Katie Stevens

Katherine Mari "Katie" Stevens (born December 8, 1992) is an American singer from Middlebury, Connecticut who finished in eighth place on the ninth season of American Idol. Stevens grew up in Middlebury, Connecticut. Her parents are Mark Stevens and Clara Francisco. Her Portuguese grandmother, Rita Francisco, is battling Alzheimer's disease. Stevens is currently a senior at Pomperaug High School in Southbury, CT. She was named the 2009 Westbury Outstanding Teen at the Greater Watertown Scholarship Pageant. Stevens speaks fluent Portuguese. Stevens was instrumental in the creation of the Evan Gagnon Memorial Scholarship Fund, which gives college scholarships to the seniors of Pomperaug High School. Evan Gagnon, who died in January 2009 at the age of 2, was the son of Stevens' Spanish teacher. Also, Stevens has been a member of Pomperaug's High School Varsity Swim Team all four years. Stevens first performed for an audience at five years old, when she sang the national anthem at a party for a politician in her hometown. Since she was young, Stevens has been active in her local theater community. When she was 7 she sang From This Moment On by Shania Twain at her aunt's wedding. She also played Nellie Forbush in Pomperaug High School's South Pacific. She also performed at Carnegie Hall at the age of 13.[7] She counts Whitney Houston and Jason Mraz among her favorite artists. Her musical influences include Taylor Swift, and her own brother. Among the instruments she can play are guitar, piano, cello, and flute; however, she never had a chance to play them on American Idol prior to her elimination from the competition.