Jordin Sparks, born December 22, 1989, is one of the 12 finalists in the this year's (sixth season) of American Idol. Already a favorite in the contest, American Idol judge Randy Jackson, made an offhand prediction that "Curly hair will win this year." Which may have been made in reference to Sparks (or Chris Sligh). Before going on to AI, she won Arizona Idol. Sparks is the daughter of former NFL football player, Phillippi Sparks, and wife Jodi Sparks. She has a younger brother named PJ (Phillippi Sparks, Jr.). As a daughter of an African American father and a white mother, she is biracial. She is managed by maternal grandmother Pam Wiedmann. Sparks is currently homeschooled. She is a fan of football, reading, and music. She also attends church. She has been singing since she was 18 months old.

Sparks was finished second in 2004 at the coveted Music in the Rockies national competition for aspiring Contemporary Christian Music artists.

In 2004, Sparks appeared in America’s Most Talented Kids twice, and won in her first appearance. She was one of seven to appear in a special championship edition of the show. This appearance followed two noted auditions in 2003, one with American Juniors and the other, Star Search.

Sparks has performed the national anthem at various sporting events, notably the Phoenix Suns, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Arizona Diamondbacks. She has also sung in such events as Country Thunder, a famous country music venue. She has appeared with celebrities Alice Cooper (in his 2004 Christmas show) and has twice toured with Christian contemporary singer Michael W. Smith. Smith has shown support of Sparks by encouraging Idol viewers to vote for her on his website.

Sparks recorded an album titled For Now in 2003, a five-song album at the age of thirteen, working with Matthew Ward, a legendary Christian music artist, and Gary Leach, an engineer who has worked on several of LeAnn Rimes’ albums. She appeared in a compilation album titled Live at Mr. Lucky’s in 2004.

As an actress, Sparks has appeared in several plays, recently starring in a dual role as characters Deborah and Bea in Magdalene at the Plumbline Theater in Franklin, Tennessee. She has also performed several times with Valley Youth Theatre in Phoenix, AZ. Her first appearance was in March, 2002 as an Emerald City dancer and as a poppy in The Wiz. She also appeared in VYT’s production of Cinderella in June, 2002 and another production of The Wiz in August, 2002.