Persistence pays: Check out some of the singers -- Jordin Sparks, Pia Toscano, and Haley Reinhart among them -- who needed multiple tries before advancing deeper into the #39;#39;Idol#39;#39; competition

American Idol season six winner, Jordin Sparks, celebrates her 22nd birthday on December 22, 2011. The singer and her new friend, actress Minka Kelly, welcomed home our armed forces on Tuesday, December 20, in a special ceremony. The pair was said to become close pals on their whirlwind tour of Army bases in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan meeting and greeting U.S. troops for the holidays.

Jordin Sparks, who won the sixth season of American Idol back in 2007, isn't just busy building a career as a recording artist. She's also carved out a sizeable chunk of time to inspire high school students to see the world.

American Idol winner Jordin Sparks visited Seton High School in Price Hill Thursday. 

Filed under: Lee DeWyze , American Idol , Music The honeymoon is over for American Idol alum Lee DeWyze -- the season 9 champ has been dumped by his record label ... just a year-and-a-half after winning the title. DeWyze was signed with RCA Records -- whose artist roster includes former Idol stars Carrie Underwood , Kelly Clarkson and Jordin Sparks . As for Lee -- he's taking the whole thing ...