Chris Daughtry, the fourth-place finalist in season five of American Idol, is now the head of his own band, aptly called Daughtry. With his rugged voice and powerful style, Chris Daughtry makes certain those fans who felt he was prematurely eliminated from the show have something to remember him by. And there’s no chance they’ll forget who Daughtry is anytime soon.

Born December 26, 1979, Christopher Adam Daughtry is a North Carolina native. Daughtry grew up in Virginia and enjoyed listening to rock music, which piqued his interest in becoming a music artist. He began to get serious about singing professionally around sixteen years of age and began performing with locally popular bands in high school.

Prior to auditioning for American Idol, Chris auditioned for the show Rock Star: INXS on CBS, but didn’t make the cut. In early 2006, Daughtry auditioned for American Idol’s fifth season in Denver, Colorado . This time he made the cut in a two to one judges’ decision. Daughtry made it all the way to the final four along with Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, and Elliott Yamin.

Daughtry built a serious fan base along the way belting out tunes like Bon Jovi’s "Wanted Dead or Alive" and Fuel’s "Hemorrhage (In my Hands)." Then on May 10, 2006, in a surprising turn of events that shocked both Idol fans and the media, Daughtry was voted off the show. Paul Abdul cried. Randy Jackson looked mildly stunned and Simon Cowell wore his usual scowl.

YUDDY