Naima Adedapo

Adedapo was born in Maywood, Illinois, and her family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when she was ten.[http://www.suntimes.com/4190059-417/american-idol-finalist-naima-adedapo-a-product-of-chicago-stage-family.html ‘American Idol’ finalist Naima Adedapo a product of Chicago stage family] Adedapo is the daughter of Milwaukee area jazz singer Adekola Adedapo.{{cite web|author=Jan Uebelherr |url=http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/tvradio/117378648.html |title='Idol' contestant Adedapo survives with wild card |publisher=JSOnline |date=March 3, 2011 |access-date=January 19, 2012}} Adedapo graduated high school from St. Joan Antida. Her senior year, Adedapo placed first at the Wisconsin Forensic Coaches Association's State Tournament in Demonstration Speaking for her speech on African dance, with drumming accompaniment by her brother.{{cite web |title=Adedapo gallery |url=http://gallery.wfcaforensics.org/state2003/adedapo |publisher=gallery.wfcaforensics.org |access-date=14 April 2021}} She later majored in Dance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Adedapo auditioned for the tenth season of American Idol in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was not one of the five female vote-getters in the semi-final round to advance to the Top 13. She was one of the six selected to sing for a wild card. The judges chose three of the six, including Adedapo, to advance to the Top 13. On March 31, 2011, Adedapo and Thia Megia were eliminated from American Idol.{{Cite web |date=April 1, 2011 |title=American Idol Results - Naima Adedapo |url=https://people.com/tv/american-idol-results-naima-adedapo/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}{{Cite web |title='American Idol' exit Q&A: Naima Adedapo says she 'took a huge risk' by singing reggae -- EXCLUSIVE VIDEO |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/04/01/american-idol-naima-adedapo-exit-video/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=EW.com |language=en}}

• {{note|1|Note 1}} Adedapo was saved first from elimination.
• {{note|2|Note 2}} Due to the judges using their one save to save Casey Abrams, the Top 11 remained intact for another week.

Adedapo and the rest of the top 11 performed in the 2011 American Idols LIVE! Tour, which began in West Valley City, Utah, on July 6, 2011, and ended in Manila, Philippines on September 20, 2011.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/149176-American-Idol-Judges-Save-Contestant-Fantasia-to-Perform-on-Next-Results-Show "American Idol" Judges Save Contestant; Fantasia to Perform on Next Results Show] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020144333/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/149176-American-Idol-Judges-Save-Contestant-Fantasia-to-Perform-on-Next-Results-Show |date=October 20, 2012 }} Both the eliminated contestants, Naima and Thia Megia, appeared and performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Live with Regis and Kelly.[http://www.thedeadbolt.com/news/110557/american_idol_finalists_tonight_show.php American Idol Finalists on The Tonight Show].[http://www.ainow.org/index.php/idol/5183-naima-adedapo-and-thia-megia-perform-on-live-with-regis-and-kelly AInow] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407231109/http://www.ainow.org/index.php/idol/5183-naima-adedapo-and-thia-megia-perform-on-live-with-regis-and-kelly |date=April 7, 2011 }} Adedapo released a seven-song EP, Beautifully Made, which she co-wrote and co-produced, on November 20, 2015.{{Cite news |last=Levy |first=Piet |date=June 30, 2016 |title=30 must-see acts at Summerfest 2016 |work=Green Bay Press Gazette}}{{Cite web |title=Summerfest 2016: Summerfest Reviews: Randy Houser, Nelly, Rachel Platten and more |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/07/02/summerfest-2016-summerfest-reviews-randy-houser-nelly-rachel-platten-and-more/86651348/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Journal Sentinel |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Wieselman |first=Jarett |date=2016-03-30 |title=58 Former "Idol" Contestants Look Back On The Show's Legacy |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jarettwieselman/american-idol-alums-reveal-what-the-show-meant-to-them |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=BuzzFeed |language=en}} Adedapo co-wrote and produced all of the EP's tracks.{{Cite web |last=Franklin |first=Mark |date=November 29, 2015 |title=Four Years After Idol, A Debut EP from Naima Adedapo |url=https://idolchatteryd.com/four-years-after-idol-a-debut-ep-from-naima-adedapo/ |website=The York Dispatch}} She later signed on as a songwriter with Given Music Publishing.

In 2012, Adedapo signed with Peak Records.{{Cite web |author=T. H. R. Staff |date=2012-01-25 |title='American Idol' Finalist Naima Adedapo Scores Record Deal |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/american-idol-naima-adedapo-eone-284890/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

Adedapo is married with two daughters and three stepdaughters.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-live-0309-chicago-idol-finalists-20110308,0,2584573.column |title=College student jazzes up finals |work=Chicago Tribune |date=March 8, 2011 |access-date=January 19, 2012}} She was formerly a maintenance worker at Henry Maier Festival Park (home of Summerfest) in Milwaukee.{{cite web|author=Duane Dudek |url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/114693279.html |title='Idol' gets cheesy with Milwaukee auditions |publisher=JSOnline |date=January 26, 2011 |access-date=January 19, 2012}}

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• [http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season_10/naima_adedapo/ Naima Adedapo] on American Idol
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20131206034415/http://www.mynaima.com/ Official homepage of Naima Adedapo]}}

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Category:1984 births

Category:21st-century African-American women singers

Category:21st-century American women singers

Category:21st-century African-American singers

Category:Living people

Category:American Idol participants

Category:Singers from Illinois

Category:Singers from Wisconsin

Category:People from Maywood, Illinois

Category:University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee alumni