Candice Glover

Candice Rickelle Glover is an American R&B singer and actress born on November 22, 1989, in Beaufort, South Carolina, to John and Carole Glover. The oldest of seven children, she graduated from Beaufort High School in 2008. Her Broadway appearance came in 2017, when she performed in Home for the Holidays, Live on Broadway, which ran from November 17 through December 30 at the August Wilson Theatre.

Before her stage work, Glover rose to national prominence as the winner of the twelfth season of American Idol, becoming the first contestant in the show's history to win after having auditioned three times. Her initial audition came during the ninth season, where she was eliminated during the final 70 round after forgetting the lyrics to Adele's "Chasing Pavements." Judge Simon Cowell remarked at the time that he could not envision her as more than a lounge singer. She returned for the eleventh season, auditioning in Savannah, Georgia, with Chrisette Michele's "Blame It on Me." Though she advanced through several rounds — including a group performance of Buddy Holly's "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" alongside DeAndre Brackensick and Jessica Sanchez — she was ultimately eliminated.

For her third attempt in season twelve, Glover auditioned with Duffy's "Syrup & Honey," earning a standing ovation. Judge Randy Jackson called her the strongest performer in the competition, and Mariah Carey described her singing as the best the panel had heard to that point. Glover progressed through Hollywood rounds that included Christina Aguilera's "Impossible" and a jazzy interpretation of Alicia Keys's "Girl on Fire," before advancing to Las Vegas, where she performed Aretha Franklin's "Natural Woman." On March 7, 2013, she was voted into the Top 10. Her performance of Ben E. King's "I (Who Have Nothing)" placed her among the top three vote-getters that week, alongside Kree Harrison and Angie Miller. She covered "Lovesong" by The Cure during the Top 6 round and received a standing ovation. On May 16, 2013, Glover was named the season twelve winner, and her debut single "I Am Beautiful" was released that same day.

The single reached number 33 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its first week. The following day, Glover performed it on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and on May 20 she appeared on Live! with Kelly and Michael. She participated in the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2013, which ran from July 19 through August 31. Her debut album, Music Speaks, was released on February 18, 2014, after being pushed back from earlier planned dates. A second single from the album, "Cried," was released on November 25, 2013, and debuted at number 28 on the Billboard Adult R&B chart, eventually peaking at number 18. Glover was also featured on Chadd Black's single "Love No Fear," released on February 14, 2015. In January 2016, she announced she had parted ways with 19 Recordings/Interscope. That same year, she returned to American Idol for the Fox-era series finale on April 7, 2016, performing "One Voice" with returning alumni and later singing "Joy to the World" alongside Melinda Doolittle.