Diana DeGarmo

Diana DeGarmo

DeGarmo in the American Idol Experience motorcade at Walt Disney World.
Background information
Birth name Diana Nicole DeGarmo
Born June 16, 1987 (1987-06-16) (age 24)
Birmingham, Alabama
Origin Snellville, Georgia, U.S.
Genres Pop, country
Occupations Singer, actress
Years active 2003–present
Labels RCA Records (2004-2005)
Website Official site

Diana Nicole DeGarmo (born June 16, 1987) is an American singer and Broadway actress.

She rose to fame in 2004, when she later became the runner-up of the third season of American Idol. After American Idol, DeGarmo began a career in musical theatre.

In 2011, she joined the cast of the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless as Angelina Veneziano.

Contents

Summary

DeGarmo was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but was raised primarily in Snellville, Georgia. DeGarmo began singing at a young age, including at the 1997 Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards and in Atlanta-based stage productions of Annie and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

As a third grader she was a Coca-Cola Kid during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The next year, she sang at Opryland USA during the Christmas holiday season. In 2002, she was named Miss Teen Georgia and was a finalist on the NBC talent search program America's Most Talented Kid. At ten years of age, DeGarmo was one of the "Cartoon Network"'s Cartoon Gang and appeared in various segments for the network, discussing cartoons. DeGarmo is niece to Eddie DeGarmo of DeGarmo & Key.[1] She currently lives in Los Angeles, California and is in a relationship with another former American Idol contestant, Ace Young.

American Idol

DeGarmo took part in the third season of American Idol in 2004, finishing second after a close race with winner Fantasia Barrino. During her run in the Top 12, she was in the bottom 3 on 3 occasions but never fell to the bottom 2. She became one of the front runners by week 6 and did not land in the bottom 3 again.

Performances

The songs DeGarmo sang on the show follow:

Week # Song choice Original artist Result
Top 32 "I've Got the Music in Me" Kiki Dee Advanced
Top 12 "Think" Aretha Franklin Safe
Top 11 "A Broken Wing" Martina McBride Bottom 3
Top 10 "Do You Love Me" The Contours Safe
Top 9 "I'm Still Standing" Elton John Bottom 3
Top 8 "My Heart Will Go On" Celine Dion Bottom 3
Top 7 "One Voice" Barry Manilow Safe
Top 6 "Turn the Beat Around" Vicki Sue Robinson Safe
Top 5 "Someone to Watch Over Me"
"Get Happy"		 Gertrude Lawrence
Ruth Etting		 Safe
Top 4 "This Is It"
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)"		 Melba Moore
Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand		 Safe
Top 3 "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
"Because You Loved Me"
"Don't Cry Out Loud"		 Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Celine Dion
The Moments		 Safe
Finale "I Believe"
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)"
"Don't Cry Out Loud" (Encore)		 Fantasia Barrino/Diana DeGarmo
Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand
The Moments		 Runner-Up

Post-Idol music career

DeGarmo was signed to RCA Records/19 Records shortly after the Idol finale and released the single, "Dreams," on June 29, 2004. The CD single also included two other songs: her version of "I Believe" and a remake of Melissa Manchester's "Don't Cry Out Loud". She participated in a summer tour with Idol finalists during the summer of 2004. She was also recording her cd during the tour. DeGarmo's debut album, titled Blue Skies, was released on December 7, 2004, to opening week sales of 47,000. The album debuted at number 52 on the Billboard chart. As of fall 2008 the album had sold 168,000 copies.[2] Her single "Emotional" peaked at number 54 on the Mediabase Pop Chart. She toured independently in 2005 in support of Blue Skies and appeared on the soundtrack for the Disney movie Ice Princess, singing "Reaching for Heaven", written by Desmond Child. RCA released her from her recording contract in June, 2005.

DeGarmo began recording a pop/R&B album in 2007,[3] however she backed out of the project and returned to her country music roots.[4] After filming CMT's Gone Country in late 2007, DeGarmo relocated to Nashville. She signed to John Rich's production company and recorded a country demo with him in 2008[5] In early 2009, DeGarmo released an acoustic EP entitled "Unplugged in Nashville". The EP contains 4 songs co-written by DeGarmo and is currently available at her live shows and at online retailers such as iTunes, Amazon, etc. DeGarmo's musical theatre obligations have taken her away from Nashville since 2009 but in October 2010, DeGarmo released two new songs titled "Things That Drive a Girl Crazy" and "All Over Again".[6]

Musical theatre

DeGarmo made her major stage debut as Maria in an American Musical Theatre of San Jose production of West Side Story in November 2005. Auditions for Hairspray and Brooklyn: The Musical followed shortly thereafter. DeGarmo made her Broadway debut in a four-month run in Hairspray as nerdy character Penny Pingleton in February 2006, impressing audiences with her comedic prowess. She also performed the lead role of Brooklyn in the 2006 national tour of Brooklyn: The Musical alongside one of her idols, Melba Moore. DeGarmo returned to Broadway's Hairspray for a second engagement from September 2006 to February 2007. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in April 2007 at a tribute to Neil Sedaka.

DeGarmo was set to star alongside Tony Award nominee Gavin Creel in the Broadway revival of Godspell at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, but on August 19, 2008, it was announced that the show was postponed indefinitely due to the loss of an investor.[7]

In May 2009 DeGarmo starred in the musical revue Back to Bacharach and David featuring the songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David in Los Angeles at the Music Box Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.[8] In July 2009, she starred as the narrator in the Oklahoma Lyric's Theatre production of Joseph and the Amazing Techicolor Dreamcoat alongside Idol alum Anthony Federov.[9] Debuting August 14, 2009, DeGarmo played the role of Sarah, the sexy, blind librarian and love interest of Toxie in the Off Broadway musical, The Toxic Avenger[10] until its closing on January 3, 2010.

DeGarmo made her return to Broadway, starring as Sheila in the Broadway company of Hair until the show's closure on June 27, 2010. It was Hair, not American Idol, that introduced her to current boyfriend Ace Young, who played Berger. She succeeded original cast member Caissie Levy beginning March 9, 2010.[11]

DeGarmo played the role of Doralee Rhodes in the national tour of 9 to 5, which was launched on September 21, 2010 in Nashville.[12] She ended her run as Doralee after the July 2011 Minneapolis tour stop.

DeGarmo appeared on musical theatre composer Scott Alan's third album, "What I Wanna Be When I Grow Up" with the song "I Wish, released November 1, 2010.

She reprised the role of Penny Pingleton in the Hollywood Bowl production of Hairspray, which ran from August 5–7, 2011.[13]

DeGarmo has done several readings for new musicals over the years, starting with In Your Dreams in early October 2006. In 2009, she played the title role in a concert for Liberty: A New Musical at the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and in 2009 played the role of Chris in the much anticipated reading of an updated Carrie: The Musical.

Film and television

DeGarmo joined the cast of "The Young and the Restless" in October 2011. She plays Angelina, the daughter of resident mobster Angelo. Her character is a poor singer who thinks she's a great singer, and is obsessed with gaining the affections of Kevin Fisher. Within weeks of her arrival, viewers began tuning away in droves - her shrill voice, whether speaking or singing, along with her horrible acting, is driving this show into the ground. [14] She is also featured in the 2012 Val Kilmer western, "The First Ride of Wyatt Earp". [15]

Other activities

DeGarmo is a proud supporter of US troops and participated in a USO tour in December 2005-January 2006. She entertained troops in Southwest Asia on a tour hosted by General Peter Pace.[16] Her song "Thank You" is inspired by this trip. She also supports and performs in fundraisers for a number of charitable organizations both nationally and locally, including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.

In late 2007/early 2008, DeGarmo participated as a Southern celebrity in television ads for the Zaxby's restaurant chain. She also appeared as a guest voice on The Fairly OddParents "Fairy Idol" episode as Cosmo after Cosmo watches "How to Sing Like Diana DeGarmo".

Awards and charts

DeGarmo's first single, "Dreams", debuted at number two in record sales and went number one on the Billboard US Singles Sales Chart.

On September 17, 2005, DeGarmo received the Horizon Award at the Georgia Music Hall Of Fame Awards ceremony. The award recognizes Georgia artists on the path to successful and lengthy careers.

Discography

Diana DeGarmo discography
Releases
↙Studio albums 1
↙Singles 2
↙B-sides 2
↙Tours 1

The following is a complete discography of every album and single released by American music artist Diana DeGarmo.

Albums

Album information
Blue Skies
  • Released: December 7, 2004 (2004-12-07)
  • Peak chart positions:
    • 52 U.S.
  • U.S. sales: 168,000
  • RIAA certification: n/a
  • Label: RCA Records
  • "Dreams"
  • "Emotional"
Unplugged in Nashville (EP)
  • Released: February 27, 2009 (2009-02-27)
  • Digital distribution through iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
US CAN
2004 "Dreams" 14 2 Non-album single
"Emotional" — — Blue Skies

Other recordings

Song information
Reaching for Heaven
  • From: Ice Princess Original Soundtrack
  • Released: March 15, 2005 (2005-03-15)
I Wish
  • From: What I Wanna Be When I Grow Up - The Songs of Scott Alan
  • Released: November 1, 2010 (2010-11-01)

References

  1. ^ Anthony K. Valley (2004-05-25). "American Idol Contestants Ties to the Christian Church". http://www.inthefaith.com/2004/05/25/american-idol-fantasia-barrino-diana-degarmo-ties-to-the-christian-church/. Retrieved February 21, 2007. 
  2. ^ USA Today. September 24, 2010. http://blogs.usatoday.com/idolchatter/2008/10/kristy-lee-take.html#more. 
  3. ^ All Grown Up and Finding Her Way, Mary Colurso, April 27, 2007, accessed 7/10/2007
  4. ^ Diana DeGarmo Moves to Nashville
  5. ^ Catching Up With Past American Idol Finalists, Fred Bronson, March 14, 2008, accessed 3/26/08
  6. ^ http://www.conwayent.com/?pg=artist&artistId=28
  7. ^ http://www.playbill.com/news/article/120416.html Playbill.com
  8. ^ Birdsong, DeGarmo, Lowe and Thomas to Star in Back to Bacharach and David playbill.com
  9. ^ Anthony Fedorov and Diana DeGarmo Star in "Joseph"
  10. ^ DeGarmo to Join Cast of Off-Broadway's Toxic Avenger
  11. ^ Kyle Riabko, Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo Are Hair's New Headliners; Complete Cast Announced
  12. ^ Diana DeGarmo Cast in National Tour of 9 to 5
  13. ^ HAIRSPRAY at the Hollywood Bowl to Star Fierstein, Winokur, Bleu, Carey, DeGarmo, Jonas, Stamos & More
  14. ^ http://www.tvguide.com/News/DeGarmo-Young-Restless-1037229.aspx
  15. ^ http://movies.broadwayworld.com/article/Diana_DeGarmo_Val_Kilmer_Set_for_The_First_Ride_of_Wyatt_Earp_Film_20110318
  16. ^ "Diana DeGarmo entertains the troops". http://www.uso.org/gallery/details.aspx?id=74. 

External links

Contestants
Other Sources
Seasons
Hosts
Judges
Winners
Winners' singles
Runners-up
Other alumni
Spin-offs
Concert tours
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