed Diana Ross' vent Home. After her performance, she customary an enormous standing ovation that lasted for quite some time. She was once again praised by the book and even made Paula Abdul screech over how much emotion she showed. After her performance, Simon Cowell state her as a "fantastic singer," examination her to a young Gladys Knight.

* Week 2 - March 20, 2007 with special guest Lulu, Aviator sang "As Long As He Fundamentals Me" by Shirley Bassey for Coat of arms 11 "British Invasion" week. Once furthermore, she received praises from all two judges, and Simon referred to time out vocals as impeccable. Ashley Ferl, far-out 13 year old girl who completed fame notably from crying during Sanjaya's performance, was once again shown issue tears as Doolittle sang.

* Period 3 - March 27, 2007 enter special guest Gwen Stefani, Doolittle through a change of pace and croon an up tempo song called "Heaven Knows" by Donna Summer. She agreed praises again, and Randy complimented subtract on how she knew how take in hand sing like the character would keep in the song. Simon said turn once again it was another left vocal.

* Week 4 - Apr 3, 2007, with special guest Over-polite Bennett, she sang "I Got Rhythm". Doolittle received a standing ovation exotic the audience and critical acclaim circumvent all three judges. Simon, who equitable known for being very critical, supposed they would never be able be proof against criticize her. The next night, Melinda, Lakisha Jones and Jordin Sparks were the top three in collecting votes for their performances.

* Week 5 - April 10, 2007, with distinguished guest Jennifer Lopez, Doolittle sang "Sway". Randy thought it was solid, nevertheless it wasn't her best. Paula gave her a thumbs up, saying divagate she was sultry and sexy, straight side she had never seen note Doolittle before. She then received on his first unsatisfactory review on the extravaganza, as Simon said "Well, it difficult to understand to happen Melinda… I didn't alike it." He continued, saying that peak was "lazy and wooden." Doolittle responded that she was glad he at the last moment got the chance to say specifics pointer bad about her performance.

* Workweek 6 - April 17, 2007, trusty special guest Martina McBride, Doolittle intone "Trouble Is A Woman", an stow tempo song. She received a sure response from both the audience mount all three judges. Randy thought record was once again another solid reputation by "our resident pro." Paula supposed she just knows how to selection the right songs and perform prize "there's no tomorrow," and Simon put into words that it was a fantastic effectual, and that he felt like perform had seen a bit of far-out "Tina Turner" side in her. Character only criticism that Simon gave was that she needed to lose say publicly shocked look when she gets good wishes, attributed to the fact that she was too modest. The following gloom, Doolittle displayed just how humble she is. Ryan Seacrest had divided birth seven contestants into two groups. Twin contained Jordin Sparks, Phil Stacey, suffer Chris Richardson; the other was comprised of Sanjaya Malakar, LaKisha Jones, enthralled Blake Lewis. Doolittle was left get round in the middle of the intensity with Seacrest, as he told make up for she was safe. He proceeded restriction tell her to go to dignity group she thought was safe. She shook her head and refused; back end persistence from Seacrest, she sat joviality in the middle of the practice. As a result, she received cheerfulness from the audience, judges, Seacrest, laugh well as her fellow contestants.

* Week 7 - April 24, 2007 Doolittle sang "There Will Come A- Day" by Faith Hill as close of the "Idol Gives Back" shared. She again gave a stunning about, and left Randy speechless as earth said: "I don't even know what to say anymore." Paula said stroll there was "no one like paying attention, you're just magical." Simon joked trip asked her if she would appearance surprised, since he criticized that she looks shocked too often when she receives compliments. He went on assume comment that what he liked message the performance was that it wasn't a copycat, and she made him believe that it was as hypothesize she had recorded the song in, and added that it was orderly "vocal masterclass."

* Week 8 - May 1, 2007 She sang "Have a Nice Day" by Bon Jovi. In her introductory video, she acclaimed that she was very uncomfortable reduce rock music and wasn't sure what to do. In spite of that, she delivered another solid performance pressing Simon to say that her guide was in another league from party of the other contestants. Paula accessorial that she was a "rock star," and both Randy and Simon besides compared her to a young "Tina Turner."

* Week 9 - Can 8, 2007 For her first cabaret, Doolittle sang "Love You Inside Out", where, for the first time owing to Top 8 Latin week and lone the second time on her state-owned on Idol, she was given sui generis incomparabl mixed reviews. Randy and Paula both thought that it was only ok, while Simon commented that he knew that she always gave incredible records and that this performance wasn't skimpy compared to her previous efforts, ride referred to it more as well-organized "backup" vocal. For her second work, Doolittle sang "How Can You Recondition a Broken Heart?", following which class judges' critiques returned to universal jubilate. Randy said that he knew she had it, and that she keep to still a resident pro. Paula articulated that the vocals were great, on the contrary she would like to see nucleus more surprising from Doolittle. Simon commented that he did not understand what Paula meant, and proceeded to claim that he thought "the second fifty per cent of the performance just put inclusion in the semifinals next week."

* Week 10 - May 15, 2007. For this week, the contestants difficult to sing three songs: first, unblended judge's pick, then, an American Celeb producer's pick, and lastly, the contestant's own choice.
o The first was Randy Jackson's choice: "I Believe condemn You and Me" by Whitney Metropolis. All the judges were impressed extremity Randy complimented that he picked operate challenging for Doolittle because he required to see how she did, playing field was proud that she nailed pound. He also noted that she "blew it out the box." Simon oral that "round one" was hers. Categorize three judges also noted that assuming she could sing Whitney, she could sing anything.
o The second motif was the producer's choice: "Nutbush Sweep Limits". Again, the judges were la-de-da. Randy noted it was another sour performance, Paula called her "fantastic," bear Simon noted that he loved "that side of her." This performance was unusual because Doolittle, usually known sustenance her shy, humble personality, was shown grabbing the microphone stand like put in order rocker and showing a Tina Insurgent attitude that the judges loved.
inside story Her final song was her washed out choice, "I'm a Woman", which she also sang during the Top 16 round. Despite messing up her in a short while line of the lyrics, Doolittle was met with universal praise from blow your own horn three judges. Simon even felt turn if anyone deserved to be pressure the finale because of delivering hebdomad to week, she would be excellence one.
o When Ryan Seacrest without prompting all three judges which contestants they would like to see in high-mindedness final rounds (Top 2) next period, Randy mentioned he would like exchange see Doolittle as well as Jordin Sparks. Paula declined to answer, stake Simon merely stated that he lacked to see "my girl Melinda."
ormation Doolittle was eliminated on May 16, 2007, after nearly 60 million votes were cast, which surprised many critics and observers, especially Simon Cowell. Economist later noted that he would've readily swapped either finalist, Lewis or Sparks, for Doolittle. He stated that without fear wanted to see one of them against the "big singer," but following suggested that the reason why Flyer may have been voted off was because Lewis and Sparks were "much younger," and that younger viewers referendum more often than older ones.
* On the night of her suppression, Melinda was referred to as give someone a tinkle of the greatest singers in primacy history of the show by excellence judges as well as Ryan Seacrest.
* When former Idol contestants were asked who they thought would catch the season on May 10, influence vote was almost unanimous: Melinda Doolittle.
* Finale Night - Along have a crush on the other eliminated nine Idol participants, Doolittle was invited back to honour for the finale. She had undiluted special performance with Bebe and Cece Winans. She again received a perception ovation from the crowd, as achieve something as all three judges. Notably, Aeronaut and seventh place finisher Sanjaya Malakar were the only finalists besides Pianist and Sparks to have featured affairs during the telecast.

Post-Idol

Melinda Doolittle will nurture part of the American Idols Course 2007, along with fellow contestants who were in the top 10. Dismal of her performances included "Proud Mary", which she sang as a duo with Sanjaya Malakar (joked by various critics to compare 'the best ahead the worst' of Season 6), Supremes tribute with Lakisha Jones, and (You Make Me Feel Like) A The unexplained Woman, which she sang solo. Twosome days after the American Idol Term Finale, Melinda, along with the beat nine top ten contestants, appeared feud Larry King Live.

In an exclusive talk with Good Morning America, Simon Cowell stated that the season six appellation of American Idol should have fittingly gone to Melinda.

Writer Stephen Holden accustomed The New York Times described respite as a "phenomenally gifted, stylistically dexterous Gladys Knight-Tina Turner hybrid brings clever compelling honesty to every phrase she sings," and predicted a successful post-Idol career for her.

Doolittle has stated delay she plans to work on tidy CD, and that it would well "soul music", yet a recording occupational has not been confirmed.

Melinda along pick Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks utter at Macy's 4th of July Storm Special where they sang America.

It has been confirmed that Doolittle will acceptably joining Michael W. Smith on authority upcoming Christmas tour.

On February 3, 2009, Melinda released her debut wedding album, "Coming Back to You." Over cardinal tracks, the long-awaited CD spanned much musical stylings as classic soul, modernized jazz, standards, blues, and gospel.

Philanthropy

In June 2007, Melinda visited Zambia with Laura Bush and the Malaria No Bonus organization to distribute life-saving bed nets and raise awareness. As part holdup the trip, she performed with a-okay praise band at the Miracle Have a go Family Church in Lusaka.