Whatever Happened To Taylor Hicks From American Idol?

"American Idol" fans will likely recall the thrilling moment Taylor Hicks won Season 5 of the iconic reality singing competition (via EW). That was back in 2006 — and would you believe the Alabama native beat Katharine McPhee to take home the win (via Popsugar)? His signature single "Do I Make You Proud?" led the 29-year-old to victory. In the process of securing the title and joining the likes of Kelly Clarkson in the winner's circle, he sang past the now more well-known Kellie Pickler and Chris Daughtry, who competed against Hicks during the season and finished in sixth and fourth place respectively, according to Reality TV World.

AOL credits Hicks' distinctive voice for his win and noted that he went on to sign a record deal after the finale. His single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in the top spot, so he made quite the entry into the competitive world of professional singing. Even the infamously tough to please "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell predicted Hicks would run away with the victory so, clearly, scores of fans loved him (via Today). With that successful start, you might be wondering how the grey-haired soul singer disappeared into basic oblivion.

Unfortunately, Taylor Hicks' star didn't shine for long. His record label dropped him just two years after winning the nationwide singing contest (via Fox News). However, he wasn't finished yet.

Around the same time as his second album's release, Taylor Hicks took his talents to Broadway where he played Teen Angel in a production of "Grease." "I am incredibly excited to be a part of one of my favorite musicals," the musician said in a statement (via Playbill). "The Soul Patrol's gonna invade Broadway!" Following the show's success, he reprised his role as Teen Angel for the national tour of "Grease" in the summer of 2008 (via Playbill).

It was a busy time for Hicks. A year previously, he published a memoir — "Heart of Soul: An Inspirational Memoir About Finding Your Voice and Finding Your Way" (via TV Fanatic). The book was published by The Crown Publishing Group (via People) and was reportedly ghost-written by David Wild, according to the musician's agent Alan Nevins. Hicks allegedly received around $750,000 in advance of the memoir before publishing, according to the New York Post.

In a surprising twist of events, Taylor Hicks made his television debut as a judge on an episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" in 2013 (via The Hollywood Reporter). Playing himself, Hicks sat alongside "American Idol" season two runner-up Clay Aiken and R&B musician Ashanti on the judging panel for a fictional singing competition. The episode revolved around a scandal involving a singing coach played by Billy Porter.

Hicks had a blast shooting the episode and reveled in channeling his "inner Simon Cowell." It was also his first opportunity to experience the realm of acting. "Playing yourself is a really great way to get your feet wet in the acting field," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "I was born on TV, meaning that's where I caught my break. So that's where I always have to be smart and revisit that medium as much as I can."

In 2021, Hicks branched out to the film world with the independent movie "Stars Fell On Alabama" (via AL.com). Not only did he star as himself in the film, but he also provided a few songs to the soundtrack. He provided a taste of his next album through the single "Porch Swing." He also put his "musical producer hat" on to help plan which songs would be used in specific scenes (via AL.com).

It wasn't easy for Taylor Hicks after his "American Idol" days. The fame the singing reality show brought him, as the winner of the fifth season in 2006, meant exaggerated attention from the paps. In fact, the fan frenzy around Hicks got so vigorous at times that he had to hire personal security. Insider reported that the singer was once the target of a stalker-like situation wherein a cameraman allegedly tailed him for months in a helicopter. "I had a bodyguard for six months, it was very intense for me," Hicks said. Despite the frills surrounding his vocation, Hicks knew from a young age that this was the path he wanted to take. "I had a vision as a child about three years old to be an entertainer and to create music," he told Dr. Phil, acknowledging the "sudden fame" he came into with his victory. 

According to data presented by YouGov America, Hicks is the 22nd most popular blues artist on a list that also ranks the likes of music legends Janis Joplin and B.B. King. Yet, for all the fame he enjoyed after American Idol, Hicks apparently managed to keep a cool head, even telling aspirants in the field that if they were using their abilities "to try to become famous, find another job."

Reality television really does open doors. Taylor Hicks, not one to be afraid of diving into varied projects post his "American Idol" win, has acquainted himself well with acting. Besides his notable appearance on an episode of "Law & Order" in 2013, Hicks took the stage in an enthralling new way in 2019 with another significant acting role in the musical titled "Shenandoah." Produced by Serenbe Playhouse, the award-winning American Civil War-based musical was headlined by Hicks, who played the central role of Charlie Anderson (per Fox 5). "Shenandoah" follows the story of Anderson's family and the events that transpire after one of his sons is taken prisoner during the war. 

"This puts me in a pure acting role. And I love the story," Hicks said of the project, which lined up songs like "Meditation" and "It's a Boy" for him to sing (via AL.com). Brian Clowdus, director of the musical, stated categorically that he envisioned "star power" in the lead role of his production. Hicks, meanwhile, hasn't been shy about expressing a desire to land full-blown screen acting roles, saying that opportunities such as "Shenandoah" could help build street cred for him to pave the way into bigger ventures. In the past, Hicks — who also has a food show and a published memoir under his belt — has candidly spoken about being open to "different impressions and reinventions in [his] career" (via Hollywood Soapbox). 

When Taylor Hicks was crowned the winner of the fifth season of "American Idol," over 36 million people tuned in to watch — among the highest-viewed finales of the reality show (via Billboard). Naturally, that would be a high hard to forget — and Hicks clearly hasn't. The 45-year-old singer often reminisces about his glory days on social media. In May 2022, he shared a clip of his memorable purple-jacketed rendition of "Living for the City" on the "American Idol" stage 16 years ago. "The journey continues," he wrote on Instagram, where he enjoys a following of over 20,000 fans. 

Though the reality show reportedly hasn't peaked lately as it did around 2006, Hicks has been all praises about the platform that shot him to fame. "I think there's a unilateral focus on the show and really trying to create a star in this business," he told Rolling Stone. Calling it one of the "biggest blessings" of his life, he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "I will always be a cheerleader when it comes to that show." One particular statement Hicks made in 2018 about the show left mouths agape, though. He alleged on a radio show that during his "Idol" stint, he had an inside person in production who relayed weekly elimination results to him before they were made public. Per TMZ, the only result he wasn't in the know about was his own finale win.