For nearly two decades, millions of dedicated viewers have followed American Idol. But true Idol fans know: there's never been anything like Season 5. It's fair to say that no season of any televised talent show has ever assembled a more varied, more entertaining, and more electrifying group of contestants. Kellie Pickler, Chris Daughtry, Elliott Yamin, Taylor Hicks, Mandisa, Katharine McPhee – it's hard to believe now, but all of these artists came to prominence on the fifth season. And right in the middle of the field, singing her heart out, and winning more attention and acclaim every time a new episode aired was the irrepressible Paris Bennett.
Bennett was a teenager when she starred on Idol, but as fans of the show surely recall, she astounded the judges by demonstrating the command of a seasoned stage performer. Pop, soul, classic rock, jazz, show tunes, and standards: she could sing it all, and masterfully. As a solo artist, she's drawn on that flexibility, consistently recording and releasing music that showcases her playfulness, her love of surprise, and her impeccable sense of balance – even when straddling genres. Princess P, a fiery club album that topped Billboard's "Heatseekers" and sold more than twenty thousand copies, included a reworking of pop-soul classic "My Boyfriend's Back." A Royal Christmas, her popular holiday collection, contained plenty of traditional material, but also a few boldly reimagined versions of seasonal standards. Since her turn
on Idol, she's dedicated herself to philanthropy, she's been on Broadway, and graced concert stages all over the world. With every step, she's upended expectations and gotten better and better at her craft.
