Paris Bennett

Paris Giselle Bennett (born August 21, 1988) is an American singer, best known for being a finalist on the fifth season of American Idol, where she finished in fifth place. She has three brothers, Shakur, James and Dustin. Paris was born in Rockford, IL. Her mother, Jamecia, and grandmother, famed singer Ann Nesby, were both members of the gospel group Sounds of Blackness. Bennett has lived with her grandmother the past two years in Fayetteville, Georgia, attending Starr's Mill High School for eleventh and twelfth grades, but is originally from Edina, Minnesota. She attended Edina High School from 2003-2005 for tenth and eleventh grades. She was very active in theater and the performing arts. She played Dorothy, the lead in the school's production of "The Wiz". She was also a member of her school's Danceline and Hip-Hop Dance Club. Paris attended Christian Life School in Rockford for eighth grade. Her audition in Greensboro, North Carolina initially featured "Cowboy Take Me Away" by The Dixie Chicks. When judge Paula Abdul invited her to sing a second song, she continued with Carmen McRae's vocal version of Dave Brubeck's "Take Five." All three judges, including Simon Cowell, who is often cited as being conservative with his praise, were impressed with Bennett's talent. On the first elimination episode, Bennett performed the Gladys Knight & the Pips song "Midnight Train to Georgia." The judges were unanimous in their praise of her performance, remarking on her energy and seeming lack of nerves. She also recorded this song for the American Idol "Encores" CD. Her favorite judge is Randy Jackson because "he knows music and he's honest." Her favorite American Idol is 2004 winner Fantasia Barrino, because "she is a survivor!" On May 3, 2006, Bennett was in the bottom two with Elliott Yamin and eliminated from the competition. Semifinals * Week 1: "Midnight Train to Georgia" (original artist Gladys Knight & the Pips) o The judges were impressed, said she was a great performer. * Week 2: "Wind Beneath My Wings" (Bette Midler) o The judges did not like the song choice, but agreed she has a great voice. * Week 3: "Conga" (Gloria Estefan) o Again, the judges disliked the song choice, but like her voice and performing skills. Finals * Week 1: "All I Do" by Stevie Wonder o The judges loved this performance. * Week 2: "Fever" by Peggy Lee o Received rave reviews from the judges. * Week 3: "Work It Out" by Beyoncé Knowles o Jackson and Abdul loved it. Cowell thought it was "precocious," like "a little girl trying to be Beyoncé." * Week 4: "How Do I Live" by LeAnn Rimes (Bottom 3) o Jackson thought it was "all right." Abdul didn't like at all and was booed by audience for the first time. Simon liked the performance and compared her to Dionne Warwick. Seacrest talked about her hairstyles. * Week 5: "The Show Must Go On" by Queen o Jackson considered it "a little rough," but she "worked it out in the end." Abdul called her a powerhouse, and Cowell called her performance "weird." * Week 6: "These Foolish Things" by Billie Holiday (Bottom 3) o Jackson loved it. Abdul said that Bennett is an extremely gifted jazz singer. Abdul also commented that if Bennett made an album in the jazz genre that it would "Blow Up!" Cowell said that Bennett "talks like Minnie Mouse" but was an incredible singer, and called the performance "terrific." * Week 7: "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand (Bottom 2) o Jackson liked it and said she could sing anything. Abdul said she was a great female vocalist. Cowell liked the vocals but thought it was old-fashioned. She was in the bottom 2 after the voting for Week 7. * Week 8: "Kiss" by Prince/Art of Noise (feat. Tom Jones), "Be Without You" by Mary J. Blige (Bottom 2, eliminated) o Randy and Paula liked the first, Simon said it was "screechy and annoying"; Randy liked the second, Paula was hoping Paris would do better, but Simon disagreed with Paula and said she did rather well. Paris was in the bottom two with Elliott Yamin, and was subsequently voted off after this performance. http://www.parisbennett.cc/