Taylor Hicks had 63.4 million votes cast for him the night he was declared the winner of American Idolmore than had been cast for the president of the United States only a year earlier. It was the third most-watched television broadcast of 2006, behind only the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards, and it remains the most watched Idol finale ever! The Taylor phenomenon continued when his single topped the Billboard Charts in its first week of release. How and why did this energetic, admittedly odd, older, gray-haired bar singer from Birmingham capture the hearts of Americaand a following of devout fans dubbed the Soul Patrolto become one of pop musics most recognizable stars?

An Inspirational Memoir About Finding Your Voice and Finding Your Way

In HEART FULL OF SOUL (Crown: July 10, 2007) Hicks tells us the lessons hes learned over a long career, including how he defied all predictions and won the American Idol competition. Before American Idol, Hickss love of music took him on the notorious Chitlin circuit, a series of down-home, greasy Southern clubs that in the past have featured the likes of Ray Charles and Ike and Tina Turner. Playing that circuit for a decade, Taylor learned a simple rule that would eventually help him to win the biggest reality show in history: you either entertain or you go home.

HEART FULL OF SOUL takes us back to how Hicks decided to audition for Idol, what he felt and thought as he waited on line in Las Vegas for his audition. Facing thirty, he was nearly too old to be eligible as a contestant. He knew his clock was ticking and that the Idol tryout was most likely his last shot at breaking into the big time. Hicks also reveals that he was strategizing long before any of the other contestants.

Throughout HEART FULL OF SOUL, Hicks opens up about his family life, about how he found music, about his pitfalls as he tries to discover himself and get himself discovered, and about life after American Idol. He reveals who he really is and ultimately provides valuable advice for anyone striving against long odds.

About the Author:

Taylor Hicks, a Birmingham, Alabama, native, is the winner of the fifth season of American Idol, capped by a finale that remains the most watched in Idol history. His debut album, Taylor Hicks, was a certified platinum bestseller, shipping more than one million copies.