Ruben Studdard

“Luther Vandross is my biggest musical influence.”

“I always tell people, I'm a singer, not a dancer.”

“I've always been a fan of the big balladeers, the guys who could just stand there and sing and you were captivated.”

“I'm just a regular guy from Birmingham, Alabama, that was blessed to be able to sing.”

“The first concert I ever went to was a gospel concert.”

“Winning 'American Idol' was the beginning of my journey, not the end.”

“I want people to know that I'm a real person. I'm not a caricature.”

“My faith is the most important thing in my life.”

“Music is my life. It's the only thing I've ever wanted to do.”

“You have to be true to yourself and what you do.”

“I think it's important for artists to be able to be themselves and be comfortable in their own skin.”

“I'm a big man and I like big food.”

“God has blessed me with a gift, and I just want to use it to the best of my ability.”