Lauren Alaina

Lauren Alaina
Background information
Birth name Lauren Alaina Kristine Suddeth
Born November 8, 1994
Origin Rossville, Georgia, U.S.
Genres Country, country pop
Occupation(s) Singer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2011–present
Labels 19/Interscope/Mercury Nashville[1]
Website www.laurenalainaofficial.com

Lauren Alaina (born Lauren Alaina Kristine Suddeth; November 8, 1994) is an American country singer from Rossville, Georgia. Alaina was the runner-up on the tenth season of American Idol. Her debut studio album, Wildflower was released on October 11, 2011.

Early life

Alaina was born on November 8, 1994, to Kristy and J.J. Suddeth of Rossville, Georgia. Her father works as a process technician in Chattanooga, Tennessee.[2] Alaina is a strong Christian and often states that she lives for Jesus Christ.[3]

Alaina was inspired to sing by her cousin, Holly Witherow, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor.[4] Prior to Idol, Alaina worked at CiCi's Pizza. She attended Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, where she was a cheerleader.[5] Alaina performed at several Chattanooga-area venues and was the first winner of the WinniSTAR youth talent contest at Lake Winnepesaukah amusement park in 2009.[6][7] In addition to performing, Alaina wrote several songs including "Leaving" and "Set Me Free".

American Idol

Overview

Alaina auditioned for the tenth season of American Idol in Nashville, Tennessee. From early on, Alaina was a judge favorite. After her audition, Idol judge Steven Tyler stated "We found the one." May 14, 2011 was proclaimed "Lauren Alaina Day" in her hometown of Rossville, Georgia. During the season finale, Alaina sang "Before He Cheats" with her idol, Carrie Underwood. On May 25, 2011, Alaina was declared the runner-up.

Performances/Results

Episode Theme Song choice Original artist Order # Result
Audition Auditioner's Choice
 Solo "Like We Never Loved at All" Faith Hill N/A Advanced
Duet "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" with Steven Tyler Aerosmith
Hollywood Round, Part 1 First Solo "Unchained Melody" Todd Duncan N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round, Part 2 Group Performance "Some Kind of Wonderful" Soul Brothers Six N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round, Part 3 Second Solo "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" Aerosmith N/A Advanced
Las Vegas Round Songs of The Beatles
Group Performance		 "Hello, Goodbye" The Beatles N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round Final Final Solo "Unchained Melody" Todd Duncan N/A Advanced
Top 24 (12 Women) Personal Choice "Turn On the Radio" Reba McEntire 11 Advanced
Top 13 Your Personal Idol "Any Man of Mine" Shania Twain 1 Safe
Top 12 Year You Were Born "I'm the Only One" Melissa Etheridge 11 Safe
Top 11 Motown "You Keep Me Hangin' On" The Supremes 4 Safe
Top 111 Elton John "Candle in the Wind" Elton John 6 Safe
Top 9 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" Aretha Franklin 4 Safe
Top 8 Songs from the Movies "The Climb" – Hannah Montana: The Movie Miley Cyrus 2 Safe
Top 7 Songs from the 21st Century "Born to Fly" Sara Evans 7 Safe
Top 6 Carole King Solo "Where You Lead" Carole King 2 Safe
Duet "Up on the Roof" with Scotty McCreery The Drifters 6
Top 5 Songs from Now and Then "Flat on the Floor" Katrina Elam 3 Bottom 22
"Unchained Melody" Todd Duncan 8
Top 4 Inspirational Songs "Anyway" Martina McBride 4 Safe
Leiber & Stoller Songbook "Trouble" Elvis Presley 7
Top 3 Contestant's Choice "Wild One" Zaca Creek 2 Safe
Jimmy Iovine's Choice "If I Die Young" The Band Perry 5
Judges' Choice "I Hope You Dance" Lee Ann Womack 8
Finale Favorite Idol Performance "Flat on the Floor" Katrina Elam 2 Runner-up
Carrie Underwood's Choice "Maybe It Was Memphis" Pam Tillis 4
Coronation Song "Like My Mother Does" Kristy Lee Cook 6

Music career

As the runner-up in the competition, Alaina has been signed to Interscope Records, Mercury Nashville and 19 Recordings. Alaina released her single "Like My Mother Does" following the finale of Season 10 of American Idol. The song entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at forty-nine and the Hot 100 chart at twenty[8][9] and sold 121,000 copies in its first week.[10]

Following the conclusion of Season 10, Alaina appeared and performed on several talk shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Live with Regis and Kelly and The Today Show. On June 8, 2011, Alaina and McCreery presented at the CMT Music Awards. In addition, Alaina made her Grand Ole Opry debut on June 9 and performed with Martina McBride during her LP Field performance at the CMA Music Festival the following day. The following summer, Alaina toured with the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2011, which began in West Valley City, Utah on July 6, 2011 and ended in Manila, Philippines on September 21, 2011.

2011-2012: Wildflower

On October 11, 2011, Alaina released her debut album Wildflower, which debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart and sold 69,000 copies the first week.[11] The single "Georgia Peaches" was released on October 24, 2011.[12] To promote her album, Alaina has made numerous television and radio appearances. On October 22, 2011, Alaina performed at Opry Goes Pink, a benefit concert at the Grand Ole Opry for Women for the Cure. On November 10, 2011, Alaina performed "My Grown Up Christmas List" on CMA Country Christmas. In addition, Alaina performed for the president in the PBS special In Performance at the White House. Furthermore, Alaina performed the National Anthem at the Thanksgiving Day game between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. On New Year's Eve, Alaina performed her single "Georgia Peaches" on American Country New Years Eve Live.

Alaina served as an opening act for Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party Tour through January 20, 2012 to May 19, 2012.[13] In addition to the My Kinda Party Tour, Alaina opened for Sugarland's In the Hands of the Fans tour for a number of selected dates, beginning on April 5, 2012 and concluding on September 1, 2012. On March 8, 2012, Alaina performed "Georgia Peaches" on the Top 13 results show for the eleventh season of American Idol. On March 26, 2012, Alaina performed her single "Georgia Peaches" on the Today Show. On June 16, 2012, Alaina headlined the final show of Riverbend, a music festival in her hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee.[14]

It was announced that "Eighteen Inches" would be Alaina's third single off her album, Wildflower.[15] The single was sent to country radio on July 16.[16] In support of the song, Alaina began an 18-city tour. Proceeds from each show benefit various local charities, including the Special Olympics. The Inch-By-Inch tour kicked off on September 21, 2012 and wrapped up November 12, 2012.[17]

2012-present: Second studio album

During a September 2012 interview, Alaina announced that she had been writing and going through a lot of songs for her next album. She said, "I've been going though tons and tons of songs, looking at different styles and things that fit me as an artist."[18] On January 21, 2013, Alaina posted on her Twitter account that she had started recording for her second album.[19] Two tracks called "Breakdown" and "Same Day, Different Bottle" are rumored to be included on Alaina's upcoming album.[20][21] On May 7, 2013, Alaina released the first single off of her second album, "Barefoot and Buckwild", a song she took part in writing. She performed the song on American Idol on May 9, 2013.[22] Furthermore, Alaina was chosen to record the theme song for a new "Seaworld" attraction called "Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin."[23]

On December 10, 2013, Alaina released her cover of "My Grown Up Christmas List".[24]

Personal life

Alaina has revealed that she was put under pressure to lose weight, by the program organizers, to compete with the other girls. In 2011, she announced that she had lost 25 pounds, mainly by reducing her meal sizes.[25] She has also revealed having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when asked what set her apart from the other American Idol contestants.[26]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Sales
US Country
[27]		 US
[28]		 CAN
[29]
Wildflower 2 5 22

Compilation albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Sales
US Country
[27]		 US
[28]		 US Indie
[31]
American Idol Season 10:
Lauren Alaina
  • Release date: May 24, 2011
  • Label: 19
  • Formats: Digital download
 9 42 6

Extended plays

Title Details Peak chart
positions		 Sales
US Country
[27]		 US
[28]
American Idol Season 10
Highlights: Lauren Alaina
  • Release date: June 28, 2011
  • Label: 19/Interscope/Mercury Nashville
  • Format: CD, digital download
 6 24

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Sales Album
US Country
[34]		 US Country Airplay
[35]		 US
[36]		 CAN
[37]
2011 "Like My Mother Does" 36 — 20 50 Wildflower
"Georgia Peaches" 28 — — —
2012 "Eighteen Inches" 37 34 — —
2013 "Barefoot and Buckwild" 34 56 — — N/A
"My Grown Up Christmas List" — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other charted songs

Year Single Peak positions Album
US
2011 "Dirt Road Prayer"A 118 Wildflower

Music videos

Year Video Director
2011 "Like My Mother Does"[43] Shaun Silva
2012 "Georgia Peaches" David McClister

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Result
2012 CMT Music Awards USA Breakthrough Video of the Year Nominated
Teen Choice Awards 2012 Choice Female Country Artist Nominated
Choice TV: Female Reality Star (American Idol) Nominated
Inspirational Country Music Awards Inspirational video — "Like My Mother Does" Nominated
American Country Awards New Artist of the Year Won

References

  1. ↑ "Billboard Country Update 5/31/2011". Billboard. May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  2. ↑ "American Idol fans rally behind Suddeth family". Chattanooga Times Free Press. March 14, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
  3. ↑ "American Idol's Lauren Alaina on Vocal Problems: I Knew God Would Get Me Through It". TVGuide.com. May 24, 2011.
  4. ↑ "5 Things You Don't Know About American Idol's Lauren Alaina". USMagazine.com. March 9, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Suddeth advances in ‘Idol’". Chattanooga Times Free Press. March 4, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  6. ↑ "A WinniSTAR is Born at Lake Winnepesaukah!". Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park. September 2, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Polished 'Idol': Venue owners not surprised by Suddeth's success". Chattanooga Times Free Press. February 21, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Scotty McCreery Makes Historic Start, Lauren Alaina Bows On Country Songs". Billboard. May 30, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  9. ↑ "'American Idol' winners Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina make big Hot 100 debuts". Entertainment Weekly. June 2, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  10. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (June 1, 2011). "Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina tracks top country sales". Idol Chatter. USA Today. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  11. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (October 19, 2011). "Lauren Alaina's 69,000 sales mean a top-five debut". Idol Chatter. USA Today. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Lauren Alaina Releases Wildflower on Oct. 11th with National Media Blitz". Interscope.com. October 5, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Lauren Joins Jason Aldean's 2012 Tour". Taste of Country. December 2, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Lauren Alaina returns to her roots at Riverbend". Chattanooga Times Free Press. June 16, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Lauren Alaina Announces New Single "18 Inches" at CMA Fest". mjsbigblog.com. June 8, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  16. ↑ "LAUREN ALAINA TO RELEASE NEW SINGLE, "EIGHTEEN INCHES," ON JULY 16". laurenalainaofficial.com. June 29, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Lauren Alaina embarks on Inch-By-Inch tour". Chattanooga Times Free Press. September 21, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  18. ↑ "'American Idol' alum Lauren Alaina talks about new album, transition to adulthood ". flipsidepa.com. September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Lauren Alaina Begins Work on New Album ". Taste Of Country. January 21, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Lauren Alaina Performs New Song 'Breakdown' Live ". Taste of Country. March 9, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Lauren Alaina Shares Brave New Song About Family Alcoholism ". Yahoo Music. November 6, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Lauren Alaina To Perform New Single On Idol". allaccess.com. May 7, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Lauren Alaina records Theme Song for SeaWorld Attraction". Taste Of Country. May 11, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  24. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (December 9, 2013). "Premiere: Lauren Alaina's 'Grown-Up Christmas List'". USA Today.
  25. ↑ Fitzmaurice, Sarah (October 29, 2011). "American Idol star Lauren Alaina shows off slimline figure after shedding 25lbs". dailymail.co.uk.
  26. ↑ Avalos, Regina (March 6, 2011). "Lauren Alaina dishes on being one of the top 13 on 'American Idol'". wordpress, via examiner.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 "Lauren Alaina Album & Song Chart History – Country Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 "Lauren Alaina Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Lauren Alaina Album & Song Chart History – Canadian Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  30. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (January 9, 2013). "Phillip Philips' album sales rise". Idol Chatter. USA Today. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Lauren Alaina Album & Song Chart History – Independent Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  32. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (September 7, 2011). "Scotty and Lauren stick on The Billboard 200". Idol Chatter. USA Today. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  33. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (October 26, 2011). "Scotty McCreery moves up the album chart". Idol Chatter. USA Today. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  34. ↑ "Lauren Alaina Album & Song Chart History – Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  35. ↑ "Lauren Alaina Album & Song Chart History – Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  36. ↑ "Lauren Alaina Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  37. ↑ "Lauren Alaina Album & Song Chart History – Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  38. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (May 16, 2012). "'Idol' performance boosts J-Lo's sales". Idol Chatter. USA Today. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  39. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (June 13, 2012). "'Good Girl' gets a million". Idol Chatter. USA Today.
  40. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (November 28, 2012). "Phillip Phillips' album debuts at No. 4". Idol Chatter. USA Today. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  41. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (May 22, 2013). "New 'Idol' downloads lag behind previous winners". Idol Chatter. USA Today.
  42. ↑ "Bubbling Under Hot 100 Week of October 29, 2011". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  43. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Lauren Alaina : Like My Mother Does". Country Music Television. Retrieved August 9, 2011.

External links