Diana DeGarmo

Diana DeGarmo competed against some of the most powerful vocalists ever to set foot on the "American Idol" (Fox, 2002-16) stage, herself emerging as a dynamic entertainer of the stage and screen. Diana DeGarmo was born on June 16, 1987 in Birmingham, AL and raised in Snellville, GA. As a child, DeGarmo participated in various beauty pageants, talent contests, and local theater productions. She honed her vocal skills by regularly singing the "Star-Spangled Banner" in school and at major sporting events in town, which reportedly earned her the nickname "the national anthem girl." DeGarmo first impressed a nationwide audience in 2002 as a finalist on "America's Most Talented Kids" (NBC, 2003-04). That same year, the aspiring singer won the title of Miss Teen Georgia. DeGarmo was 16 years old when she auditioned for the third season of the hit reality competition show, "American Idol." After several rounds of auditions, she landed in the coveted Top 12, which also included more seasoned belters such as Fantasia Barrino and Jennifer Hudson. The young and fresh-faced DeGarmo held her own against the powerhouse divas and soulful crooners of her season, performing classic tracks such as Aretha Franklin's "Think" (1968), Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" (1997), and Vicki Sue Robinson's disco hit "Turn the Beat Around" (1976).