Dec. 22: "American Idol" winner, Jordin Sparks is 21 today.

Born Jordin Brianna Sparks in Phoenix, Arizona, she is a Pop/R&B recording artist, singer-songwriter, and actress from fist came in to the public eye as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol when she was 17 years old. She grew up in the suburbs of Ridgewood, New Jersey while her father played defensive back for the New York Giants.

Before appearing on American Idol, Sparks participated in and won such talent competitions as Coca-Cola's Rising Star, the Gospel Music Association Academy's Overall Spotlight Award, America's Most Talented Kids, Colgate Country Showdown, and the 2006 Drug Free AZ Superstar Search.

While on American Idol, Sparks gained a loyal fan base known as "Sparkplugs." 

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She followed her American Idol victory with the release of her self-titled debut album in 2007, which has gone platinum and has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. Sparks' single, "No Air" is the highest selling single by any American Idol contestant, selling about 4 million digital copies worldwide.In October 2010, Sparks said she has begun work on her anticipated third studio album. It's expected to be released in 2011.

At the tender age of 21, Jordin has received an American Music Award in 2008 and her first Grammy nomination in 2009.

Sparks' second album Battlefield was released in July 2009 worldwide and debuted at #7 in the U.S., three spots higher than her first album. The album's lead single, "Battlefield,"  peaked in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it her third top 10 single and fifth consecutive top 20 single. Sparks is the only Idol contestant to have their first five singles reach the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Battlefield" has sold almost 2 million copies worldwide. Battlefield's second single, "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)," was her first song to top the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play making it her first U.S. number one single.

In 2010, Jordin made her Broadway debut. Sparks starred as Nina Rosario in the Tony Award winning broadway musical, In The Heights.

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