Chris Daughtry performs for the Greensboro crowd on his return post Idol in June 2006.Just 3 years ago the world had never heard of Chris Daughtry. Mr. Daughtry at the time was the Service Manager for the local Honda dealership with dreams of stardom and plans to get it through a talent show called American Idol. Being voted off 3 weeks ahead of the final in May 2006, Mr Daughtry's plans looked like they were in shambles.
In this very blog on May 11, 2006 (Another One Bites the Dust, eh maybe not) I made the following statement, "In retrospect, it may be the best thing America could have done for him. If he had been hung with the mantle of "Idol '06" for at least the next 12 months, he would be singing "their songs" and doing "their concerts" and "doing their events" and to be honest, I don't see Mr. Daughtry putting up with that for much more than a day at best." Soothsayer? Naw. (Do you remember who DID win Idol that year? The forgotten Taylor Hicks and his equally forgotten runner up, Katharine McPhee. Hicks was recently dropped from Sony/BMG without a hit and McPhee is still looking for her first hit.)
Fast forward 2 and a half years. Mr Daughtry has is own band, Daughtry, a debut album that has gone triple platinum, the number one selling rock album of the year, and, oh yeah, he still maintains an American Idol connection, being Sony/BMG is the record company behind AI and Mr Daughtry is signed to a unit of Sony/BMG and will make the occasional appearance on the number 1 show on American television. The latest appearance being probably his best to date and he wasn't even live.
For the second year, AI has had one show called "American Idol Gives Back," a telethon with all the stars of screen, TV and music to ask you for money to be given to all kinds of charities. Toward the end of the extended program, Brad Pitt comes on stage to do his part of asking for money and then introduces the next taped piece, this one being Daughtry in Uganda performing the song, "What About Now?"
When you are sent to Uganda for a music video and Brad Pitt intros you, I would say you have made it. I think you can say that the fallen "Idol" of the 2006 season, in reality, was the winner after all.
That is sure a long way from the service department of Crown Honda. Way to go Mr Daughtry. You are a credit to your community and your God. Thanks.
