American Idol Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks has signed with APA, Billboard has learned.
Hicks, who made an appearance on this season's premiere of the Fox singing competition, currently in its final season, is putting the finishing touches on his latest album to be released this year, with plans for an upcoming tour as well.
“I’m a long-time fan and thrilled to be working with Taylor Hicks,” said APA’s Seth Rappaport in making the announcement. “His soulfulness and passion is evident in his music and live performances.”
Hicks won American Idol in one of the most-watched finales of the show’s history after 64 million votes were cast, 200 million viewers worldwide tuned for his victory.
The Alabama native’s debut single, “Do I Make You Proud,” entered at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, Pop 100, and Single Sales Charts. His self-titled album (Arista) debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and was quickly certified RIAA Platinum. Hicks is also the first male Idol winner to be featured on a Grammy Award-winning album, Jimmy Fallon’s Blow Your Pants Off, which took home the 2013 Grammy for Best Comedy Album. Digitally remastered versions of his two previous albums -- In Your Time (1997) and Under The Radar (2005) were also recently released for the first time.