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'."
Theater has proven to be a popular career move for many "American Idol" standouts, most notably Fantasia, who has starred as Celie in the Broadway version of "The Color Purple." Diana DeGarmo has appeared in "Hairspray," Frenchie Davis was featured in "Rent" and Tamyra Gray won roles in both "Rent" and "Bombay Dreams."
Studdard is also scheduled to make a holiday appearance in his hometown Birmingham, Alabama this weekend, performing with his old band Just a Few Cats at the WorkPlay soundstage.
