Tiffany Montgomery (born November 21, 1982), known professionally as Ryan Starr, is a singer who finished seventh on the first season of American Idol. She went on to release a successful single on iTunes and participated in a handful of other television programs, modeling campaigns, and worldwide music tours.

Early life Ryan Starr was born Tiffany Montgomery in the Sunland neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, a place which she once described as a "middle of nowhere town, up in the hills - like, horse country." Her elementary, middle, and high schools were all about "a block from one another" in her words, and growing up, Starr considered herself to be "a small-town tomboy". She has three sisters. On her mother's side, she is Peruvian and Bolivian. She also has French and Irish ancestry.

Although Starr was named Homecoming Queen, she reminisced in a 2017 blog post that she was "dorky" and "definitely not one of the popular kids" for most of her time in school. She graduated from Verdugo Hills High School in 2000, where she ran track. Before attempting a music career, she worked as a waitress, lifeguard, swim team coach, and at a clothing store.

Around the age of seven, Starr began learning how to sing. Her family was unable to afford formal vocal training, so as a child, Starr developed her voice by singing along to Disney films. Drawn to jazz and blues artists from a young age, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Etta James, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding were among Starr's first musical influences. As Starr got older, she found inspiration in rock musicians, such as Pat Benatar, Chris Cornell, Steve Perry, and Steven Tyler.

Career American Idol After graduating from high school, Starr went on frequent bus excursions into Hollywood from her nearby hometown, and on one of these, she met a girl who suggested that the two of them audition for American Idol first season together. Starr's performance of "Lean on Me" (by Bill Withers) was the first successful audition ever shown on the series. In his 2003 autobiography, I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But..., Simon Cowell wrote that Starr was "cripplingly shy" at the audition, but that Paula Abdul "saw some potential for stardom in her, and decided to mentor her."

Starr, who auditioned as Tiffany Montgomery, adopted her stage name by Hollywood Week. Placed into Group 1 for the Top 30 semi-finals, her song choice for that round of an old jazz standard, "The Frim-Fram Sauce", puzzled Cowell and Randy Jackson, although the following night Cowell deemed Starr "a dark horse" and predicted that she could excel in the competition with better singing material. After she was voted through to the Top 10, Starr opened the first round of the finals, singing "If You Really Love Me" by Stevie Wonder; this marked the first live performance in the history of American Idol. Starr was well received by the judges for that performance but was voted off the series two weeks later in seventh place.

The second of Starr's live performances, "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks, was panned by the judges and resulted in a Bottom 2 placement for that week. While Starr's final performance of the competition, "Last Dance" by Donna Summer, was praised by the judges as an improvement over the previous week, it prompted Cowell to reflect on Starr's disparate song choices throughout the competition and express confusion over what kind of artist Starr wanted to be. The judges felt that Starr struggled with aspects of her performances throughout every round of the finals but communicated a shared belief in Starr's potential. Upon Starr's elimination from the competition, Cowell gave Starr an offer to call him anytime for help with pursuing a music career.

Performances WeekThemeSongOriginal artistResult Auditions Contestant's Choice "Lean on Me""Fallin'" Bill WithersAlicia Keys AdvancedHollywoodContestant's Choice"Ain't No Sunshine"Bill WithersAdvancedSemi-Final Group 1Free Choice"The Frim-Fram Sauce"Nat King ColeAdvancedTop 10Motown"If You Really Love Me"Stevie WonderSafeTop 81960s"You Really Got Me"The KinksBottom 2Top 71970s"Last Dance"Donna SummerEliminatedSeason finale"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"Nancy Sinatra

"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" Nancy Sinatra, (solo part in Group performance)

Post-American Idol music career Starr blamed her stalled music career on a two-year restrictive recording contract with RCA. Under this contract, she refused to record an album claiming producers wanted to turn her into an Avril Lavigne type singer. After an intense three year legal battle she was released from contract in 2005.

Upon release from her contract, Starr went on to host TRL on VH1. In January 2005, People reported that Starr was "shopping a demo record that steers clear of Idol's sugary pop tones" and had "recently released" an iTunes exclusive single, "My Religion", which she co-wrote. According to a 2007 article by the Boston Herald, "My Religion" was released in 2005, though an earlier article by NCBuy.com reported that "My Religion" was released in September 2004. Although it was reported by the Boston Herald in 2008 and by Rolling Stone in 2011 that "My Religion" peaked at #1 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart, Billboard's own records indicate that the song did not actually chart.

Television appearances Year Title Role Other notes 2002 American Idol 7th place finalist Went on a nationwide, 32-city tour with all the American Idol finalists. 2002, 2004 Entertainment Tonight Guest Star 2002–2005 Access Hollywood Starr, along with fellow idol R. J. Helton, did numerous interviews with Access Hollywood. 2002–2006 Fox News Guest Star 2003 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Sophia Renatta Starr appeared in an episode where she was killed in a diving accident, which looked like murder. What I Like About You Pam Wayne Good Day Live Guest Star Live with Regis and Kelly Guest Star Sang 'Lean on Me.' 2003, 2005 Total Request Live Guest Star Interviewed.2004 The Surreal Life Housemate VH1 Big in 04 Star Starr presented an award along with Flavor Flav. On Air with Ryan Seacrest Guest Star Starr was interviewed by Ryan Seacrest, host of American Idol. The Howard Stern Show Guest Star Good Morning America Guest Star The View Guest Star 2005 Battle of the Network Reality Stars Star A Rockin' Las Vegas New-Year with Ryan Starr Host 2005 Billboard Music Awards Red carpet Extra Guest Star All Star Reality Reunion Interviewed 2006 Lingerie Bowl Star Starr was a sideline reporter. The Tyra Banks Show Guest Star 2007 The Dr. Keith Ablow Show Interviewed

Filmography Year Title Role Other notes 2004 Ring of Darkness Stacy Lead role 2006 Vendetta Brigitte Douglas

Commercials Year Title Role Other notes 2003 Old Navy Herself With several other Idols. 2004 Fuse Herself Promoting a new rock line-up. 2006 NASCAR Herself Promoting her July 15 NASCAR Runway Performance.

Discography

Singles Year Track Album2004 "My Religion" Non-album single

Compilation appearances Year Title Peak chart positions Details US 2002 American Idol: Greatest Moments 4Credited on the following tracks: "If You Really Love Me" (Solo performance) "California Dreamin'" (Group performance) 2008 Curtain Call: New Songs from Past American Idol Finalists —Credited on the following tracks: "My Religion" "Broken" "Blue"

As featured artist Year Track Album2010 "Chemically"(Sander Kleinenberg featuring Ryan Starr) 5K"Crazy for You"(Paolo Mojo featuring Ryan Starr)Non-album single

Other songs Year Track Details2006 "Love Gone Bad" Released through MySpace "Eyes of a Child" "Stranded"2007 "7am"

References

External links