Chris Daughtry

With his hard, Southern rock sound and commanding stage presence, Chris Daughtry was in a class all his own when he found himself a season five finalist on "American Idol" (Fox, 2002-16). Christopher Adam Daughtry was born on Dec. 26, 1979 in Roanoke Rapids, NC. Growing up, his hobbies were comic books and sports; it was not until he started performing in high school productions that he found his calling in the performing arts. At 16, Daughtry took guitar lessons and began performing as a lead vocalist and guitarist for local rock bands. After graduating from high school in 1998, he worked at a car dealership for a few years and married wife Deanna in 2000, becoming a step-father to one child and adopted father to another. Daughtry auditioned for the singing competition "Rock Star: INXS" (CBS, 2005), but failed to make the cut. He tried his luck again with "American Idol," auditioning for the show's fifth season in Denver, CO. His unforgettable rendition of The Box Tops' rock song "The Letter" (1967) impressed the judges and he made it to the semi-finals round in Hollywood.