Twenty years ago, Taylor Hicks was entertaining locals at the War Eagle Supper Club in Auburn.
Only a handful of people knew his name, and he was just beginning to embark on his solo career in music.
A few years later, Hicks became the season five winner of the hit TV show, “American Idol.”
Although winning “American Idol” was a major point in Hicks’ career, it was also the launching pad that has given Hicks the opportunity to do more.
After winning “American Idol” in 2006, Taylor Hicks has been busy.
He has released two records, written a book, made a cameo in a TV show and even headlined his own show in Las Vegas for two years at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel.
“The first four months that I was in Vegas felt like the first four months that I was in Auburn,” Hicks said. “Everything was crazy and fun, and you got to go out all the time. We definitely had some ‘Hangover’-like movie moments during my time there.”
Hicks said he was blessed to be an entertainer and have a headlining show in Vegas.
“There is so much history in Las Vegas, and part of that history includes me having a headlining show there and that is pretty amazing,” Hicks said.
Hicks finished his show in Las Vegas in March 2014.
Other than his Vegas show, Hicks has dabbled in other areas of entertainment as well.
Hicks said he credits “American Idol” for catapulting him into different activities other than creating music.
“Obviously winning ‘American Idol’ was a really big moment in my musical career, and it allowed me to be able to branch out into other forms of entertainment, not just music,” Hicks said. “There has been Broadway and some acting stuff with ‘Law and Order SVU,’ and I was able to write a book, so there were a lot of things that ‘American Idol’ and that platform led me to do.”
Hicks released his autobiography, “Heart Full of Soul: An Inspirational Memoir About Finding Your Voice and Finding Your Way,” in 2007.
He also performed as Teen Angel in the Broadway show, “Grease” in 2008.
In 2009, Hicks released his album “The Distance” and returned to the “American Idol” stage to perform his hit single “Seven Mile Breakdown.”
Hicks’ most recent performance was in Auburn Friday night, Sept. 25, at Bourbon Street Bar.
Hicks played with his old college band, Passing Through.
Recently, Hicks has been spending time in Nashville, Tennessee, recording his new album, which will be released in Spring 2016.
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