Ruben Studdard

Partway through the second season of American Idol in early 2003, guest judge Gladys Knight christened eventual winner Ruben Studdard a "velvet teddy bear," a nod to his smooth, Luther Vandross-styled voice. Studdard stood out with his easygoing style, mellow voice, and trademark jerseys bearing the number 205, the area code of his hometown. When his debut, entitled Soulful, was released in December 2003, it displayed a distinct hip-hop-flavored R&B bent and topped the Billboard 200. The gospel album I Need an Angel followed one year later. In 2006, Studdard revisited his urban roots with The Return.