SOHH has learned that former "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard has been released from J Records.

After a promising start as winner of the second season of “American Idol,” Studdard seems to have fallen short of expectations and has been dropped from J. A rep from his label has confirmed the artist’s departure to SOHH.

Studdard’s first J Record release Soulful, released in 2003, is RIAA certified platinum. His 2004 gospel follow up, I Need An Angel also fared well - reaching gold status. However sales of his 2006 project The Return have been unable to match his previous success, moving barely 235,000 copies.

Studdard has been putting in work to strengthen other aspects of his career. In November, he spent time touring alongside Robin Givens in a play called “Heaven I Need a Hug” and according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he is currently preparing to play jazz great Fats Waller in a national theatre tour of “Ain’t Misbehavin’.”

http://www.sohh.com/artic....php/13254

bboy87 said:

So sad and unfortunate. Meanwhile, the likes of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood are being promoted well, with no problem. But, what about Ruben and Fantasia?

The man does not know what he wants to do, does he want to sing or act?

I can understand why the dropped him. Make up your mind, concentrate and stick to one thing.

The same goes for Fantasia...Make your presence known, in your field and then branch out.

FarrahMoan said:

Well Kelly is going through her own stuff right now, so dont think she's safe, Carrie is like the new Faith Hill so she fit that mold 100%. I dont really think they knew what to do with Fantasia, shes like a cross between Macy Gray and Kelis and labels cant handle anything that doesnt fit a mold. With Ruben, i just mainly question the material that he does, for a guy with his vocals, to be singing stuff IMO that was beneath his talent was just a disaster. But im sure ruben will be fine, alot of people are going into Musical theater to just get away from the business.

shorttrini said:

What acting has Ruben done? I know he had a few appearances on shows/movies, but I haven't seen him trying to "act".

It's probably better for Ruben anyway. He needs to stick with gospel. His 2 r&b albums were horrible. Also, it's not easy to market someone like Ruben. I know this will sound so un-PC, but Ruben is a big guy and you don't see big guys as superstars. Luther was one of the only exceptions in this case. I think Luther was so successful is because he wrote his own stuff and had his own style. Someone like Ruben doesn't fit the normal mode for a pop star and kids, today, are image driven, not musically driven.

Nice voice, but he always came off as a Luther imitator to me. His music wasn't that good either.

daPrettyman said:

Exactly. but AI ran into that with that other guy Taylor Hicks, i mean not only should he have not won, im sure AI was thinking how the hell are we gonna cash in on this guy? I think someone said that if you finish in the top4? you are under Idol contract through the first year? so i think once you are out of that, its up to you to catch an audience, because after a year they arent going to push you at all.

lastdecember said:

Yeah, I never liked Taylor either. His album didn't even go silver. He has to be the lowest selling Idol winner thus far. When I saw him pimping his book, I knew it was over. He was telling his "life story" at the age of 30.

daPrettyman said:

To be fair, he does look like he's 55.

RipHer2Shreds said:

Ruben can't dance, pf course he's gonna get dropped.

Maybe some artists are happy just being able to sing and be paid for it. Not all of them need the big houses, fancy cars, and suffocating fame to be happy and Ruben always seemed like this to me. Some artists don't have to go multi-platinum on every album they release to be happy and satisfied, just like there are many actors who chose low-budget films over big box office paydays. Some people just love their craft and would do it for free because it brings them inner joy. If Ruben and Fantasia are happy with where they are, than I have more respect for them than all the Kelly Clarksons, Carrie Underwoods, and Daughterys that have hit big thanks to their popularity from a reality show.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

What does dancing have 2 do with anything. He's a singer. To be fair, artists like Prince, George Michael, Chaka Khan, etc. are not known for dancing. They are known for singing ability and musician ship.

To be in the R&B game now a days, you gotta have some footsteps on yo, if you don't you're toast.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

I've never seen Jaheim, or J. Holiday bust a move. Lloyd is one of the few male singers that actually dances now (as well as Ne-Yo). I've seen R. Kelly dance some, but not a lot. So, I can't seem to justify your theory.

daPrettyman said:

I've seen J.Holiday dance....

that being said, he and R. Kelly are terrible

Did he ever put out any good music?

I remember reading an Interview.. with Prince .talking about How Wendy and Lisa Came out... and they were not Charting.. And he said, when you come out.. You have to Jump off of Speakers and Lights fires..etc... Basically, saying you have to get peoples attention..

All that said.. Ruben has a Good Voice.. Hasn't got anyone's attention..

bboy87 said:

Homie was so fat, he had to ask Heaven for a hug.....



Yeah, I know that was wrong.....so what? Wanna fight about it

CalhounSq said:

You didn't love that classic, "Sorry for 2004"?

daPrettyman said:

Jordin Sparks is the lowest selling Idol winner

his voice couldn't overcome his lack of style and boring cookie-cutter music. sorry rube. he can always make it on the chitlin-play-circuit

Yeah I wished that Ruben would had been successful but all his songs sounded the same. "Sorry 2004" was just sorry. And his first single off his latest album sounded just like it. No originality. I guess they just didn't know what to do with him.

i was surprised when i learned not long ago that it was him that won Idol that cycle and not Clay.

so yea i'm not surprised to hear he's dropped now.
[Edited 12/20/07 18:21pm]

Sorry 2004 was probably his best song once you remember who the hell Ruben Studdard is and that he even released the song. I don't remember anything else he did except for that song and only because it was mentioned above. Oh well, I think he'll be fine, they were really just wasting his talent IMO. Broadway has another star.

He didn't make pop records like Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson did after winning.

He won a pop music contest, then recorded gospel, alienating his market.

daPrettyman said:

Ruben needs to fine Ruben and be Ruben. He needs to concentrate on music, if he wants to do music; and nothing else. seems like he has been trying to find himself, with very little success.

I hate to let ya'll know this, but this is just symptomatic of what is going on in music. About the only ones that really have any chance are Carrie Underwood, cuz she does country, and country folks don't do their artists like in hip/hop etc., and Chris Daughty. Much as I liked Jordin Sparks, I think the American Idol phenom. is done - stick a fork in it, in fact.

daPrettyman said:

The guy is just boring, he has no charisma - very very forgettable character. I am not surprised he's dropped from the label - he hasn't done anything with his career since winning. I can't even name a song from him.

FWIW, I love Ruben's first CD. As far as contemporary R&B goes, it's one of the best albums of the decade (but I'll admit that isn't saying much). "After the Candles Burn"