# Jordin Sparks
**Jordin Sparks** (full name Jordin Brianna Sparks) is an American pop and R&B singer, songwriter, and actress who won the sixth season of *American Idol* on May 23, 2007, at age 17, becoming the youngest winner the show had had at that time.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857) Her debut single "Tattoo" and the Grammy-nominated duet "No Air" with [Chris Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-brown) were Hot 100 hits, and her career has since spanned pop, R&B, and contemporary [Christian music](https://www.edgepedia.org/christian-music), along with Broadway, film, and television work.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857) • [2](https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/s/so-sz/jordin-sparks/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Idol win | Season 6 champion, May 23, 2007, at 17; beat Blake Lewis and Melinda Doolittle; never in the bottom two or three[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857) |
| Biggest hits | "No Air" No. 3 (35 weeks), "Tattoo" No. 8 (31 weeks), "Battlefield" No. 10 (22 weeks) on the Hot 100[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/jordin-sparks/) |
| Sales | Over 10 million digital tracks sold cumulatively in the U.S.[2](https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/s/so-sz/jordin-sparks/) |
| Studio albums | Jordin Sparks (2007), Battlefield (2009), Right Here Right Now (2015), Cider & Hennessy (2020), No Restrictions (2024)[4](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5508631d-697f-4839-a669-06637e5bcb90?all=1&page=4&va=0) |
| Grammy nominations | Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for "No Air" (2009); Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for "Love Me Like I Am" with For King & Country (2024)[5](https://www.grammy.com/artists/jordin-sparks/10116/) |
| Other awards | Two BET Awards, one American Music Award, one People's Choice Award; nominations for two MTV Awards[2](https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/s/so-sz/jordin-sparks/) |
| Stage and screen | Broadway debut in In the Heights and later starring role in Waitress; film debut as the lead in Sparkle opposite Whitney Houston[2](https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/s/so-sz/jordin-sparks/) |
## Early life and background
Before *American Idol*, Sparks had already won two youth talent competitions: NBC's *America's Most Talented Kids* in 2002 and the 2005 Coca-Cola Rising Star contest.[6](https://www.sonybmgmusic.co.uk/artists/jordin_sparks/biog/) At 17 she took the *Idol* title as the youngest winner the show had produced to that point and spent the summer after her win recording her eponymous debut album.[6](https://www.sonybmgmusic.co.uk/artists/jordin_sparks/biog/)
## American Idol (season 6)
Sparks beat out Blake Lewis and Melinda Doolittle to become the sixth *American Idol* on May 23, 2007.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857) Like fellow winners [Kelly Clarkson](https://www.edgepedia.org/kelly-clarkson), Carrie Underwood, and [Taylor Hicks](https://www.edgepedia.org/taylor-hicks), she was never in the bottom two or three performers throughout the entire competition.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857) Her coronation song, "This Is My Now," entered the Hot 100 on June 9, 2007, and peaked at number 15 during a four-week run.[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/jordin-sparks/)
## Recording career
**Debut era (2007–2009).** Her eponymous debut on 19 Recordings, Jive, and the Zomba Label Group reached the Top Ten of the Billboard 200 and produced the Hot 100 hits "Tattoo" and "No Air."[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857) • [7](https://www.discogs.com/artist/978939-Jordin-Sparks) Her second album, *Battlefield* (2009, Jive/19 Recordings), hit number seven on the Billboard 200 and led to her first headlining tour of the U.S.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857) During this period she also recorded "Art of Love" with Australian singer Guy Sebastian for Sony Music (2009) and the single "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)."[7](https://www.discogs.com/artist/978939-Jordin-Sparks)
**Hiatus and return (2011–2015).** After "I Am Woman" (2011), she spent roughly five years focused on television and film work before returning in 2015 with *Right Here Right Now* on 19 Recordings/Louder Than Life, led by the single "Double Tap," which reached number 11 on a Billboard chart.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857) • [7](https://www.discogs.com/artist/978939-Jordin-Sparks)
**Independent era (2019–present).** She later parted ways with Louder Than Life/RAL and returned to music with *1990 Forever*, a joint EP with singer Elijah Blake (2019).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857) In 2020 she released two projects on independent imprints: the EP *Sounds Like Me* in August and her first Christmas album, *Cider & Hennessy*, in November, on Disrupt Group and Brighter Day Records.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857) • [7](https://www.discogs.com/artist/978939-Jordin-Sparks) A further holiday release, *The Gift of Christmas*, followed in 2023.[4](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5508631d-697f-4839-a669-06637e5bcb90?all=1&page=4&va=0)
## Discography
Studio albums and EPs:
- *Jordin Sparks* (2007), 19 Recordings/Jive/Zomba Label Group[7](https://www.discogs.com/artist/978939-Jordin-Sparks)
- *Battlefield* (2009), Jive/19 Recordings[7](https://www.discogs.com/artist/978939-Jordin-Sparks)
- *Right Here Right Now* (2015), 19 Recordings/Louder Than Life[7](https://www.discogs.com/artist/978939-Jordin-Sparks)
- *1990 Forever* (2019), EP with Elijah Blake[4](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5508631d-697f-4839-a669-06637e5bcb90?all=1&page=4&va=0)
- *Sounds Like Me* (2020), EP[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857)
- *Cider & Hennessy* (2020), Disrupt Group/Brighter Day Records[7](https://www.discogs.com/artist/978939-Jordin-Sparks)
- *The Gift of Christmas* (2023)[4](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5508631d-697f-4839-a669-06637e5bcb90?all=1&page=4&va=0)
- *No Restrictions* (2024)[4](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5508631d-697f-4839-a669-06637e5bcb90?all=1&page=4&va=0)
Notable singles and collaborations include "Tattoo" (2007), "No Air" with Chris Brown (2008), "One Step at a Time" (2007), "Battlefield" and "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)" (2009), "I Am Woman" (2011), "Celebrate" with [Whitney Houston](https://www.edgepedia.org/whitney-houston) (2012, RCA), "It Ain't You" (2014), "Double Tap" (2015), "Love Me Like I Am" with [For King & Country](https://www.edgepedia.org/for-king-and-country-band), and "Call My Name" (October 2023).[7](https://www.discogs.com/artist/978939-Jordin-Sparks) • [2](https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/s/so-sz/jordin-sparks/) • [1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857)
## By the numbers
Sparks' Hot 100 record centers on three Top 10 hits.[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/jordin-sparks/) "No Air," her duet with Chris Brown, entered the chart on January 19, 2008, peaked at number 3, and stayed on for 35 weeks, the longest run of her singles.[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/jordin-sparks/) "Tattoo" entered on October 13, 2007, peaked at number 8, and charted for 31 weeks; "Battlefield" entered on May 30, 2009, peaked at number 10, and ran 22 weeks; "One Step at a Time" entered on July 12, 2008, and peaked at number 17 over 21 weeks.[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/jordin-sparks/) Cumulatively, her singles have sold over 10 million digital tracks in the U.S.[2](https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/s/so-sz/jordin-sparks/)
## Acting, theater, and television
Sparks made her Broadway debut starring in [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://www.edgepedia.org/lin-manuel-miranda)'s *In the Heights* and later took the lead role of Jenna in *Waitress*, with music by [Sara Bareilles](https://www.edgepedia.org/sara-bareilles).[2](https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/s/so-sz/jordin-sparks/) Her film debut was the lead role in [Sony Pictures](https://www.edgepedia.org/sony-pictures)' *Sparkle*, opposite Whitney Houston.[2](https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/s/so-sz/jordin-sparks/) In 2021 she competed on both *The Masked Singer* and *Dancing with the Stars*, and she executive-produced and starred in Hallmark's *A Christmas Treasure*.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857) • [2](https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/s/so-sz/jordin-sparks/)
## Awards and recognition
Sparks has won two [BET Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/bet-awards), one American Music Award, and one People's Choice Award, with nominations for two MTV Awards.[2](https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/s/so-sz/jordin-sparks/) She has received two Grammy nominations: Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for "No Air" in 2009, and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for "Love Me Like I Am" with For King & Country in 2024.[5](https://www.grammy.com/artists/jordin-sparks/10116/) As a songwriter she co-wrote [Ariana Grande](https://www.edgepedia.org/ariana-grande)'s single "The Way," earning a BMI songwriting award, and she has served as Governor of the LA Chapter of the Recording Academy.[2](https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/s/so-sz/jordin-sparks/)
## How it compares with other Idol winners
Among *American Idol* winners, Sparks occupies a distinctive commercial position. Her run without ever landing in the bottom group matches Clarkson, Underwood, and Hicks.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857) "No Air" is cited as the third-highest-selling single by any *American Idol* contestant, and it earned her and Chris Brown nominations for a Teen Choice Award, a Video Music Award, and a Grammy.[8](https://uinterview.com/ubio/jordin-sparks-biography-in-her-own-words-video-exclusive-news-photos/) Her trajectory also differs from winners who stayed on major labels: after her Jive-era peak she moved through a joint-venture label and then to independent releases, a path reflected in her label history from 19/Jive/Zomba to Louder Than Life to Disrupt Group and Brighter Day Records.[7](https://www.discogs.com/artist/978939-Jordin-Sparks)
## What has changed since 2023
In 2023 Sparks received Dove, Billboard, and Grammy nominations for "Love Me Like I Am," her number-one single with For King & Country, and released the singles "Call My Name" and "Candy Cane Lane."[2](https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/s/so-sz/jordin-sparks/) "Call My Name," issued in October 2023, was the first single from her fifth full-length album.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857) That album, *No Restrictions* (2024), is streaming on all platforms and is described on her official site as capturing her evolution as an artist and storyteller.[4](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5508631d-697f-4839-a669-06637e5bcb90?all=1&page=4&va=0) • [9](https://www.jordinsparks.com/) The 2024 Grammy nomination for "Love Me Like I Am" marked her second nod, seventeen years after her Idol win.[5](https://www.grammy.com/artists/jordin-sparks/10116/)
## References
1. [Jordin Sparks — Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews | AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jordin-sparks-mn0000729857)
2. [Jordin Sparks | Kennedy Center artist profile](https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/s/so-sz/jordin-sparks/)
3. [Jordin Sparks | Biography, Music & News | Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/artist/jordin-sparks/)
4. [Jordin Sparks - MusicBrainz](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5508631d-697f-4839-a669-06637e5bcb90?all=1&page=4&va=0)
5. [Jordin Sparks Grammy Awards and Nominations, Recording Academy](https://www.grammy.com/artists/jordin-sparks/10116/)
6. [Sony BMG Music UK | Artists | Jordin Sparks](https://www.sonybmgmusic.co.uk/artists/jordin_sparks/biog/)
7. [Jordin Sparks - Discogs](https://www.discogs.com/artist/978939-Jordin-Sparks)
8. [Jordin Sparks Biography: In Her Own Words – uInterview](https://uinterview.com/ubio/jordin-sparks-biography-in-her-own-words-video-exclusive-news-photos/)
9. [HOME | JORDIN SPARKS](https://www.jordinsparks.com/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical works and recordings › Discographies and musical catalogues › Thematic song lists, charts, and media-franchise catalogs › Media, competition, and soundtrack song catalogs › Music competition contestant discographies*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license