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{{short description|American singer}}
{{Unreferenced|date=June 2007}}
{{Infobox musical artist

| name = LaKisha Jones
{{Infobox musical artist 2
|Name = LaKisha Jones
| image = LaKisha Jones.jpg
| caption = LaKisha Jones in [[The American Idol Experience]] motorcade at [[Walt Disney World]].
|Img = Lakishahomecoming.jpg
| image_size =
|Background = solo_singer
| background = solo_singer
|Birth_name = LaKisha Ann Jones
| birth_name = LaKisha Ann Jones
|Born = {{birth date and age|1980|1|13}} <br> {{flagicon|USA}} [[Flint, Michigan]], [[USA]]
| alias = <!---For listing official stage names...not for nicknames [[Template:Infobox_Musical_artist#Alias]] -->
|Occupation = [[Singer]]
| birth_date =
|Genre = [[Gospel music|Gospel]], [[Soul music|Soul]], [[R&B]], [[Pop music|Pop]]
| origin = [[Flint, Michigan|Flint]], [[Michigan]], United States<ref>[http://blog.mlive.com/idolchatter/2007/03/the_girl_is_a_star_what_lakishas_loved_ones_always.html 'The girl is a star' - What LaKisha's loved ones always knew, now the world shares - Idol Chatter - The Flint Journal - MLive.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|Years_active = 2007-Present
| instrument = [[Vocals]]
|Label = Unsigned
| genre = [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[Soul music|soul]], [[Gospel music|gospel]]
| occupation = [[Singing|Singer]], [[plus-size model]]
| years_active = 2007–present
| label = Elite Music LLC
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20100513144117/http://lakishajonesofficial.com/], [http://www.myspace.com/LakishaJonesMusic www.myspace.com/LakishaJonesMusic]
}}
}}


'''LaKisha Ann Jones'''<ref name="info"/> (born [[January 13]], [[1980]]) placed fourth on the [[American Idol (season 6)|sixth season]] of ''[[American Idol]]''.
'''LaKisha Ann Jones'''<ref name="info"/> is an [[Americans|American]] singer. She placed fourth on the [[American Idol (season 6)|sixth season]] of ''[[American Idol]]''.
==Biography==
===Personal life===
Jones was born at Hurley Medical Center in [[Flint, Michigan]], to a teacher at the Flint Foundation Academy, and was raised by her grandmother, [[Ruth Jefferson Morris]].


==Personal life==
An only child, Jones is a Baptist who began singing at the Mount Zion Missionary [[Baptist Church]] at age five.<ref name="info">http://blog.mlive.com/idolchatter/2007/03/the_girl_is_a_star_what_lakishas_loved_ones_always.html</ref> She was formally trained in classical music, although her favorite genre is gospel music. Jones always dreamed of becoming a singer. She was home schooled in Flint, then attended [[Flint Central High School]] (now Flint Central Commencement Academy), where, in one of her earliest performances, she appeared in a play called ''Lead Poisoning.'' While in high school, Jones performed with one of the groups in the choral department: the Madrigal Singers. Jones graduated in 1998 and attended the [[University of Michigan-Flint]], majoring in [[music]]. During college, she performed in the play ''[[Godspell]]''. Jones stated in her ''Idol'' interview that [[Flint, Michigan]] was her home for the first 20 years of her life, and although she had briefly moved to [[Fort Meade, Maryland]], she is now a [[Flint, Michigan]] resident again.
Jones was born at Hurley Medical Center in [[Flint, Michigan|Flint]], [[Michigan]], to a teacher at the Flint Foundation Academy. She was raised by her grandmother, Ruth Jefferson Morris.


An [[only child]], Jones is a [[Baptist]] who began singing at the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church at age five.<ref name="info">[http://blog.mlive.com/idolchatter/2007/03/the_girl_is_a_star_what_lakishas_loved_ones_always.html 'The girl is a star' - What LaKisha's loved ones always knew, now the world shares - Idol Chatter - ''The Flint Journal'' - MLive.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> She was formally trained in [[classical music]],{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} although her favorite genre is [[gospel music]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} Jones always dreamed of becoming a singer.
After she graduated college, Jones moved to [[Houston, Texas]], where she lived for six years. One of her earliest jobs in Houston was that of a secretary at Abundant Life Cathedral, a church with 7,000 parishioners. Prior to working at the church, Jones sang in the 70-member choir. The choir has produced well-known gospel singer [[Yolanda Adams]], among others. In 2006 , Jones moved to [[Fort Meade, Maryland]], in order to be closer to her cousins and other relatives. At that time, Jones obtained a job as a bank teller at Provident Bank in [[Millersville, Maryland]], which she gave up when she moved to Hollywood to compete in [[American Idol]].


She was [[home school]]ed in Flint, then attended [[Flint Central High School]], where, in one of her earliest performances, she appeared in a play called ''Lead Poisoning.'' While in high school, Jones performed with one of the groups in the choral department: the Madrigal Singers. Jones graduated in 1998 and attended the [[University of Michigan-Flint]], majoring in [[music]]. During college, she performed in the play ''[[Godspell]]''. Jones stated in her ''Idol'' interview that Flint, Michigan was her home. She was a single mother with a five-year-old daughter who encouraged her to try out for ''Idol''.
Jones was the 1997 winner of Flint's now defunct supershow, and while living in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], she took second place in the 2005 ''Gimme the Mic'' competition.


Jones moved to [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]], where she lived for six years. One of her earliest jobs in Houston was that of a secretary at Abundant Life Cathedral, a church with 7,000 parishioners. Prior to working at the church, Jones sang in the 70-member choir. The choir has produced well-known gospel singer [[Yolanda Adams]], among others. In 2006, Jones moved to [[Fort Meade, Maryland]], in order to be closer to her cousins and other relatives. At that time, Jones obtained a job as a bank teller at [[Provident Bank of Maryland|Provident Bank]] in [[Millersville, Maryland]], which she gave up when she moved to Hollywood to compete in ''[[American Idol]]''.
==American Idol==

===American Idol performances===
Jones was the 1997 winner of Flint's amateur talent show, The Supershow, which is now-defunct. While living in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], she took second place in the 2005 ''Gimme the Mic'' competition.
{|class="wikitable" align="left"

|colspan="100" bgcolor="CCCCCC" align="Center"|'''Week #'''
On October 5, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California, she married Larry Davis, a financial advisor. She has two daughters.<ref>[http://www.usmagazine.com/news/american-idol-finalist-lakisha-jones-is-pregnant-2009313 LaKisha Jones is Pregnant] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506090839/http://www.usmagazine.com/news/american-idol-finalist-lakisha-jones-is-pregnant-2009313 |date=2009-05-06 }} Us Weekly, March 31, 2009</ref>
|colspan="100" bgcolor="CCCCCC" align="Center"|'''Song Choice'''

|colspan="100" bgcolor="CCCCCC" align="Center"|'''Original Artist'''
==''American Idol''==
|colspan="100" bgcolor="CCCCCC" align="Center"|'''Result'''

===Audition===
Jones auditioned singing "[[Think (Aretha Franklin song)|Think]]" by [[Aretha Franklin]]. The judges were impressed with her powerful vocal and performance, and Simon noted that he "loved this girl". Jones was shown emotionally embracing her daughter after being sent into the next round.
In her farewell montage on the episode of her elimination it was shown that she also sang "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" during her audition.
She also performed Stevie Wonder's "Until You Come Back To Me" during one of the Hollywood audition rounds.

===''American Idol'' performances===
{|class="wikitable"
!colspan="100" |Week #
!colspan="100" |Theme #
!colspan="100" |Song Choice
!colspan="100" |Original Artist
!colspan="100" |Order #
!colspan="100" |Result
|-
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 24 (12 Women)
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 24
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|N/A
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Jennifer Holliday]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Jennifer Holliday]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|12
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|-
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 20 (10 Women)
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 20
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|N/A
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[Midnight Train to Georgia]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[Midnight Train to Georgia]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Gladys Knight & the Pips]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Cissy Houston]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|3
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|-
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 16 (8 Women)
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 16
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|N/A
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[I Have Nothing]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[I Have Nothing]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Whitney Houston]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Whitney Houston]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|6
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|-
|-
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 12
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 12
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[God Bless the Child (Billie Holiday song)|God Bless the Child]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Diana Ross]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[God Bless the Child (Billie Holiday song)|God Bless The Child]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Billie Holliday]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Billie Holiday]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|8
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|-
|-
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 11
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 11
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[Diamonds are Forever]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[British Invasion]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[Diamonds Are Forever (soundtrack)|Diamonds Are Forever]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Shirley Bassey]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Shirley Bassey]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|5
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|-
|-
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 10
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 10
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[Last Dance (song)|Last Dance]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[No Doubt]]/Artist who inspire [[Gwen Stefani]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[Last Dance (Donna Summer song)|Last Dance]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Donna Summer]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Donna Summer]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|1
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|-
|-
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 9
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 9
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Traditional pop|American Classics]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[Stormy Weather (song)|Stormy Weather]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[Stormy Weather (song)|Stormy Weather]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|First performed by [[Ethel Waters]], popularized by [[Lena Horne]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Ethel Waters]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe<br><small>'''Top 3'''</small>
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|9
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe{{ref|1|1}}
|-
|-
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 8
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 8
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Latin American music|Latin]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[Conga (song)|Conga]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[Conga (song)|Conga]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Gloria Estefan]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Gloria Estefan|Miami Sound Machine]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|2
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|-
|-
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 7
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 7
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Country music|Country]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[Jesus, Take the Wheel]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[Jesus, Take the Wheel]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Carrie Underwood]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Carrie Underwood]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Bottom 2
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|4
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Bottom 2{{ref|2|2}}
|-
|-
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 6
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 6
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Inspirational
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[I Believe (Fantasia song)|I Believe]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[I Believe (Fantasia song)|I Believe]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Fantasia Barrino]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Fantasia Barrino]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe<br><small>'''Non-Elimination Week'''</small>
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|4
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|-
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 6{{ref|3|3}}
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 6
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Bon Jovi]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[This Ain't a Love Song]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[This Ain't a Love Song]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Bon Jovi]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Bon Jovi
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|3
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Safe
|-
|-
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 4
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Top 4
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Barry Gibb]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[Stayin' Alive]]"<br>"[[Run to Me (Bee Gees song)|Run to Me]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|"[[Stayin' Alive]]"<br>"[[Run to Me (Bee Gees song)|Run to Me]]"
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Bee Gees]]<br>Bee Gees
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|[[Bee Gees]]
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|3<br>7
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Eliminated
|colspan="100" align="center" bgcolor="FAF6F6"|Eliminated
|}{{Clear}}
|}<br clear="all">
*{{note|1|Note 1}} When [[Ryan Seacrest]] announced the results for this particular night, Jones was declared safe placing in the top three.
*{{note|2|Note 2}} When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for the particular night, Jones was among in the bottom three, but declared safe second when [[Sanjaya Malakar]] was eliminated.
*{{note|3|Note 3}} Due to the [[Idol Gives Back]] performance, the Top 6 remained intact for another week.


==Post-''American Idol''==
===Audition===
Jones toured with the Top 10 Idols on the [[American Idols LIVE! Tour 2007|Idols tour]]. She received positive reviews for her solo performance of "[[I Will Always Love You]]". She performed the Star-Spangled Banner at [[Comerica Park]] before the Detroit Tigers game on June 8, 2007 versus the New York Mets.
Jones auditioned singing "[[Think (Aretha Franklin song)|Think]]" by [[Aretha Franklin]]. The judges were impressed with her powerful vocal and performance, and Simon noted that he "loved this girl". LaKisha was shown emotionally embracing her daughter after being sent into the next round.
In her farewell montage on the episode of her elimination it was shown that she also sang "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" during her audition.
She also performed Stevie Wonder's "Until You Come Back To Me" during one of the Hollywood audition rounds.


Jones also had two homecoming events. The first at the Abundant Life Cathedral Church in [[Houston, Texas]] ([[Houston]] was her home from 2000 to 2006) on May 30, 2007. This date was also declared 'LaKisha Jones Day' in [[Houston]] by Mayor Bill White.
===Semi-Finals===
'''Top 24''': "[[And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going]]" - [[Jennifer Holliday]] and [[Jennifer Hudson]]<br>
'''Top 20''': "[[Midnight Train to Georgia]]" - [[Gladys Knight & the Pips]]<br>
'''Top 16''': "[[I Have Nothing]]" - [[Whitney Houston]]<br>


The other homecoming was at [[Atwood Stadium]], [[Flint, Michigan]], where Jones was born and raised and where most of her family still resides, on June 9, 2007. It was at this ceremony that she received a $6,000 check and six-month free lease on a new Buick LaCrosse. She also received a Flint watch, personalized tree ornaments from Bronner's and a card signed by 300 fans.
Jones received positive reviews for all three of her performances. During her first performance of the smash ''[[Dreamgirls]]'' hit, Simon went as far to tell her, "I'm very tempted to tell 23 other people to book their plane tickets home."


In late September 2007, it was announced that Jones would take over the role of the church soloist in the Broadway musical ''[[The Color Purple (musical)|The Color Purple]]'' as of January 9, 2008. Jones played the role of Sofia during matinées (standing in for [[Chaka Khan]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/ny-etcolorpurple0925,0,112936.story|title=Newsday &#124; Long Island's & NYC's News Source|date=24 May 2023 }}</ref>
On [[March 8]], [[2007]], Jones became a finalist of the sixth season of ''[[American Idol]]''.


In June 2008, Jones vocal coached the girls on MTV's ''[[Legally Blonde: The Musical – The Search for Elle Woods]]''. She demonstrated 'Amazing Grace' using chest and head voice with different vibratos.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX5SjkrYdy4 YouTube – Legally Blonde Episode 3 Deleted Scene<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In May 2008, she appeared on American Idol Extra and ''Just As I Am'', a song from her upcoming album.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coc3ekz7zNA YouTube - LaKisha Jones~AI Extra 5/8/08<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Her debut single ''So Glad I'm Me'', written by Melanie Rutherford and produced by Edwin Nicholas, who produced soul musicians such as [[Patti LaBelle]] and [[Gerald Levert]], was released on October 21, 2008. The album with the same title was released on May 19, 2009.
===Finals===
*'''Week 1''' - [[13 March]] [[2007]] with special guest [[Diana Ross]], Jones sang "[[God Bless the Child (Billie Holiday song)|God Bless The Child]]" and received rave reviews from the judges praising her vocal control throughout the performance.


LaKisha Jones competed on the 2013 season of ''[[The Winner Is]]''. She performed "[[Lady Marmalade]]" and was eliminated in the first round.{{Cn|date=November 2024}}
*'''Week 2''' - [[20 March]] [[2007]] with special guest [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]], Jones performed "[[Diamonds Are Forever]]". She received her first mixed review from Randy and Simon. Simon noted that although she was good vocally, she sounded like she was 50 years older. Jones replied that if she sounded this good 50 years from now, she'd be all set.


==Discography==
*'''Week 3''' - [[27 March]] [[2007]] with special guest [[Gwen Stefani]], Jones performed "[[Last Dance]]" by [[Donna Summer]]. She received positive reviews from the judges, who especially liked the fact that she sang an upbeat song compared to her usual ballads.


===Albums===
*'''Week 4''' - [[3 April]] [[2007]] with special guest [[Tony Bennett]], Jones sang "[[Stormy Weather]]", and once again received positive reviews from all judges. She was one of the top 3 vote-getters, along with [[Melinda Doolittle]] and [[Jordin Sparks]].
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album details
! colspan="2"| Peak positions
! rowspan="2"| [[Music recording sales certification|Certifications]]<br />([[List of best selling music artists|sales threshold]])
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="30"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US<br/>R&B]]
! width="30"| [[Top Heatseekers|US<br>Heat]]
|-
| 2009
| align="left"| '''''[[So Glad I'm Me]]'''''


* Released: May 19, 2009
*'''Week 5''' - [[10 April]] [[2007]] with special guest [[Jennifer Lopez]], Jones sang "[[Conga (song)|Conga]]" by [[Gloria Estefan]]. Although she "wowed" Randy with her nice runs and by "coming out of her shy box," Paula and Simon felt it was a "safe" performance.
* Label: Elite Music LLC
| 47
| 24
| align="left"|
* US sales: 7,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2010/01/the-best-selling-idol-albums-from-2009/1|title=The best-selling Idol albums from 2009|work=USATODAY.COM}}</ref>
|-
|}


*'''Week 6''' - [[17 April]] [[2007]] with special guest [[Martina McBride]], Jones sang [[Carrie Underwood]]'s hit "[[Jesus, Take the Wheel]]", for which she received generally negative reviews. Randy wanted her to make it more of her own, and Paula agreed. Simon felt that she didn't go with the song, since country music was more of an unfamiliar territory to her.

*'''Week 7''' - [[24 April]] [[2007]] during the [[Idol Gives Back]] special, Jones performed [[American Idol (season 3)|season 3]] winner [[Fantasia Barrino]]'s hit "[[I Believe (Fantasia song)|I Believe]]", but once again received mixed reviews. Randy noted that she sounded good vocally, and Paula preferred Barrino's version. When Simon began giving a somewhat negative critique, the audience interrupted him several times and made it difficult to finish.

*'''Week 8''' - [[1 May]] [[2007]] with special guest [[Bon Jovi]], Jones performed "[[This Ain't a Love Song]]" by [[Bon Jovi]]. She received ultimate praise from the judges. Randy noted that "LaKisha was back." After the performance, when Simon even said he wanted to kiss her, [[Ryan Seacrest]] prompted him to do so, which he did. He then told LaKisha she had "nice lips" and that he "loved them."

*'''Week 9''' - [[8 May]] [[2007]] with special guest [[Barry Gibb]], Jones performed [[Stayin' Alive]] and [[Run to Me (Bee Gees song)|Run to Me]]. She received mixed reviews from the judges. During the first performance, the judges felt she did not need to embellish the songs with any runs and that she could have kept the melodies. Simon noted there was "no kiss tonight." Her second performance was better received. All three judges noted that it was good, however Simon still felt that she and [[Blake Lewis]] were vulnerable. She was eliminated on [[May 9]], [[2007]].

Jones performed at the American Idol 2007 finale, along with the top 6 girls and [[Gladys Knight]].
during her elimination she said " I'm glad I auditioned at American Idol . I'm glad people believed in me enough to be here"

==Post-American Idol==
After being voted off on [[American Idol]], Jones plans to get a quick start on her career. She is already scheduled to tour with the Top 10 Idols on the [[American Idols LIVE! Tour 2007|Idols tour]]. Jones says that she will also be focusing on two goals: a record contract and a new home.<ref name="info2">http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/05/10/ap3707244.html</ref>

Performed the star spangled banner at Comerica Park before the Detroit Tigers game on June 8, 2007 versus the New York Mets.

==Discography==
===EPs===
===EPs===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
{| border="4" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
!Album Information
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
!align="left"|Album Cover
!align="left"|Album Information
|-
|-
|'''''LaKisha Jones''''' EP
|align="center"|
*Released: June 12, 2007 (US)
|align="left"|'''''[[LaKisha Jones (EP)|LaKisha Jones - EP]]'''''
*Released: [[June 12]], [[2007]] (U.S)
*RIAA certification: N/A
*RIAA certification: N/A
*Chart Performance ([[iTunes]]): TBA<br/>
|}
|}


===Singles===

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

!Single Information

|-

|"'''Let's Go Celebrate'''"

*Released: March 31, 2009 (U.S)
===Trivia===
*RIAA certification: N/A
*Lakisha is 1 of 2 contestants on American Idol to sing a song by past winner of the show (the other is [[Lisa Tucker]])
|-
|"'''Same Song'''"
*Released: August, 2009 (U.S)
*RIAA certification: N/A
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
<!-- Please do not add fansites as they violate the External links guidelines. They will be removed on sight. This includes message boards and blogs -->
<!-- Please do not add fansites as they violate the External links guidelines. They will be removed on sight. This includes message boards and blogs -->
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/LaKishaJones111 LaKisha Jones' YouTube Channel]
*[http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season6/lakisha_jones/ Biography on AmericanIdol.com]
* {{IMDb name|2554082|LaKisha Jones}}


{{American Idol 6}}
{{American Idol 6}}


{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, LaKisha}}

[[Category:1980 births]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Lakisha}}
[[Category:Baptists from the United States]]
[[Category:African-American singers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American Christians]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:American female singers]]
[[Category:African-American Christians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:American Idol participants]]
[[Category:American Idol participants]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American soul singers]]
[[Category:Maryland musicians]]
[[Category:Baptists from Texas]]
[[Category:People from Baltimore]]
[[Category:Flint Central High School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Houston]]
[[Category:Singers from Baltimore]]
[[Category:People from Flint, Michigan]]
[[Category:Musicians from Flint, Michigan]]
[[Category:Singers from Houston]]
[[Category:People from Fort Meade, Maryland]]
[[Category:University of Michigan–Flint alumni]]
[[Category:Singers from Michigan]]
[[Category:21st-century American women singers]]
[[Category:Baptists from Michigan]]
[[Category:Baptists from Maryland]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Latest revision as of 23:25, 1 November 2024

LaKisha Jones
LaKisha Jones in The American Idol Experience motorcade at Walt Disney World.
LaKisha Jones in The American Idol Experience motorcade at Walt Disney World.
Background information
Birth nameLaKisha Ann Jones
OriginFlint, Michigan, United States[1]
GenresR&B, soul, gospel
Occupation(s)Singer, plus-size model
InstrumentVocals
Years active2007–present
LabelsElite Music LLC
Website[1], www.myspace.com/LakishaJonesMusic

LaKisha Ann Jones[2] is an American singer. She placed fourth on the sixth season of American Idol.

Personal life

[edit]

Jones was born at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan, to a teacher at the Flint Foundation Academy. She was raised by her grandmother, Ruth Jefferson Morris.

An only child, Jones is a Baptist who began singing at the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church at age five.[2] She was formally trained in classical music,[citation needed] although her favorite genre is gospel music.[citation needed] Jones always dreamed of becoming a singer.

She was home schooled in Flint, then attended Flint Central High School, where, in one of her earliest performances, she appeared in a play called Lead Poisoning. While in high school, Jones performed with one of the groups in the choral department: the Madrigal Singers. Jones graduated in 1998 and attended the University of Michigan-Flint, majoring in music. During college, she performed in the play Godspell. Jones stated in her Idol interview that Flint, Michigan was her home. She was a single mother with a five-year-old daughter who encouraged her to try out for Idol.

Jones moved to Houston, Texas, where she lived for six years. One of her earliest jobs in Houston was that of a secretary at Abundant Life Cathedral, a church with 7,000 parishioners. Prior to working at the church, Jones sang in the 70-member choir. The choir has produced well-known gospel singer Yolanda Adams, among others. In 2006, Jones moved to Fort Meade, Maryland, in order to be closer to her cousins and other relatives. At that time, Jones obtained a job as a bank teller at Provident Bank in Millersville, Maryland, which she gave up when she moved to Hollywood to compete in American Idol.

Jones was the 1997 winner of Flint's amateur talent show, The Supershow, which is now-defunct. While living in Houston, she took second place in the 2005 Gimme the Mic competition.

On October 5, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California, she married Larry Davis, a financial advisor. She has two daughters.[3]

American Idol

[edit]

Audition

[edit]

Jones auditioned singing "Think" by Aretha Franklin. The judges were impressed with her powerful vocal and performance, and Simon noted that he "loved this girl". Jones was shown emotionally embracing her daughter after being sent into the next round. In her farewell montage on the episode of her elimination it was shown that she also sang "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" during her audition. She also performed Stevie Wonder's "Until You Come Back To Me" during one of the Hollywood audition rounds.

American Idol performances

[edit]
Week # Theme # Song Choice Original Artist Order # Result
Top 24 (12 Women) N/A "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" Jennifer Holliday 12 Safe
Top 20 (10 Women) N/A "Midnight Train to Georgia" Cissy Houston 3 Safe
Top 16 (8 Women) N/A "I Have Nothing" Whitney Houston 6 Safe
Top 12 Diana Ross "God Bless The Child" Billie Holiday 8 Safe
Top 11 British Invasion "Diamonds Are Forever" Shirley Bassey 5 Safe
Top 10 No Doubt/Artist who inspire Gwen Stefani "Last Dance" Donna Summer 1 Safe
Top 9 American Classics "Stormy Weather" Ethel Waters 9 Safe1
Top 8 Latin "Conga" Miami Sound Machine 2 Safe
Top 7 Country "Jesus, Take the Wheel" Carrie Underwood 4 Bottom 22
Top 6 Inspirational "I Believe" Fantasia Barrino 4 Safe
Top 63 Bon Jovi "This Ain't a Love Song" Bon Jovi 3 Safe
Top 4 Barry Gibb "Stayin' Alive"
"Run to Me" 		Bee Gees 3
7 		Eliminated
  • ^Note 1 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Jones was declared safe placing in the top three.
  • ^Note 2 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for the particular night, Jones was among in the bottom three, but declared safe second when Sanjaya Malakar was eliminated.
  • ^Note 3 Due to the Idol Gives Back performance, the Top 6 remained intact for another week.

Post-American Idol

[edit]

Jones toured with the Top 10 Idols on the Idols tour. She received positive reviews for her solo performance of "I Will Always Love You". She performed the Star-Spangled Banner at Comerica Park before the Detroit Tigers game on June 8, 2007 versus the New York Mets.

Jones also had two homecoming events. The first at the Abundant Life Cathedral Church in Houston, Texas (Houston was her home from 2000 to 2006) on May 30, 2007. This date was also declared 'LaKisha Jones Day' in Houston by Mayor Bill White.

The other homecoming was at Atwood Stadium, Flint, Michigan, where Jones was born and raised and where most of her family still resides, on June 9, 2007. It was at this ceremony that she received a $6,000 check and six-month free lease on a new Buick LaCrosse. She also received a Flint watch, personalized tree ornaments from Bronner's and a card signed by 300 fans.

In late September 2007, it was announced that Jones would take over the role of the church soloist in the Broadway musical The Color Purple as of January 9, 2008. Jones played the role of Sofia during matinées (standing in for Chaka Khan).[4]

In June 2008, Jones vocal coached the girls on MTV's Legally Blonde: The Musical – The Search for Elle Woods. She demonstrated 'Amazing Grace' using chest and head voice with different vibratos.[5] In May 2008, she appeared on American Idol Extra and Just As I Am, a song from her upcoming album.[6] Her debut single So Glad I'm Me, written by Melanie Rutherford and produced by Edwin Nicholas, who produced soul musicians such as Patti LaBelle and Gerald Levert, was released on October 21, 2008. The album with the same title was released on May 19, 2009.

LaKisha Jones competed on the 2013 season of The Winner Is. She performed "Lady Marmalade" and was eliminated in the first round.[citation needed]

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
Year Album details Peak positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
R&B 		US
Heat
2009 So Glad I'm Me
  • Released: May 19, 2009
  • Label: Elite Music LLC
 47 24
  • US sales: 7,000[7]

EPs

[edit]
Album Information
LaKisha Jones EP
  • Released: June 12, 2007 (US)
  • RIAA certification: N/A

Singles

[edit]
Single Information
"Let's Go Celebrate"
  • Released: March 31, 2009 (U.S)
  • RIAA certification: N/A
"Same Song"
  • Released: August, 2009 (U.S)
  • RIAA certification: N/A

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 'The girl is a star' - What LaKisha's loved ones always knew, now the world shares - Idol Chatter - The Flint Journal - MLive.com
  2. ^ a b 'The girl is a star' - What LaKisha's loved ones always knew, now the world shares - Idol Chatter - The Flint Journal - MLive.com
  3. ^ LaKisha Jones is Pregnant Archived 2009-05-06 at the Wayback Machine Us Weekly, March 31, 2009
  4. ^ "Newsday | Long Island's & NYC's News Source". 24 May 2023.
  5. ^ YouTube – Legally Blonde Episode 3 Deleted Scene
  6. ^ YouTube - LaKisha Jones~AI Extra 5/8/08
  7. ^ "The best-selling Idol albums from 2009". USATODAY.COM.
[edit]
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