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Jordin Sparks Lets Her Light Shine
Season 6 American Idol Jordin Sparks lets her light shine.
Jordin Sparks has had two major life-altering moments on stage singing before an audience. It is probably not shocking to learn that one of them came when at seventeen she performed in front of millions of viewers on national television and became the Season Six American Idol in the blockbuster FOX-TV singing competition. The other moment that changed her life, however, may come as a surprise to you. It happened a few short years prior to the Anerican Idol performance while she sang in a week-closing show at Kanakuk Kamp, a summer Christian sports camp.
American Idol launched her singing career and provided her with a new platform in which to share her voice, but the Kanakuk Kamp moment had given her a real purpose in sharing it.
A Moment of Decision
Jordin gave her life to Jesus on New Year's Eve at the age of four. A short time later, while in kindergarten, she sang on stage for the first time. Her faith and her object of enthusiasm were established. By the time she reached middle school she knew she wanted to make singing her career.
At the age of twelve she entered and won her first singing competition. It would be the first of many. From talent shows across her home state of Arizona to nationally-sponsored contests, Jordin kept winning and winning. She was a double-award winner at the Gospel Music Association Academy, and she even performed on NBC's America's Most Talented Kids. Within that stream of accolades, Jordin found herself at Kanakuk scheduled to perform at the camp's end-of-week show.
"God had always been a part of my singing, but I didn't fully realize that I needed to use it for Him," Jordin explains. "I had been singing because I loved the attention. It was fun, and I didn't realize how much of a (selfish) thing that that was. Then one of the counselors came up to me and said ‘If you want to sing tonight, make sure you're doing it for God and not because you want the glory.'"
Jordin debated with herself throughout the day about whether or not to perform, unsure if her heart was in it for the right reason. When show time arrived, she was feeling convicted and conflicted.
‘"Right before it was about to end, I got up there," Jordin says. "I was going to sing a fast song, and it was going to be really exciting; but I got up there, and I completely changed my mind. I sang a song called ‘Finally Home' by Natalie Grant. I sang the entire thing a cappella, and that was the first time I had really felt the Holy Spirit come over me, and I realized that I had to sing for God. It wasn't all about me, and He was the reason I had the voice that I have."
Her new purpose had been revealed. She was to glorify God with her voice.
This Idol Worships
With God's blessings fully falling upon her, her list of awards grew longer. Her successes were verified as she found herself advancing stage by stage through the 2007 season of American Idol.
Jordin had auditioned for the show as soon as she had reached the eligible age limit. She blew the judges away! From Hollywood week through the live performance shows, Jordin consistently hit the mark. Running the gauntlet and outlasting the other great singers became more and more attainable as the weeks passed. Her voice full of confidence, she landed in the Top Two for the final showdown.
Singing the winning song from that season, "This Is My Now", Jordin Sparks sparkled. As she belted the lyrics, "I have the courage like never before; I've settled for less, now I'm ready for more," she could have been conveying how far God had brought her since that moment at Kanakuk Kamp.
Jordin remembers her feelings after the final audition this way, "I knew what was kind of at stake, and I wanted it really badly, but after I performed I was actually okay with it going either way-either me winning or Blake (Lewis) winning. I prayed, and I was at peace with everything."
More than 74 million calls came in to vote on the outcome. In the final results show, host Ryan Seacrest held the suspense for as long as he could before revealing that the majority had chosen Jordin as the winner. She was, and remains, the youngest winner of American Idol.
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