Ryan Starr
{{short description|American actor-singer}}
{{For|the male singer|Ryan Star}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| birth_name = Tiffany Montgomery
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|11|21}}
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California
| genre = Alternative rock
| years_active = 2002–present
| label = RCA Records (2002–2004)
Nightbird Records
| website = {{URL|https://www.sheisryan.co}}
}}
Tiffany Montgomery{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csk8GpFy8g0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/Csk8GpFy8g0 |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title= YouTube - "Ryan Starr's Audition" (American Idol)|website=YouTube |date=3 September 2017 }}{{cbignore}} (born November 21, 1982), known professionally as Ryan Starr, is a singer who finished seventh on the first season of American Idol. She went on to release a successful single on iTunes and participated in a handful of other television programs, modeling campaigns, and worldwide music tours.
Early life
Ryan Starr was born Tiffany Montgomery in the Sunland neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, a place which she once described as a "middle of nowhere town, up in the hills - like, horse country."{{cite AV media|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ryan-starr/video/197040/interview-with-ryan-starr-24404194/|title=Interview with Ryan Starr|people=Ryan Starr|publisher=TVGuide.com|accessdate=July 13, 2018|medium=video}} Her elementary, middle, and high schools were all about "a block from one another" in her words, and growing up, Starr considered herself to be "a small-town tomboy".{{cite web|url=https://sheisryan.co/know-need-time-alone/|author=Ryan Starr|title=How to Know When You Need Time Alone - "Time for Alone Time"|work=She Is Ryan|date=November 4, 2017|accessdate=April 25, 2020}} She has three sisters.{{cite web|url=http://www.ryanstarr.us/faq/index.php?op=view&t=3|title=FAQ - About Ryan|author=Ryan Starr|work=RyanStarr.us|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040903150538/http://www.ryanstarr.us/faq/index.php?op=view&t=3|archivedate=September 3, 2004}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ryanstarr.us/bio.html|title=Ryan Starr - Biography|author=Ryan Starr|work=RyanStarr.us|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329085017/http://www.ryanstarr.us/bio.html|archivedate=March 29, 2010}} On her mother's side, she is Peruvian and Bolivian.{{cite web|url=https://sheisryan.co/about/|title=About - She Is Ryan - by Ryan Starr|author=Ryan Starr|work=She Is Ryan|accessdate=April 25, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://ryanstarr.us/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=7&t=5005|title=Ryan's Newsletter 2, Her words, Her thoughts!|author=Ryan Starr|date=October 25, 2003|work=RyanStarr.us|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010184248/http://ryanstarr.us/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=7&t=5005|archivedate=October 10, 2004}} She also has French and Irish ancestry.{{cite web|url=http://www.ryanstarr.us/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=7&t=5827|title=Ryan's Newsletter 3, She's Baaaaaack!!!|author=Ryan Starr|date=September 20, 2004|work=RyanStarr.us|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040924021113/http://www.ryanstarr.us/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=7&t=5827|archivedate=September 24, 2004}}
Although Starr was named Homecoming Queen,{{cite web|url=http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Verdugo_HS/news/ryanstarr.htm|title=News Brief - Tiffany Montgomery a.k.a. Ryan Starr|author=Jerry Tao|date=October 7, 2002|work=Verdugo Hills High School|accessdate=April 25, 2020}} she reminisced in a 2017 blog post that she was "dorky" and "definitely not one of the popular kids" for most of her time in school.{{cite web|url=https://sheisryan.co/build-great-circle-of-friends/|title=How to Build a Great Circle of Friends - Quality of Friends Over a Quantity of Friends|author=Ryan Starr|date=November 7, 2017|work=She Is Ryan|accessdate=April 25, 2020}} She graduated from Verdugo Hills High School in 2000, where she ran track. Before attempting a music career, she worked as a waitress, lifeguard, swim team coach, and at a clothing store.
Around the age of seven, Starr began learning how to sing. Her family was unable to afford formal vocal training, so as a child, Starr developed her voice by singing along to Disney films.{{cite web|url=https://sheisryan.co/visiting-disneyworld-must-do/|author=Ryan Starr|title=Why Visiting Disney World Is a Must Do - Getting Into the Spirit|work=She Is Ryan|date=July 31, 2018|accessdate=April 25, 2020|archive-date=October 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021081112/https://sheisryan.co/visiting-disneyworld-must-do/|url-status=dead}} Drawn to jazz and blues artists from a young age, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Etta James, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding were among Starr's first musical influences.{{cite web|url=https://sheisryan.co/why-age-really-isnt-anything-but-a-number/|author=Ryan Starr|title=Why Age Really Isn't Anything but a Number|work=She Is Ryan|date=October 12, 2018|accessdate=April 25, 2020|archive-date=October 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021064523/https://sheisryan.co/why-age-really-isnt-anything-but-a-number/|url-status=dead}} As Starr got older, she found inspiration in rock musicians, such as Pat Benatar, Chris Cornell, Steve Perry, and Steven Tyler.
Career
=''American Idol''=
After graduating from high school, Starr went on frequent bus excursions into Hollywood from her nearby hometown, and on one of these, she met a girl who suggested that the two of them audition for American Idol{{'s}} first season together. Starr's performance of "Lean on Me" (by Bill Withers) was the first successful audition ever shown on the series.{{cite episode|title=Auditions|series=American Idol|network=Fox|date=June 11, 2002|season=1|number=1}} In his 2003 autobiography, I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But..., Simon Cowell wrote that Starr was "cripplingly shy" at the audition, but that Paula Abdul "saw some potential for stardom in her, and decided to mentor her."{{cite book |last1=Cowell |first1=Simon |title=I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But... |date=2003 |publisher=Broadway Books |location=New York City |isbn=9780767917414}}
Starr, who auditioned as Tiffany Montgomery,{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A91318278/STND?u=fairfax_main&sid=STND&xid=aad07f27|author=Caryn James|title=On 'Idol,' the only losers are the audience's ears|work=The New York Times|date=September 1, 2002|accessdate=April 29, 2020}} {{subscription required|via=Infotrac Newsstand}} adopted her stage name by Hollywood Week.{{cite episode|title=Hollywood Week|series=American Idol|network=Fox|date=June 12, 2002|season=1|number=2}} Placed into Group 1 for the Top 30 semi-finals, her song choice for that round of an old jazz standard, "The Frim-Fram Sauce", puzzled Cowell and Randy Jackson,{{cite episode|title=Top 30: Group 1|series=American Idol|network=Fox|date=June 18, 2002|season=1|number=3}} although the following night Cowell deemed Starr "a dark horse" and predicted that she could excel in the competition with better singing material.{{cite episode|title=Top 30: Group 1 results|series=American Idol|network=Fox|date=June 19, 2002|season=1|number=4}} After she was voted through to the Top 10,{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A87553567/STND?u=fairfax_main&sid=STND&xid=48513f7a|author=Atlanta Journal-Constitution staff|title=MUTT ON DISABLED LIST ADOPTS CARAY - Norcross' singing 'Idol'|work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=June 21, 2002|accessdate=April 29, 2020}} {{subscription required|via=Infotrac Newsstand}} Starr opened the first round of the finals, singing "If You Really Love Me" by Stevie Wonder; this marked the first live performance in the history of American Idol.{{cite episode|title=Top 10 Perform|series=American Idol|network=Fox|date=July 16, 2002|season=1|number=10}} Starr was well-received by the judges for that performance but was voted off the series two weeks later in seventh place.{{cite episode|title=Top 7 Results|series=American Idol|network=Fox|date=July 31, 2002|season=1|number=15}}
The second of Starr's live performances, "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks, was panned by the judges and resulted in a Bottom 2 placement for that week.{{cite episode|title=Top 8 Finalists|series=American Idol|network=Fox|date=July 23, 2002|season=1|number=12}} While Starr's final performance of the competition, "Last Dance" by Donna Summer, was praised by the judges as an improvement over the previous week, it prompted Cowell to reflect on Starr's disparate song choices throughout the competition and express confusion over what kind of artist Starr wanted to be.{{cite episode|title=Top 7 Finalists|series=American Idol|network=Fox|date=July 30, 2002|season=1|number=14}} The judges felt that Starr struggled with aspects of her performances throughout every round of the finals but communicated a shared belief in Starr's potential. Upon Starr's elimination from the competition, Cowell gave Starr an offer to call him anytime for help with pursuing a music career.
==Performances==
| class="wikitable"
!Week !Theme !Song !Original artist !Result |
| Auditions
| Contestant's Choice | "Lean on Me" | Advanced |
| Hollywood
|Contestant's Choice |Advanced |
| Semi-Final Group 1
|Free Choice |Advanced |
| Top 10
|Motown |Safe |
| Top 8
|1960s |Bottom 2 |
| Top 7
|1970s |"Last Dance" |Eliminated |
| Season finale
| |"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" | |
- "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" Nancy Sinatra, (solo part in Group performance)
=Post-''American Idol'' music career=
Starr blamed her stalled music career on a two-year restrictive recording contract with RCA. Under this contract, she refused to record an album claiming producers wanted to turn her into an Avril Lavigne type singer. After an intense three year legal battle she was released from contract in 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1560338/20070523/id_0.jhtml|title='American Idol' Throwback: Where Are Nikki McKibbin, Ryan Starr, Jim Verraros Now?|author=Gil Kaufman|work=MTV News|date=May 23, 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070526060302/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1560338/20070523/id_0.jhtml|archivedate=May 26, 2007}}
Upon release from her contract, Starr went on to host TRL on VH1.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}} In January 2005, People reported that Starr was "shopping a demo record that steers clear of Idol's sugary pop tones" and had "recently released" an iTunes exclusive single, "My Religion", which she co-wrote.{{Cite news |last1=Smolowe |first1=Jill |last2=Lipton |first2=Mike |last3=Helling |first3=Steve |last4=Rizzo |first4=Monica |last5=Atlas |first5=Darla |date=January 17, 2005 |title=Life After Idol |work=People |pages=111–112, 114–116 |volume=63 |issue=2}} According to a 2007 article by the Boston Herald, "My Religion" was released in 2005,{{Cite news |last=Beckham Falcone |first=Lauren |date=January 15, 2007 |title=Stardom for some, oblivion for most contestants on Fox's hit show |id={{Gale|A157619362}} |work=Boston Herald}} though an earlier article by NCBuy.com reported that "My Religion" was released in September 2004.{{Cite web |date=September 23, 2004 |title=Ryan Starr Not Letting Career Be 'Idol' |url=http://www.ncbuy.com/news/2004-09-23/1010658.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040930095836/http://www.ncbuy.com/news/2004-09-23/1010658.html |archive-date=September 30, 2004 |website=NCBuy.com}} Although it was reported by the Boston Herald in 2008 and by Rolling Stone in 2011 that "My Religion" peaked at #1 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart,{{Cite web |title=Fallen Idols take 'Curtain Call' - Document - Gale OneFile: News |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=fairfax_main&id=GALE%7CA174261208&v=2.1&it=r&sid=STND&asid=4eb54880 |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=go.gale.com}}{{Cite magazine |date=2011-07-07 |title=American Idol's Winners and Losers |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-winners-and-losers-of-american-idol-11131/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} Billboard
Television appearances
| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Other notes | |||
| 2002 | American Idol | 7th place finalist | Went on a nationwide, 32-city tour with all the American Idol finalists. |
| 2002, 2004 | Entertainment Tonight | Guest Star | |
| 2002–2005 | Access Hollywood | Starr, along with fellow idol R. J. Helton, did numerous interviews with Access Hollywood. | |
| 2002–2006 | Fox News | Guest Star | |
| rowspan="4"|2003 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Sophia Renatta | Starr appeared in an episode where she was killed in a diving accident, which looked like murder. |
| What I Like About You | Pam Wayne | ||
| Good Day Live | Guest Star | ||
| Live with Regis and Kelly | Guest Star | Sang 'Lean on Me.' | |
| 2003, 2005 | Total Request Live | Guest Star | Interviewed. |
| rowspan="6"|2004 | The Surreal Life | Housemate | |
| VH1 Big in 04 | Star | Starr presented an award along with Flavor Flav. | |
| On Air with Ryan Seacrest | Guest Star | Starr was interviewed by Ryan Seacrest, host of American Idol. | |
| The Howard Stern Show | Guest Star | ||
| Good Morning America | Guest Star | ||
| The View | Guest Star | ||
| rowspan="5"|2005 | Battle of the Network Reality Stars | Star | |
| A Rockin' Las Vegas New-Year with Ryan Starr | Host | ||
| 2005 Billboard Music Awards | Red carpet | ||
| Extra | Guest Star | ||
| All Star Reality Reunion | Interviewed | ||
| rowspan="2"|2006 | Lingerie Bowl | Star | Starr was a sideline reporter. |
| The Tyra Banks Show | Guest Star | ||
| 2007 | The Dr. Keith Ablow Show | Interviewed |
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Other notes | |||
| 2004 | Ring of Darkness | Stacy | Lead role |
| 2006 | Vendetta | Brigitte Douglas |
Commercials
Discography
=Singles=
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Track ! Album |
| 2004
| "My Religion" | Non-album single |
=Compilation appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US |
|---|
| 2002
| American Idol: Greatest Moments | 4 | align="left"|Credited on the following tracks:
|
| 2008
| Curtain Call: New Songs from Past American Idol Finalists | — | align="left"|Credited on the following tracks:
|
=As featured artist=
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Track ! Album |
| rowspan="2"|2010
| "Chemically" | 5K |
| "Crazy for You" (Paolo Mojo featuring Ryan Starr) |Non-album single |
=Other songs=
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Track ! Details |
| rowspan="3"|2006
| "Love Gone Bad" | rowspan="4"| Released through MySpace{{cite web|url=https://myspace.com/ryanstarrofficialpage/music/songs|title=ryan starr's official site - Music - Songs|work=MySpace}} |
| "Eyes of a Child" |
| "Stranded" |
| 2007
| "7am" |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1225759|Ryan Starr}}
{{American Idol 1}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Starr, Ryan}}
Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters
Category:21st-century American women singers
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:American Idol participants
Category:American pop rock singers
Category:American women pop singers
Category:American women rock singers
Category:American women singer-songwriters
Category:American film actresses
Category:American rock songwriters
Category:American television actresses
Category:Actresses from Los Angeles
Category:Singers from Los Angeles