Idol Update: Where are they Now? Season Four

Besides those award winning pipes, Carrie claims her college degree as one of her most coveted accomplishments. Carrie finished her last college credits during 2006 and graduated Magna Cum Laude with high honors in May with a degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Journalism from Northeastern State University.
This year she has taken some flack for getting too skinny. She told us that where she is now is closer to her normal weight, "Honestly when I was on Idol, I got a little chunky, that's all. There was food everywhere and I'm a nervous eater and it was definitely the most nerve-racking time in my life. So, my food was my comfort. And it's important to, you know, find something else to fill when I get nervous. I remember seeing pictures like that and people calling me fat and stuff like that, which I certainly wasn't. I never have been, but it's, I don't know, it's important mainly to feel good and feel healthy."

Next Up: With the Grammys behind her, Carrie will begin concentrating on making her second album. Country is what she does best and country is where she will stay with it.

Bo Bice - Though his debut album, "The Real Thing," sold an impressive 661,000 copies the runner-up from season four has had a tough year physically. On October 5, 2006, Bice underwent emergency surgery in Nashville, TN to correct a recurring intestinal problem. According to his official website, the surgery "was not easy or routine." The surgery came after several rounds of tests and doctors deemed his condition serious enough to operate immediately. He was forced to cancel all of his October tour dates, "It's told me that you really have to take care of yourself first and it's no joking matter. I'm not as young as I used to be."

Bo is still living off his Idol success but tells us he knows this could all end one day, "Obviously you can be as busy as you want to for pretty much as long as you want. And I've said it before, I'll gladly go back to playing bars & clubs when it's time to do that."

Next Up: Besides raising his 1 1/2 year old son, Aidan, Bo is currently working on his sophomore album.

Vonzell Solomon - Religious Idol watchers will recall that before her stint on the show, Vonzell worked at the Post Office. She kept that association once the show was over by going on tour as a spokesperson for the Postal Service. As part of her work with them, she sang at Bryant Park in New York City and saw snow for the first time in her life! She recently made a cameo appearance as herself in a film called “Still Green.”

He biggest accomplishment happened recently when she bought her very first home in Ft. Meyers, Florida. She tells us she stills gets recognized to this day though people sometimes get her mixed up with the models on “America’s Next Top Model.”

Next up: Vonzell is starting “The Baby V show”, a local TV show that will reach over 300,000 homes. She will also be releasing an album in early summer on the record label she co-owns with her father, Melodic Records Inc., which allows her to make her own decisions regarding what she wears, and the songs she sings without compromising her beliefs.

Anthony Fedorov - Since Idol ended, Anthony says he took Simon Cowell's advice that he gave him, “Which is to find the right songs and to find great material. So I've been working with a lot of songwriter's and producers to basically get the right stuff. Most importantly right now I became the spokesperson for the SFA. That's the Sarcoma Foundation of America because my brother died (Denis) from Sarcoma cancer about 4 months ago. Like in my brother's case, this cancer very often gets misdiagnosed. The most important thing to know is if someone has constant aches and pains anywhere, don't ignore it! If a doctor says it's nothing, get a second opinion from a Sarcoma doctor. By working with this organization, I hope to make a BIG difference in the lives of many other families and eliminate as much pain as possible.”

Next Up: Anthony begins a run in “The Fantasticks” on Broadway in April. Many of the former Idols have found success on the Great White Way which Anthony tells me, “It's a great way while you're working on your record because it takes about 4 or 5 months to put your record out once you start recording it. So it's a great way to keep your face out in the public eye and continue for people to see you perform.”

Scott Savol - Scott recently got married in July 2006 and moved to Nashville, TN right after his honeymoon in Jamaica. He also recently signed with a new management company, Verge Management (the same company as fellow Idol alum, Jessica Sierra).

Next Up: Scott tells us, “I am blessed to be working with some very talented songwriters and producers in Nashville, and I am in the middle of recording a project right now.” His plan is to have an album out this year. He will be releasing two singles in the near future.

Constantine Maroulis - By the nature of his personality and the speculation last season that he was dating Kellie Pickler, Constantine has kept his name in the public more than any other season four alum besides Carrie. He tells us, “Looking back it was quite a year. I toured and performed all over the United States, which was naturally accompanied by large doses of television and radio. In addition, I spent a great deal of time both writing songs and choosing material for my forthcoming album. The year came to a wonderful close when I was cast in The Wedding Singer on Broadway, completing my 3-month run and loving every second of the experience.”

He is currently starring in a New York production of the show “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.”

Next Up: Constantine tells us, “Something is always in the works, yet I do not like to talk about things until they come to fruition. That said, my main focus at the moment is making my first album about as perfect as it can be.”

Anwar Robinson - As a music teacher in the New Jersey Public School system it makes perfect sense that Anwar has recently become the co-chairperson for the United Way’s Celebrity Read Program where he tells us, "Various community volunteers, parents, and professionals take time to read to students in the greater Essex County area during the month of Black History Month. Also, I will be working with the United Way of my home area to plan events such as a Back To School Event where we will bring a "Celebrity Component" into the schools to boost the overall enthusiasm of our schools and advocate important themes such as literacy and collegiate planning for junior and senior high school students".

With his signature long dreadlocks and that sweet face, Anwar is hard to miss and tells us he still gets recognized, "While this can be reaffirming for my ego, I always wonder what my life would be like had I not gone to audition for Idol. Then, there are many who think that after Idol, one does not have to "work as hard" or "hustle and grind" in order to get ahead. It's really all about the work and commitment to your destiny. That's the most important thing...LEGACY."

Next Up: Good news for Anwar fans he tells me, " To date, I have completed an album of cover songs and am currently working on original material. We anticipate release by Summer/Fall of 2007."

Nadia Turner - Nadia started off 2007 with a bang sitting next to Rosie O’Donnell as a fill in host on “The View.” She just happened to be in that hot seat when Rosie and Donald Trump began their very nasty public feud, which by way of just sitting next to Rosie got Nadia plenty of face time!

Next Up: Fans are still waiting for Nadia’s promised single “Standing on Love” which is awaiting release. She is currently working on her debut album of urban rock music with a target launch date of late Spring. She has a role in a film called “Lord Help Us” which is scheduled for release on DVD in May.

Nikko Smith - Nikko had the distinct pleasure of singing the National Anthem at Game Four of the World Series this year when the Tigers took on his hometown St. Louis Cardinals. Over the summer he held a listening session for tracks on his upcoming cd, which got mostly thumbs ups.

Next Up: Nikko is shopping around his debut cd to record labels.

Jessica Sierra - Like season two’s Diana DeGarmo, Jessica learned the downside of fame when a stalker began harassing her shortly after she made a move to Nashville to pursue her music career further. Sierra began to receive frequent phone calls from Daniel Robert Young, who originally posed as a record producer. On Jan. 17, 2006, Tampa police arrested Young at the home of Sierra’s grandmother. At the time, Tampa police told Florida media outlets that Young had left at least 40 voicemail messages on Sierra’s cell phone. Two months later, a Florida judge ruled that Young was not mentally competent to stand trial and ordered him released to a mental hospital. He was released in April 2006 but the calls reportedly began again in September. On February 1st, Jessica’s rep received another phone call from Young who this time was calling from Nashville where he had recently moved. Police arrested him the next day. He remains in a Nashville prison until a hearing scheduled for April 2nd.

Sierra has turned her experience into something positive by being a spokesperson for the National Stalking Resource Center, educating Americans on the risks of and remedies for stalking. She also tells us, “I have kept busy writing and recording new music and performing at live shows. I have been working with renowned producer, Nick Brophy (Avril Lavigne, Hootie and The Blowfish, The Rolling Stones), and one of the songs we recorded (Unbroken) was released on a compilation CD called “Four Star Hits” and is exclusively available at Toys “R” Us. I have also had the chance to perform shows in some pretty unique locations: I performed at a private function in Kazakhstan (yes, home of Borat!) and was honored to be the feature entertainer for our US troops in Kuwait and Iraq over the 4th of July holiday

Next Up: Jessica tells us, “I am working to complete my album project and my management company is in the process of talking to record labels. I plan to continue my performance and personal appearance schedule.”

Mikalah Gordon - This 19-year-old with the over-the-top personality has been off and running ever since her Idol run came to an end. She is currently a co-host for Fox Reality Channel’s “American Idol Extra”, a show which I am extremely jealous of because they get to interview the booted Idol the second the show is over while the national shows like Access Hollywood have to wait until the next day! She also is a correspondent for AOL, blogging about the current season of American Idol. She also is a correspondent for the Tyra Banks show.

Next Up: Mikalah got together with Randy Jackson to put together a girl group but the project fell through. She’s out there pounding the pavement finding more and more things to do!

Lindsay Cardinale - Lindsay is taking a page from her good friend and former Idol competitor, Carrie Underwood and trying to make a name for her self in country music, “I recorded my single album in August of 2005, the day Hurricane Katrina hit my home state. Fortunately, I had traveled to Nashville to record when the tragedy happened; that cd is very important to me. I will start on a full fledge album this year and I can't wait!!”

She also enrolled in The University of Phoenix Online to finish up her degree in Business Management, which she had been doing before Idol.

Next Up: Lindsay’s 2007 West Coast Tour begins at the end of February.

Mario Vazquez - The only Idol contestant ever to make the Top 12 and quit on his own accord, Mario told me, “I’m very happy I made that decision. I have control of my career. I’m able to do the music that I want to do.”

Mario released his debut album in October, “it touches different genres of music everything that I love: hip hop, club music, reggaeton it’s a mix of everything and I'm really proud to have put that on a debut album not many new artists get to do that.”

Thank you to Monica Thomas and Alex Bandy for additional reporting. Check back next week for an update on last seasons Idol finalists.