50 interesting facts about Jordin Sparks: was crowned the winner of the sixth season of American Idol

50 things about the winner of the sixth season of American Idol, Jordin Sparks.

1. Jordin Brianna Sparks is an American singer, songwriter and actress.

2. In 2007, she rose to fame after winning the sixth season of American Idol; at age 17, she became the youngest winner in the series' history.

3. Her self-titled debut album was released later that year; it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold over two million copies worldwide. The album spawned US Billboard Hot 100 top-ten singles "Tattoo" and "No Air"; the latter is currently the third-highest-selling single by any American Idol contestant, selling over three million digital copies in the US.

4. Sparks' second album, Battlefield (2009), debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200. Its lead single, also titled "Battlefield", reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Sparks the only American Idol contestant to have her first five singles reach the top twenty on the chart.

5. The second single, "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)", became Sparks' first number one on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart.

6. Throughout her career, Sparks has won numerous awards, including an NAACP Image Award, a BET Award, an American Music Award, a People's Choice Award and two Teen Choice Awards.

7. In 2009, Billboard magazine ranked her as the 91st Artist of the 2000s Decade.

8. In 2012, Sparks was ranked at number 92 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Women in Music".

9. As of February 2012, she has sold 1.3 million albums and 10.2 million singles in the United States alone, making her one of the most successful American Idol contestants of all time.

10. Jordin Sparks branched out from recording music, pursuing careers in acting and Broadway, and designing perfumes.

11. That same year, Sparks made her Broadway debut in the musical In The Heights, starring as Nina Rosario.

12. Jordin Sparks made her feature film debut in a remake of the musical film Sparkle (2012), which also starred Whitney Houston, Derek Luke, Carmen Ejogo and Tika Sumpter.

13. In October 2010, Sparks released her first perfume, Because of You..., which was followed by her second perfume, Fascinate, in March 2012, with her third perfume, Ambition, in November 2012.

14. Sparks' upcoming third studio album titled Right Here, Right Now, is scheduled for release in August 2015.

15. Jordin Sparks was born in Phoenix, Arizona, to Jodi (née Weidmann) Sparks and former professional football player Phillippi Sparks.

16. Jordin Sparks has a younger brother, Phillippi "PJ" Sparks, Jr., who plays football at Arizona Christian University.

17. Her father is African-American and her mother is Caucasian.

18. Jordin Sparks grew up in the suburbs of Ridgewood, New Jersey, while her father played as a defensive back for the New York Giants.

19. After living in New Jersey, Sparks attended Northwest Community Christian School in Phoenix through the eighth grade.

20. Jordin Sparks attended Sandra Day O'Connor High School until 2006, when she was homeschooled to better concentrate on her singing.

21. Jordin Sparks is an evangelical Christian and attends Calvary Community Church in Phoenix.

22. Jordin Sparks On her American Idol biography, she thanks her parents and God for her win.

23. Jordin Sparks won an award for best young artist of the year in Arizona three years in a row.

24. Before appearing on American Idol, Sparks participated in and won such talent competitions as Coca-Cola's Rising Star, the Gospel Music Association Academy's Overall Spotlight Award, America's Most Talented Kids, Colgate Country Showdown, and the 2006 Drug Free AZ Superstar Search.

25. Prior to Idol, Sparks frequently performed the national anthem at various local sporting events, notably for the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals, and Arizona Diamondbacks.

26. Jordin Sparks also appeared with Alice Cooper in his 2004 Christmas show and toured with Christian contemporary singer Michael W. Smith in 2006.

27. In 2006, Sparks was one of six winners of the Phoenix Torrid search for the "Next Plus Size Model". She was flown to California, where she was featured in numerous Torrid ads and promotional pieces.

28. A full-page ad for Torrid featuring Sparks ran in the December 2006 issue of Seventeen magazine.

29. In the summer of 2006, Sparks auditioned twice for the sixth season of American Idol: once in Los Angeles but failed to make it past the first round; and again in Seattle after winning Arizona Idol, a talent competition conducted by Phoenix Fox station KSAZ-TV.

30. The Seattle audition is the one seen in the January 17, 2007, broadcast of American Idol, in which she earned a "gold ticket" and the right to appear in the Hollywood Round. American Idol judge Randy Jackson made the offhand prediction that "Curly hair will win this year."

31. While on the show, Sparks gained a loyal fan base known as "Sparkplugs".

32. On May 23, 2007, Sparks was crowned the winner of the sixth season of American Idol.

33. Since her win in 2007, Sparks has returned to Idol six times. She performed twice on the seventh season of American Idol, once on the Idol Gives Back results show singing "No Air" with Chris Brown and again with "One Step at a Time" on May 21, 2008, for the finale. She performed "Battlefield" on the May 13, 2009, episode of American Idol.

34. After winning American Idol, Sparks signed to 19 Recordings/Jive Records, becoming the first Idol winner to join the label.

35. In April 2008, it was announced that Sparks would team up with cosmetics company, Avon, to become a spokesperson for the teen-focused line Mark.

36. In November 2008, Sparks teamed up with Wet Seal to create her own clothing line 'Sparks', The line launched on November 19, 2008, featuring sizes XS to XL. Sparks said, "I am so excited that Wet Seal and I have been able to create a line of clothing that will appeal to more girls than ever before."

37. In October 2010, Sparks released her debut fragrance, "Because of You...." This fragrance was exclusively distributed at first by Dots Department Stores, but by November was made available to other retail stores. Sparks wanted this product to be affordable for her fans, yet still high end.

38. In March 2012, due to the success of her first fragrance, Sparks' released her second fragrance, Fascinate, exclusively with Dots Fashions as a sister scent to her first.

39. It was announced on October 22, 2012, that Sparks was releasing her third fragrance Ambition. In an interview Sparks said; "Right now, I feel like I can take on the world. Ambition is the perfect word for where I am in my life right now".

40. In 2009, she made her acting debut on Disney's The Suite Life on Deck, guest starring as herself in the "Crossing Jordin" episode.

41. Sparks also guest starred on the hit Nickelodeon show, Big Time Rush.

42. In November 2013 Sparks guest starred on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Sparks plays Alison Stone, a high school teacher who somehow finds herself scared and covered in blood in a hotel room crime scene.

43. Sparks' interest in nonprofit causes began prior to her appearance on American Idol. She performed at the Arizona Right to Life conference in 2005.

44. In 2007, Sparks was asked by a relative who works for SOS Children's Villages USA in Florida to design a denim jacket festooned with Swarovski Crystal to support orphans.

45. In February 2008, Sparks traveled to Ghana. She was part of the delegation of then U.S. President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush to help with Malaria No More, an organization with a goal to end malaria deaths in Africa by 2015.

46. In 2008, Sparks supported Dosomething.org's Do Something 101 campaign by filming a public service announcement explaining the nationwide school supplies drive project. She further supported the campaign by helping out at the Do Something 101 School Supply Volunteer Event held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

47. On September 17, 2009, Sparks took part in the VH1 Divas special, a concert created to support the channel's Save The Music Foundation.

48. In February 2010, Sparks was one of the many artists who contributed to "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", a charity single for the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

49. Sparks teamed up with Pennyroyal Silver creator and designer, Tim Foster, to create her very own necklace design for the company's signature collection. Proceeds of the necklace funded medical units in Haiti.

50. On July 28, 2011, Sparks performed a live surprise concert in Times Square. Sparks was named the "VH1 Save The Music Foundation Ambassador" in 2011.

Source: Wikipedia.org