What’s ever happened to Melinda Doolittle? American Idol’s season six ‘real’ winner Melinda Doolittle-what’s she been up to, and where is she now?
Many people feel that American Idol’s season six real winner should have been Melinda Doolittle. That’s not to say that Jordin Sparks wasn’t a talented singer herself. However, week after week, Melinda Doolittle delivered the goods, and was clearly the more talented of the two-even of everyone on the show that season. What has she been up to since she was robbed of the American Idol winner circle?
After American Idol finished up in late May, Melinda Doolittle found herself on her way to Africa, specifically Zambia, with First Lady Laura Bush as part of the “Malaria No More Initiative” that was a big part of Idol Gives Back. In this initiative, as she said, “500,000 bed nets were provided to those in need of protection from the deadly malaria disease.” She went on to say, “I was able to actually put some of those nets in the hands of the people that desperately need them.” What a way to use her newfound celebrity status!
These days Melinda Doolittle has just finished up a singing tour she’s been on-the Michael W. Smith Christmas Tour with the Katinas. Prior to that tour, she had been on a 59 date tour after American Idol. Also, she hosted Christmas at Belmont, she’s been doing corporate dates, done the VIP tour of Disney World, and has finally signed with a great management team. Good thing, and kudos to them, since the record companies, including 19 Entertainment, didn’t come calling once she showed the world her vocal chops on Idol. How and why the record companies passed on her as a singing talent is beyond most people’s rationale.
More than likely, it’s the same lame reason she didn’t win American Idol-it’s more of a popularity thing than a talent thing. It’s quite understandable that the record companies need to sell records, and popularity plays a big part of that. However, everyone knows that record companies spend money to increase an artist’s popularity-so there’s really no excuse they could give that would suffice as to why they haven’t helped out the American music scene by passing on Doolittle’s talent.
Back to what she’s been up to, she has a group of Melinda Doolittle supporters called “Melinda’s Backups.” Remember, she was a backup singer prior to becoming a contestant on American Idol-hence the name “Melinda’s Backups.” Currently,” Melinda’s Backups” are recruiting support, or a team, to participate in the Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon” to raise funds for Malaria No More. The race takes place in Nashville, TN, and is a walk/run through Nashville’s beautiful scenery. Of course Doolittle is supporting as well.
She has an EP which was released on June 12, 2007, and is a compilation of the five most downloaded of Doolittle’s studio recordings. All are covers of other artists, including “As Long As He Needs Me,” “Home,” “I’m a Woman,” “Have a Nice Day,” and “Trouble Is a Woman.”
Let’s hope that the music industry finally embraces Doolittle in that she gets to record an album that makes its way onto the Top Ten Billboard. The music scene needs some real talent. Melinda Doolittle can and will deliver on that front.
