Diana DeGarmo

Diana DeGarmo
DeGarmo on the 2015 USO tour
Background information
Birth name	Diana Nicole DeGarmo
Born	(1987-06-16) June 16, 1987 (age 37) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Origin	Snellville, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Country, pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, actress
Years active	1996–present
Labels	RCA, Mailboat[1]
Spouse	Ace Young (m. 2013)
Website	www.dianadegarmo.com

Diana Nicole DeGarmo (born June 16, 1987^[2]) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She rose to fame in 2004 as the runner-up of the third season of American Idol, releasing her debut studio album, Blue Skies, later that year. The following year, DeGarmo ventured into a career in musical theatre. She has starred in two Broadway, one off-Broadway and three national tours. She made her television acting debut in a six-month arc as Angelina Veneziano on The Young and the Restless. DeGarmo has since released two extended plays, Unplugged in Nashville (2009) and Live to Love (2012). She is married to fifth season American Idol finalist Ace Young.^[3]

Early life

Diana DeGarmo was born on June 16, 1987 in Birmingham, Alabama, but was raised primarily in the Atlanta suburb of Snellville, Georgia. DeGarmo began singing at a young age, including the 1997 Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards, and in Atlanta-based stage productions of Annie and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. At age ten she was part of the Cartoon Gang on The Cartoon Network, appearing in various bumper segments. As a third grader she was a Coca-Cola Kid during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. The next year she sang at Opryland USA during the Christmas season. In 2002, she was named Miss Georgia Teen and was also a finalist on the NBC talent search program America's Most Talented Kid.

Career

American Idol

DeGarmo took part in the third season of American Idol in 2004, finishing second to winner Fantasia Barrino.^[4] She was 16 years old at the time she competed.

During her run on American Idol she was thrice in the bottom three, but was the first contestant sent to safety each time and thus never in the bottom two. She became one of the front-runners by week 6.

She performed around the country with the other third-season top-ten contestants during the summer of 2004.

Performances

Week #

Song choice

Original artist

Result

Top 32

"I've Got the Music in Me"

Kiki Dee

Advanced

Top 12

"Think"

Aretha Franklin

Safe

Top 11

"A Broken Wing"

Martina McBride

Bottom 3

Top 10

"Do You Love Me"

The Contours

Safe

Top 9

"I'm Still Standing"

Elton John

Bottom 3

Top 8

"My Heart Will Go On"

Celine Dion

Bottom 3

Top 7

"One Voice"

Barry Manilow

Safe

Top 6

"Turn the Beat Around"

Vicki Sue Robinson

Safe

Top 5

"Someone to Watch Over Me" "Get Happy"

Gertrude Lawrence Ruth Etting

Safe

Top 4

"This Is It" "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)"

Melba Moore Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand

Safe

Top 3

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" "Because You Loved Me" "Don't Cry Out Loud"

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell Celine Dion The Moments

Safe

Finale

"I Believe" "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" "Don't Cry Out Loud" (Encore)

Fantasia Barrino/Diana DeGarmo Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand The Moments

Runner-up

Post-Idol music

DeGarmo on a 2005 USO tour

DeGarmo was signed to RCA Records shortly after the Idol finale and released her single, "Dreams," on June 29, 2004. The single reached number 2 in Canada and number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single also included her version of "I Believe" and a remake of Melissa Manchester's "Don't Cry Out Loud". She recorded her debut album in between Idol summer tour stops.

DeGarmo's debut album, Blue Skies, was released on December 7, 2004, to opening week sales of 47,000. The album debuted at number 52 on the Billboard 200 and included songs written by future American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, as well as Desmond Child, Adam Shankman, and Andreas Carlsson, among others. As of fall 2008, the album had sold 168,000 copies with little to no advertising.^[5] The lone single from the CD, "Emotional", was released to radio in November 2004, peaking at number 54 on the Mediabase Pop Chart. She toured independently in the spring and summer of 2005 in support of Blue Skies. During the same time she recorded a song for the soundtrack of the Disney movie Ice Princess. "Reaching for Heaven", written by Desmond Child, can be heard during the climactic ice skating scene in the movie.^[6] In June 2005, RCA and DeGarmo parted ways. On September 17, 2005, DeGarmo received the Horizon Award at the Georgia Music Hall Of Fame Awards ceremony; the award recognizes Georgia artists on the path to successful and lengthy careers.

DeGarmo began recording a pop/R&B album in 2007;^[7] however, she backed out of the project to return to her country music roots.^[8] After filming CMT's Gone Country in late 2007, she relocated to Nashville. She signed to John Rich's production company and recorded material with him in 2008. The songs were never released and DeGarmo moved on to other collaborators.^[9] In February 2009 she self-released a four-song acoustic country EP, Unplugged in Nashville, to digital retailers.

In March 2012, DeGarmo wrote "Good Goodbye" for use with her character on The Young and the Restless. It was released to iTunes and was included on her May 2012 EP Live to Love. After producing a music video for "Good Goodbye," fans were asked to vote on two versions of the video on the American Idol website.^[10] The winning video became available on iTunes.

DeGarmo's second album, Gemini, was released August 2, 2019 with a release concert at Sony Hall.^[11][12] DeGarmo presented and streamed a live concert of Gemini in the summer of 2020, ultimately winning the 2020 BroadwayWorld Award for Best Streamed Concert.^[13]

Musical theatre

DeGarmo made her major stage debut as Maria in an American Musical Theatre of San Jose production of West Side Story in November 2005. She followed with her Broadway debut in a four-month run of Hairspray as nerdy Penny Pingleton taking over for Tracy Miller in February 2006. She also performed the lead role of Brooklyn in the 2006 national tour of Brooklyn: The Musical alongside one of her idols, Melba Moore. DeGarmo returned to Hairspray for a second engagement from September 2006 to February 2007. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in April 2007 at a tribute to Neil Sedaka.

In 2008, DeGarmo was set to star in a Broadway revival of Godspell at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, but on August 19, it was announced that the show was postponed indefinitely due to the loss of an investor.^[14]

In May 2009, DeGarmo starred in the musical revue Back to Bacharach and David, which featured the songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The Kathy Najimy created and produced show played a limited two-week engagement in Los Angeles at the Music Box Theater on Hollywood Boulevard.^[15] In July 2009, she starred as the narrator in the Oklahoma Lyric's Theatre production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat alongside Idol alum Anthony Federov.^[16] Her next role saw her return to New York City when she debuted in August 2009 as Sarah, the "sexy, blind librarian" and love interest of Toxie, in the off-Broadway musical The Toxic Avenger.^[17] The show was housed at New World Stages. DeGarmo remained with Avenger until it closed on January 3, 2010.

DeGarmo made her return to Broadway, starring as Sheila in the Broadway company of Hair where she met her future husband, Ace Young. She succeeded original cast member Caissie Levy beginning March 9, 2010.^[18] She played Sheila until the show's closure on June 27, 2010.

DeGarmo played the role of Doralee Rhodes in the national tour of 9 to 5, which was launched in Nashville on September 21, 2010.^[19] She ended her run as Doralee after the July 2011 Minneapolis tour stop.

DeGarmo appeared on musical theatre composer Scott Alan's third album, What I Wanna Be When I Grow Up with the song "I Wish", released November 1, 2010.

She reprised the role of Penny Pingleton in the Hollywood Bowl production of Hairspray, which ran from August 5–7, 2011.^[20]

DeGarmo has done several readings for new musicals over the years, starting with In Your Dreams in early October 2006. In 2009, she played the title role in a concert for Liberty: A New Musical at the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and in 2009 played the role of Chris in the much anticipated reading of an updated Carrie: The Musical. In 2011 and again in 2013 she played Fern/Vylette in Manhattan industry readings of "Jawbreaker," a musical based on the 1990s movie of the same name.^[21]

In January 2013, DeGarmo played "Sally" in the pre-Broadway run of the new musical "NERDS," in Raleigh, NC, for the North Carolina Theatre.^[22]

DeGarmo played The Narrator in the national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat from March 4, 2014, to April 2015.^[23]

In June 2015, DeGarmo starred as Dorothy in Studio Tenn's production of The Wizard of Oz at The Schermerhorn Symphony Theater in Nashville, Tennessee.^[24] She and Young are set to lead the first national tour of First Date, which is set to launch in the fall of 2020.^[25]

She played Lucy in the 2016 to 2017 world tour of Jekyll & Hyde.^[26]

In 2023, she played the Witch in a regional production of Into the Woods. In 2024, she returned to the regional stage as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors.^[27]

Film and television

DeGarmo joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in October 2011. She portrayed Angelina Veneziano, the daughter of resident mobster, Angelo. Her character was a terrible singer who was obsessed with gaining the affections of Kevin Fisher. Her character went through a redemption arc, and by the time her last episode aired in March 2012, Angelina not only could sing, she had matured into a kinder and gentler character.

In film, DeGarmo played Dora Hand, a dance hall singer in the 2012 western film Wyatt Earp's Revenge.^[28]

DeGarmo made a cameo appearance as herself in the Lifetime Network holiday movie All About Christmas Eve starring Haylie Duff.^[29] She also appeared on the second season of TLC's wedding dress show Brides of Beverly Hills, which documented her search for a wedding dress.^[30]

During 2013, DeGarmo and Ace Young hosted a weekly one-hour entertainment show, Planet 360.^{[31][non-primary source needed]} It started on the Hallmark Movie Channel in March, moved to TVGN in May and was canceled in December.

In 2013, DeGarmo starred in an independent film comedy, Alto.^[32] DeGarmo's character, Frankie, is a struggling musician who falls in love with the daughter of a mafia don, and the two women become involved in a murder while also trying to come out to "Family." As of June 2015 the film has been shown at four festivals: The Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, The VisionFest Film Festival in New York City, the Hoboken International Film Festival in Middletown, New York and the Frameline LGBTQ film festival in San Francisco. DeGarmo was nominated for the Jack Nance Breakthrough Performance Award at VisionFest, where Alto won the Audience Award.^[33]

In 2016, DeGarmo's third film, The Morning Sun, based on the play The Morning the Sun Fell Down, was released.^[34]

Charities

DeGarmo is a celebrity ambassador of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and supports the cause at events including the 2012 MDA "Show of Strength" Telethon to raise money for children and adults with neuromuscular disease.^[35] She also supports and performs in fundraisers for a number of charitable organizations both nationally and locally, including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.

Other activities

DeGarmo was the first American Idol finalist to participate in a USO tour. She has been on four USO tours overseas:

• From December 2005 through January 2006 she entertained troops in Southwest Asia on a tour hosted by General Peter Pace.^[36] Her song "Thank You" is inspired by this trip.
• In April 2012, she and Ace Young toured, accompanied by fellow performers and athletes Anthony Anderson, Weeman, Dennis Haysbert, Randy Johnson, and The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.^[37]
• In February 2013 she toured with Ace Young, Peyton Manning, Austin Collie, Curt Schilling and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.^[38]
• In March 2015, DeGarmo, Andrew Luck, Weeman, Miss America, and several other celebrities toured the Middle East and military installations in Korea, Japan, and Hawaii.

In late 2007/early 2008, DeGarmo participated as a Southern celebrity in television ads for the Zaxby's restaurant chain. She also made a guest appearance as Cosmo's singing voice in The Fairly OddParents episode Fairy Idol.

In November 2008, DeGarmo appeared on the Howard Stern Show.^[39]

Personal life

DeGarmo is the niece of Eddie DeGarmo of DeGarmo & Key.^[40]

DeGarmo married Ace Young on June 1, 2013, at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard hotel in Los Angeles.^[41] She lives in Nashville, Tennessee with Young.

Discography

Albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions	Sales
		US
Blue Skies	Release date: December 7, 2004 Label: RCA Format: CD, digital download	52	US: 168,000
GEMINI	Release date: August 2, 2019 Label: Dixie Rose Entertainment Format: LP, digital download	—	US: N/A
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Extended plays

Title	Details	Peak chart positions	Sales
		US
Unplugged in Nashville	Release date: February 27, 2009 Label: Independent release Format: Digital download	—	US: N/A
Live to Love	Release date: May 22, 2012 Label: Young Brothers Entertainment Format: Digital download	—	US: N/A
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Singles

Year	Title	Chart positions		Album
		US	CAN
2004	"Dreams"	14	2	Non-album single
	"Emotional"	—	—	Blue Skies
2012	"Good Goodbye"[10]	—	—	Live to Love; featured on The Young and the Restless

Other recordings

Released	Title	Album
March 15, 2005 (2005-03-15)	"Reaching for Heaven"	Ice Princess Original Soundtrack
November 1, 2010 (2010-11-01)	"I Wish"	What I Wanna Be When I Grow Up – The Songs of Scott Alan

Music videos

Year	Title	Director
2012	"Good Goodbye"	Spenser Cohen

References

1. "News". Mailboat Records. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
2. HL Intern (June 16, 2011). "Happy Birthday, Diana DeGarmo! Today, Jun. 16, You're 24 Years Old!". Hollywood Life. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
3. Helling, Steve (July 31, 2014). "Ace Young Marries Diana DeGarmo". People. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
4. Holguin, Jaime (November 24, 2004). "Fantasia Wins 'American Idol'". CBS News.
5. [1] Archived October 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
6. Phares, Heather (March 15, 2005). "Ice Princess – Original Soundtrack : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
7. "Diana DeGarmo growing up, finding her way | AL.com". Blog.al.com. April 27, 2007. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
8. "News : Gone Country's Diana DeGarmo Moves to Nashville". CMT. February 15, 2008. Archived from the original on February 18, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
9. "Catching Up With Past 'American Idol' Finalists". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
10. "Watch American Idol TV Show - ABC.com". American Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012.
11. "Diana DeGarmo Gemini, Billboard".
12. "Diana DeGarmo, Times Square NYC".
13. "Winners Announced for the 2020 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards".
14. "Broadway Revival of Godspell Postponed". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
15. "Birdsong, DeGarmo, Lowe and Thomas to Star in Back to Bacharach and David". Playbill. March 13, 2009. Archived from the original on April 16, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
16. [2] Archived June 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
17. "DeGarmo to Join Cast of Off-Broadway's Toxic Avenger". Playbill. July 14, 2009. Archived from the original on July 17, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
18. "Kyle Riabko, Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo Are Hair's New Headliners; Complete Cast Announced | Broadway Buzz". Broadway.com. February 16, 2010. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
19. "Diana DeGarmo Cast in National Tour of 9 to 5". Playbill. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
20. "HAIRSPRAY at the Hollywood Bowl to Star Fierstein, Winokur, Bleu, Carey, DeGarmo, Jonas, Stamos & More". Broadwayworld.com. August 15, 2002. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
21. "Diana DeGarmo, Van Hughes, et al. Lead JAWBREAKER Reading". Broadwayworld.com. September 28, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
22. "North Carolina Staging of Broadway-Aimed Nerds to Feature Darren Ritchie, Stanley Bahorek, Leslie Kritzer, Diana DeGarmo". Playbill. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
23. "Husband and Wife Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo Will Lead 2014 Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 3, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
24. "Press". Studiotenn.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
25. "Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young To Lead FIRST DATE National Tour". Broadwayworld.com. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
26. Musbach, Julie (March 12, 2017). "Photo Flash: World Tour of JEKYLL AND HYDE Opens in South Korea Starring Kyle Dean Massey and Diana Degarmo". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
27. Feature: INTO THE WOODS at Short North Stage
28. "Diana DeGarmo, Val Kilmer Set for 'The First Ride of Wyatt Earp' Film". Movies.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
29. "Diana DeGarmo (DianaDeGarmo) : Hanging on set with @HaylieK @I". Via.me. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
30. "Diana DeGarmo News – 'American Idol' Alums Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young Set a Wedding Date, Bride-To-Be Picks A Wedding Dress (EXCLUSIVE DETAILS)". Celebuzz.com. October 8, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
31. "Planet 360". Facebook.com. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
32. "Alto". IMDb.com. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
33. "Domani Vision Film Society :: Press :: Releases". Archived from the original on February 8, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
34. "'Morning Sun' rising in Village of Lewiston; watch video of film announcement". Wnypapers.com. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
35. "MDA Show Of Strength™ Features Star-studded Talent, Focuses On Families – TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/" (Press release). PR Newswire. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
36. "Diana DeGarmo entertains the troops". Archived from the original on June 13, 2010.
37. "News Article: Final Stop on USO Tour Brings Out Ramstein Troops, Families". Defense.gov. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
38. "USO Spring Troop Visit". Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
39. "Kurt Angle appears on Howard Stern with a musical performer who is now involved with TNA, says wrestling is harder than MMA, says he would rather not do business with Vince McMahon again but won't rule it out either". Prowrestling.net. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
40. Anthony K. Valley (May 25, 2004). "American Idol Contestants Ties to the Christian Church". Archived from the original on May 6, 2006. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
41. Helling, Steve. "Ace Young Marries Diana DeGarmo". People. Retrieved June 1, 2013.

External links

• Official website
• Diana DeGarmo at IMDb