Ryan Starr
For the Rockstar: Supernova contestant, see Ryan Star.Ryan Starr (born
Tiffany Ryan Montgomery on
November 21,
1982) is an
American female singer and song writer who was first discovered when she ranked seventh on the first season of the talent search
television series
American Idol. Starr is famous for her unique sounding music and voice, and her appearances and roles in numerous movies, and both reality and scripted television programs.
Ryan was born into a middle-class family in
Sunland, Los Angeles, California. She is of
French,
Colombian, and
Irish decent. She has three sisters. Ryan has been singing since the age of seven, and it was around the age of 19 when she developed a passion for rock n' roll. She went to Verdugo Hills High School, where she was prom queen and head cheerleader. She was a member of many school clubs, and played various sports such as track and surfing. "I did everything. People should really try and be a part of a lot of things. It keeps life fun and keeps you fit, too!" She also sang, whenever possible, at school events. She has been quoted as saying, "I fell in love with the raw emotions rock has to offer. Music is simply my life, I live through it." Once Ryan knew what kind of music she wanted to sing, she began to do anything and everything to sing and get on stage. Still only a teenager, she worked for free as a waitress at clubs to sing on stage afterwards. Music quickly took over her life, and she decided to put college on hold in order to pursue her dream of becoming a rock-star. She listened to all kinds of rock singers, from legends like
Aerosmith and
Led Zeppelin to female artists like
Pat Benetar and
Janis Joplin. Upon realizing that today there are no female rock-stars, she decided that she wanted to fill that void.
Ryan appeared on the first season of
American Idol, displaying a unique, throaty, and smooth voice while wearing her own fashion designs on stage. Ryan sang an unusual song, "
The Frim Fram Sauce," in the first group of ten vying for spots in the Top Ten. She was voted the second spot from that group to move into the Top Ten. The following week, Ryan was the first to perform on
American Idol's first live show. She sang "
If You Really Love Me" by
Stevie Wonder, and received praise from the judges. "Pure star performance, loved it." (
Simon Cowell.) The famed '
Jaded Journalist,' an online reporter from American Idol's website said, "I want to see Kelly and Ryan battle it out in the final two!" She faltered when she sang, "
You Really Got Me," a
Kinks classic and was panned by the judges. Simon Cowell called it "dreadful". However, the following week Ryan sang "
Last Dance" by
Donna Summers and received praise from the judges.
When eliminated in 7th place, Starr received encouraging words from the judges. "You're a star, it's in your name, you'll make it." -
Randy Jackson. "I don't understand you should not be leaving us tonight. Don't worry things are going to turn out great for you." -
Paula Abdul. "You know Ryan, I think you're different from all the rest, and I think you can get what you want. Give me a call anytime; because you're about to become a star, I'll give you any help you need." -
Simon Cowell.
Ryan returned with the rest of the finalists during the show's finale and sang, "
These Boots Are Made For Walkin'", and went on a nationwide 32-city tour with the other finalists.
RCA, in partnership with
American Idol, signed Ryan along with fellow Season One contestants
Kelly Clarkson,
Justin Guarini,
Nikki McKibbin,
Christina Christian, and
Tamyra Gray (with J Records).
After the tour wrapped up,
FOX released a dvd, heavily featuring Ryan along with a select few idols from the first season. Ryan was also feautured in the American Idol Season One official book released in mid 2003. She, along with her fellow top ten finalists, recorded an American Idol 'Greatest Hits' album which was successful on the charts.
American Idol performances
*"
Lean on Me" (Bill Withers) (Auditions, Los Angeles, 2002)
*"
Aint No Sunshine" (
Bill Withers) (Pasadena Auditions, 2002)
*"
Frim Fram Sauce" (semi-finals; June 18, 2002)
*"
If You Really Love Me" (
Stevie Wonder, 1971) (
Motown week; July 16, 2002)
*"
You Really Got Me" (
The Kinks, 1964) (
1960s week; July 23, 2002)
*"
Last Dance" (
Donna Summer, 1978) (
1970s week; July 30, 2002) (Bottom 3; voted off)
*"
These Boots Are Made For Walkin'"
Nancy Sinatra, (solo part in Group performance)
*"
California Dreamin'"
The Mamas & The Papas, 1960s. (Group song)
Starr has placed the blame on her stalled music career on a two-year restrictive recording contract with
RCA. Under this contract, she refused to record an album, and in
2005 was released from the contract. Now free from her recording contract with RCA, Ryan is getting her music out there. Her
iTunes Exclusive Single, "
My Religion," exploded onto the American iTunes Top 100 songs peaking at #7, and also on iTunes Ireland and iTunes UK. It also entered the top 20 on iTunes Italy, and into the top 50 in iTunes France. One of the highest selling exclusive singles ever, it sold an estimated 340,000 units worldwide according to
USA Today. Although Ryan has yet to release an album,
People Magazine muses one will be released in late
2007.
In the 2005 edition of the
Guinness Book of World Records, they noted Ryan Starr to have sold the most exclusive single downloads in iTune's history. They also went on to detail the fact that
My Religion was slated to be released to stores in early 2006, but
iTunes refused to release Ryan Starr's single from contract.
Shortly after her run on
American Idol, Starr made a guest appearance on the popular FOX network comedy
That '70s Show, and had a guest role on an episode of the hit CBS drama . In
2004, she starred in the third season of the
VH1 reality show The Surreal Life, rumored to have received the highest paycheck ever given by
The Surreal Life. In 2006, she has decided to focus more on her music, and will not be appearing on any reality shows. Not limited to reality shows and singing, Starr had the lead role in the worldwide released movie,
Ring of Darkness. She is also starring in
Vendetta, a movie currently in pre-production for
Paramount.
In 2005,
Popstar! Magazine listed Ryan as the third biggest name in reality television in the world, behind
Bo Bice and
Kelly Clarkson. (courtesy of Popstar! Magazine with source 'Rock-Starr')
Ryan Starr has been working on a new 'rock-ish' swimsuit line, "
Chained," which, according to InStyle Magazine, was signed on for a two-year production contract with
Lord and Taylor.
Ryan is hitting the music road in 2006-2007. She will be touring
North America, and possibly
China with her band. City tour dates are still TBA, however
New York,
Atlanta,
Memphis, and
Los Angeles are all confirmed. The first pitstop on her tour is the
Nascar Raceway in
Memphis, Tennessee on
July 15,
2006. Starr will headline the show that will be aired on all FOX networks in North America.
Reports were previously made that Ryan turned down a three-album deal with
Sanctuary Records. The deal supposedly required Ryan to record two pop albums before being allowed to record her rock album. These reports were later confirmed to be false by Ryan herself.
|
Ryan Starr, ONE Campaign to end Poverty featuring Ryan Starr (2005) |
Ryan has said numerous times in interviews that she comes from a troubled past. Although she has yet to comment on exactly what this means, she has made it clear that she has cut ties with most of her immediate family. In June 2006, Ryan visited
Aviva Foundation, a troubled and abused child home in northern
Los Angeles. She spent the day getting to know the girls, playing various sports and games with them and also talking in-depth about their past. Ryan commented on her blog, "It was such an inspiring day to see these teens who have literally nothing, and yet they're still just like all of us; and they are fighting to make themselves better." While at the Aviva Foundation, Starr attracted media attention, and spoke out on the matter stating that something had to be done. In mid 2005, Starr became involved with the
ONE Campaign to end world poverty and
AIDS. She was featured in television ads alongside
Brad Pitt and other celebrities clicking their fingers every three seconds stating that "every three seconds, a child dies of extreme poverty and AIDS." Her love life has been kept fairly quiet; however
People Magazine snapped a photo of Ryan flirting and exchanging phone numbers with
Tobey Maguire. She was also seen dancing with
Jake Gyllenhaal. In late 2004, Ryan purchased a house on the
Santa Monica coastline with an estimated value of $3.4 million.
*Ryan Starr has modeled for
Joey & T*Ryan Starr has modeled for
Nicolita*Ryan Starr was one of the celebrities that participated in "
Rock the Vote."
*Ryan is mentioned in a thank-you note on
Kelly Clarkson's first album,
Thankful.
*Ryan turned down a guest appearance offer to be on
Friends, in order to focus on music.
*Ryan's dog is named 'Havoc.'
*Ryan's favorite activities include surfing, rollerblading, and 'virtually anything in the water.'
*Ryan's favorite food is
Mexican food.
*Ryan was offered a minor role in the movie,
From Justin to Kelly, but turned it down for an unknown reason.
*Ryan briefly dated actor
Rey-Phillip Santos *Ryan has been offered the cover of
Playboy several times, but refused, stating, "I'm a singer, I want to be heard, not to be seen."
Singles
|
Ryan Starr, "My Religion" iTunes Exclusive Single cover. (2004) |
*
"My Religion"*
Love Gone Bad*
Stranded*"Music is life, live through it."
*"Why can't girls rock the stage too?"
*"They call me a tomboy, as if that's a bad thing."
*"If you don't give the best of you everyday, then you deprive the world of you"
*
Ryan Starr official site*
American Idol profile of Ryan Starr*
Rock-Starr; Ryan Starr's Ultimate Fansite*
Ryan's former High School spotlights her achievements*
Ryan Starr television information at TV.com*
Starr-Struck, a Ryan Starr Fansite
