Lauren Alaina Kristine Suddeth (born November 8, 1994) is an American singer and songwriter from Rossville, Georgia. She was the runner-up on the tenth season of American Idol. Her debut studio album, Wildflower, was released on October 11, 2011. Her second album, Road Less Traveled, was released January 27, 2017. Alaina later achieved her first number one on the Country Airplay chart with the album's title track. Her second number one came later that year when she simultaneously topped five Billboard charts with her friend and former classmate Kane Brown on their duet "What Ifs". In addition to this song with Brown, Alaina became an in-demand duet vocalist throughout the next few years, appearing on number one collaborations with Hardy, Devin Dawson, and Dustin Lynch. Her third studio album, Sitting Pretty on Top of the World, was released on September 3, 2021.
At age 8, Alaina entered the talent competition of the Southern Stars Pageant and won. The next year she was selected to perform on the Kids talent stage at Chattanooga's Riverbend Festival. She performed on that stage annually until age 12, when she won the competition that allowed her to perform on the festival's big stage. She traveled to Orlando, Florida, when she was 10 to compete in the American Model and Talent Competition. She won the event, beating out 1,500 kids. Alaina sang with the Georgia Country Gospel Music Association's children's group. At age 12, Alaina made her first of many trips to Nashville. In 2009, Alaina was the first winner of the WinniSTAR youth talent contest at Lake Winnepesaukah amusement park.[2] In addition to performing, Alaina wrote several songs including "Leaving" and "Set Me Free".
Alaina was inspired to sing by her cousin, Holly Witherow, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor.[3] Prior to Idol, Alaina worked at CiCi's Pizza.[2] She attended Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, where she was a cheerleader.[4][5]
Alaina auditioned for the tenth season of American Idol in Nashville, Tennessee. From early on, Alaina was a judge favorite. After her audition, Idol judge Steven Tyler stated, "We found the one." May 14, 2011, was proclaimed "Lauren Alaina Day" in her hometown of Rossville, Georgia. During the season finale, Alaina sang "Before He Cheats" with her idol, Carrie Underwood. On May 25, 2011, Alaina was declared the runner-up.
^Note 1 Due to the judges using their one save on Casey Abrams, the Top 11 remained intact for another week, when two contestants were eliminated.
^Note 2 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Alaina was in the bottom 2, but was declared safe as Jacob Lusk was eliminated.
On October 11, 2011, Alaina released her debut album Wildflower, which debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart, number two on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and sold 69,000 copies the first week.[19] The album was the best-selling digital album by a debut country female. The lead single "Georgia Peaches" reached number 28 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.[10]
To promote her album, Alaina made numerous television and radio appearances. She performed her single "Georgia Peaches" on Good Morning America, Live with Regis and Kelly and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. On October 22, 2011, Alaina performed at Opry Goes Pink, a benefit concert at the Grand Ole Opry for Women for the Cure.[20] On November 10, 2011, Alaina performed "My Grown Up Christmas List" on CMA Country Christmas.[21][22] In addition, Alaina performed for Barack Obama and Michelle Obama in the PBS special In Performance at the White House on November 21.[23][24][25] She sang the National Anthem at the Thanksgiving Day game between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.[26] On New Year's Eve, Alaina performed her single "Georgia Peaches" on American Country New Year's Eve Live.[27][28]
Alaina served as an opening act for Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party Tour from January 20, 2012 to May 19, 2012.[29] In addition to the My Kinda Party Tour, Alaina opened for Sugarland's In the Hands of the Fans Tour for a number of selected dates, beginning on April 5, 2012 and concluding on September 1, 2012.[30] On March 8, 2012, Alaina performed "Georgia Peaches" on the eleventh season of American Idol.[31] On March 26, 2012, Alaina performed her single "Georgia Peaches" on The Today Show.[32][33] On June 16, 2012, Alaina headlined the final show of Riverbend, a music festival in her hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee.[34]
In July 2012, "Eighteen Inches" became Alaina's third single off her album, Wildflower.[35] The single was sent to country radio on July 16.[36] "Eighteen Inches" hit number 37 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs list.[10] In support of the song, Alaina embarked on an 18-city tour. Proceeds from each show benefited various local charities, including the Special Olympics. The Inch-By-Inch tour kicked off on September 21, 2012, and wrapped up November 12, 2012.[37]
2013–2017: Lauren Alaina EP and Road Less Traveled
In January 2013, Alaina started recording her second album.[40] On May 7, 2013, Alaina released the single "Barefoot and Buckwild", which charted at thirty-four on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.[10] She performed the song on the twelfth season of American Idol on May 9, 2013.[41] In May 2013, Alaina also released a track titled "Antarctica: One World, One Family". The track serves as the theme song for the SeaWorld attraction Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin.[42] On December 10, 2013, Alaina released her cover of "My Grown Up Christmas List".[43] On September 18, 2015, Alaina released the single "Next Boyfriend". "Next Boyfriend" was added to radio stations on September 28.[44] It reached number 39 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.[10] An EP followed on October 2, 2015.[45] A track on the EP, "History" was used for ESPN College Football coverage.[46]
Throughout 2016, Alaina opened for several shows on Alan Jackson's Still Keepin' It Country Tour.[47] On November 18, 2016, Alaina released her cover of "O Holy Night".[48]
Alaina released the single "Road Less Traveled", which she co-wrote with Meghan Trainor and Jesse Frasure, on July 11, 2016.[49] Alaina performed the track on The Today Show on September 8, 2016[50] and on Harry on February 7, 2017.[51] In April 2017, "Road Less Traveled" reached number one on the BillboardCountry Airplay chart.
On January 27, 2017, Alaina released her second album Road Less Traveled.[52] Tracks for Alaina's album include "Same Day Different Bottle",[53] "Doin' Fine",[54] "My Kinda People",[55] "Pretty",[56] "Crashin' the Boys Club" and "Queen of Hearts",[57] as well as four tracks from her self-titled EP.[45] Alaina describes Road Less Traveled as "very different" from her debut album.[58] In addition, self acceptance and love is a big theme on the album. "We are all different and that's what makes us all beautiful. The album will reflect that further. It will have some fun songs and sad songs – a little bit of what my life has been like over the past few years", Alaina says.[59] Alaina performed "Doin' Fine" on Good Morning America on January 31, 2017.[60]
In February and March 2017, Alaina toured with Martina McBride on her Love Unleashed Tour.[61] Throughout June and July 2017, Alaina appeared on Luke Bryan's Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day Tour for a number of selected dates.[62] In May 2017, Alaina contributed guest vocals to the song "Are You Happy Now" from Rascal Flatts' tenth studio album, Back to Us.[63]
Alaina's third single from Road Less Traveled, "Doin' Fine", was released May 22, 2017.[64] The song peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, making it her second-highest charting single. Alaina became the only female to top both country charts in 2017 after "Road Less Traveled" topped the Country Airplay chart and "What Ifs" topped the Hot Country chart. This also made her one of the only three women to top either country chart in 2017.
Alaina performed "Doin' Fine" and "What Ifs" at the 2018 ACM Awards where she won the award for New Female Vocalist of the Year.[citation needed] At the 2018 CMT Music Awards, Alaina and Brown won the award for "Best Collaborative Video" for "What Ifs" and were among the top five vote getters for "Video of the Year" for the same song.[citation needed]
2018-present: Getting Good, Getting Over Him EPs and Sitting Pretty on Top of the World
Alaina released the single, "Ladies in the '90s", on October 5, 2018. The song was released to country radio on October 15.[65] The single reached number 40 on the Billboard Country Airplay.[citation needed]
Alaina released the single, "Getting Good", on September 27, 2019. The song was released to country radio on October 7.[66] "The Other Side" was released as a promotional single on October 22 and was danced to in a Dancing with the Stars episode in memory of her stepfather.[67] On March 6, 2020, she released the Getting Good EP including those two tracks and Ladies in the '90s.[68] On September 4, 2020, she released the EP Getting Over Him.[69] Alaina's first single from the EP, "Getting Over Him", featuring Jon Pardi was released on February 23, 2021.[70] Alaina released her third studio album, Sitting Pretty on Top of the World, on September 3, 2021.[71]
In March 2021, Alaina revealed that she had tested positive for COVID-19.[72] On December 18, 2021, Alaina was asked to become an official member of The Grand Ole Opry.[73]
On July 25, 2022, Alaina signed with Big Loud Records.[74]
Other ventures
In September and October 2016, Alaina filmed her very first movie The Road Less Traveled, which took place in Knoxville, Tennessee.[75] The film was released on June 6, 2017.[76][77] It then premiered on CMT on November 10, 2017.[78]
In August 2019, Alaina was announced as one of the celebrities to compete on season 28 of Dancing with the Stars.[79] She made it to the finals and finished in fourth place.[80]
In 2021, Alaina starred in the film, Roadhouse Romance, which premiered on September 11, 2021.[81]
She was a contestant on Beyond the Edge, a survival competition series that premiered in March 2022. She tore her ligament, ending her time on the show, later admitting that her exit was the right call.[82]
Personal life
Alaina's parents divorced in 2013. Her father was a recovering alcoholic who got sober in October 2013. Both her parents remarried.[83] In 2018, her stepfather died from cancer. Her father died in 2024.[84]
Throughout her teen years, Alaina struggled with bulimia.[85] She said in a 2016 Rolling Stone interview, "I had an eating disorder for like four years, and I was just lost" and "I found myself in these last few years, through music and family and good people around me."[86][87]
Alaina is a Christian and often states that she lives for Jesus Christ.[88]
In 2012, Alaina began dating Alexander Hopkins.[89] In July 2018, the couple announced that they had become engaged.[90] In January 2019, they announced that they had split after six years.[91] She was in a relationship with comedian John Crist for several months in 2019.[92] In November 2022, she announced her engagement to Cam Arnold.[93] The couple married on February 4, 2024.[94]
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