American Idol search finds Jordin Sparks

17-year-old singer granddaughter of former Hillsboro residents

Hillsboro has a family connection to this season’s “American Idol” talent search.
Seventeen-year-old singer Jordin Sparks was one of seven people to earn a “gold ticket” at the Seattle auditions in September and was invited to the Hollywood round of the nationwide TV talent serach.
Sparks is the great-granddaughter of Jim and Gladys Rutherford, former Caledonia and Hillsboro residents who now live in Fargo. Her grandmother and manager is Pam (Rutherford) Wiedmann, who graduated from Hillsboro High School in the 1960s.
“American Idol” episodes to be shown Tuesday and Wednesday this week on the FOX network will feature talented performers like Sparks who have made it to the next step in the 6th “Idol” search.
Jordin lives in Glendale, Ariz., with her parents Phillipi and Jodi Sparks. Her father was a pro football player for nine years, playing for the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s.
Jordin’s rendition of Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me” was regarded as the “brightest spot” of “American Idol” auditions in Seattle, which aired on television in mid-January.
Judge Paula Abdul told Jordin, “You’re beautiful. I loved you, love your voice.”
Judge Randy Jackson enthused, “I was blown away, wow.”
Judge Simon Crowell, known for his harsh criticism of Idol wanna-bes, said, “Sometimes, I like to put one sugar in my coffee to make it sweeter, that was the equivalent of putting 11 spoonfuls in. It was a bit too cutesy, a bit over the top, you know that weird smile thing you were doing throughout.”
After Abdul and Jackson protested, Crowell added, “All I’m saying is it was a little bit too sugary for my taste. I like you, I was just trying to give you some constructive advice. It was a compliment.”
All three eventually voted to send Jordin on to Hollywood.

Some Idol watchers were so impressed with Jordin’s audition they predicted “you might be looking at your winner right here!”
Jordin’s career is more than singing; she’s also a stage actress and model for a women’s clothing line called Torrid.
Her talent has already earned her spots on “Star Search” in 2003 and “America’s Most Talented Kids” in 2004. She’s won national gospel music competitions and recorded her first album, “For Now,” in 2003 at the tender age of 12. She’s also gained a reputation as a country singer and a national anthem performer at professional sporting events.
In September she won the Arizona Idol competition and three days later was flown to the Seattle auditions as part of her prize.