Ace Young

Best known as a contestant on the fifth season of Fox's American Idol, vocalist Ace Young is also a Broadway performer and contemporary pop vocalist. Born in 1980 in Denver, CO, Young grew up in Boulder as the youngest of five brothers. Interested in music at a young age, he began singing around age seven and took vocal lessons throughout high school. After graduation, Young found modest success by performing at Denver Nuggets games and placing a song, "Reason I Live," on the soundtrack to the 2000 film The Little Vampire. A move to California in 2003 brought him a more performance opportunities, including some acting work, but it was his audition for American Idol in 2006 that proved the most fruitful.

After auditioning in Denver, Ace made it to Idol's Hollywood round and ultimately stuck around for six weeks. While on the show, Young befriended fellow contestant and future rock sensation Chris Daughtry, with whom he co-wrote the song "It's Not Over;" the tune later appeared on Daughtry's debut album and received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song in 2007. Young launched his own recording career with the help of producer Desmond Child, and his self-titled album arrived in 2008. He found more success as a Broadway performer, though, and eventually landed roles in revival productions on both Grease and Hair.