(born January 18, 1984) is an American country singer who was born in Seattle, Washington and was the seventh place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol. In 2005 Cook released her debut album called Devoted. In June 2008, Cook signed to 19 Recordings and Arista Nashville. She released her post-Idol album Why Wait in September 16, 2008. This album has produced her first chart single "15 Minutes of Shame", a Top 30 hit on the Billboard country charts.
Personal life
Kristy Lee Cook was born in Seattle, Washington, to Larry and Carlene Cook. Her brother-in-law is quarterback John Dutton of the Arena Football League. She currently resides in a log cabin in Selma, Oregon. On March 15, 2008, Kristy Lee Cook's boyfriend of 1½ years, Andy Dobner, a landscape company owner, proposed marriage to her. Hoping to maintain her focus on American Idol, she decided to keep the proposal a secret. When Cook was eliminated from American Idol on April 16, 2008, Dobner asked for her hand in marriage once more. Brooke White, a fellow American Idol finalist, will be one of her bridesmaids for the wedding.
Early career
Kristy Lee played piano and sang for the band "Sixshooter". In 2001, at the age of seventeen, Kristy Lee signed her first contract with BMI. According to her RMG page, Kristy Lee signed with RCA Records/Arista Nashville in 1999, and was the first artist signed to Britney Spears' production company. Spears agreed to make a cameo appearance in her first music video.However, RCA placed Kristy Lee and other younger artists on hold and then dropped her.
It was then that Kristy Lee moved to Dallas, Texas, in an attempt to pursue her career and gain more experience. She began modeling and was featured in commercials. In 2005, Ren-Hen Records released her debut album Devoted. During this time, Kristy Lee performed for two years at Cowboy's nightclub in Arlington, TX, singing 8 songs per night.
In 2007, Kristy Lee returned to Selma, Oregon to prepare for the "American Idol" audition. To raise funds for her audition and travel expenses, she sold her "really good" barrel horse. She had hoped to earn enough money to repurchase her horse upon her return. However, the night she was eliminated, she commented that the person to whom she sold her horse was unwilling to sell it back.
American Idol
Overview
Kristy Lee auditioned for American Idol in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by singing "Amazing Grace". All three judges liked her voice and sent her straight through to Hollywood. While in Hollywood, her first song did not impress the judges. For her second and final chance, she sang "Amazing Grace" again; she was then selected as one of the top 24 contestants in the semi-finals. She was the first female performer of the season and sang "Rescue Me". The judges did not care for her performance but gave her props since she was the first of the night and she had bronchitis. On March 12, Cook was placed in the bottom 3 alongside Syesha Mercado and David Hernandez. She was declared safe. On March 19, she was placed in the bottom three again with Carly Smithson and Amanda Overmyer, but she survived again, ensuring herself a spot in the American Idol Top 10 Concert Tour for the upcoming summer. Once again, on April 2, she was placed in the bottom 3 alongside her 2 roommates, Ramiele Malubay and Brooke White. Malubay was eliminated.
Performances
Week # Theme Song choice Original artist Order # Result
Top 24 (12 Women) 1960s "Rescue Me" Fontella Bass 1 Safe
Top 20 (10 Women) 1970s "You're No Good" Linda Ronstadt 5 Safe
Top 16 (8 Women) 1980s "Faithfully" Journey 5 Safe
Top 12 Lennon/McCartney "Eight Days a Week" The Beatles 11 Bottom 21
Top 11 The Beatles "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" The Beatles 2 Bottom 21
Top 10 Year They Were Born "God Bless the USA" Lee Greenwood 9 Safe
Top 9 Dolly Parton "Coat of Many Colors" Dolly Parton 7 Bottom 21
Top 8 Inspirational "Anyway" Martina McBride 4 Safe
Top 7 Mariah Carey "Forever" Mariah Carey 5 Eliminated
^1 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Cook was among the Bottom 3 but declared safe second, as the remaining contestant was eliminated.
Post Idol
After American Idol, Cook has been interviewed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, and on WNYW Fox 5. On The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Cook performed "Anyway" by Martina McBride again, as she did for the Top 8. They also talked about Kristy's love for animals and how her horse saved her life. On Live with Regis and Kelly, they talked about how she sold her barrel horse to get transportation to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. to try out for American Idol and how the new owner got so attached that he would not sell it back. They also mentioned how Kristy was a cage wrestler for defense purposes and how she is now engaged to Andy Dobner. It ended with Cook saying she wanted to have an album and record deal and have a career in modeling and acting.
Cook performed with the other top 10 finalists on the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008 which ran from July 1, 2008 to September 13, 2008. She sang "Squeezin' the Love Outta You" (Redmon and Vale), "God Bless the USA" (Lee Greenwood), which she performed on Top 10 night during the season and "Cowgirls" (Kerry Harvick). In Toronto, she replaced "God Bless the USA" with "Anyway" (Martina McBride), which she performed on Top 8 night during the season.
It was announced on June 29, 2008 that Cook has once again signed with Arista Nashville along with 19 Recordings. On August 12 of that year, "15 Minutes of Shame" was released as the lead-off single for Cook's upcoming studio album. It debuted at #58 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts a week before its release, and has since peaked at #28. Her album, Why Wait, was released on September 16, 2008 and produced by Nashville singer-songwriter Brett James
In October 2008, Cook performed the Star-Spangled Banner at an NCAA football game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and Duke Blue Devils. On October 25 of that same year, Cook made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry.
It was announced by Arista Nashville on December 10, 2008 that Kristy Lee Cook and the label had parted ways. In January 2009, Cook stated in a AOL.com Interview that she is in talks with Universal Music Group stating "I have a song that they didn't want me to put on the album that's going to be a hit… I'm going to take it to another label… We're talking with Universal right now." As of late, Cook has still not yet signed with another record label, although she has signed with the Morey Management company. She is currently hosting her own television program on The Outdoor Channel titled "Outdoors 10 Best", which airs on Thursdays. She has begun a new show called Goin' Country which aired on May 22, 2010. She also married her boyfriend Andy Dobner
Charity work
Kristy Lee Cook founded the Kristy Lee Horse Heaven Foundation, which specializes in caring for, saving and training horses. "I love horses with all my heart, and they have always been there for me through the good and the difficult times. The least I can do is to give back to them in appreciation of all they have done and meant to me." She mentions on the official homepage of the foundation.
Cook also enters the horses in gymkhanas and other horse events. Donations are also welcomed to contribute to land, tack, hay, equipment and other items that will help out this foundation.
Discography
Studio albums
Year Album details Chart Positions
US Country US
2005 Devoted
Released: 2005
Label: Ren-Hen
— —
2008 Why Wait
Released: September 16, 2008
Label: Arista Nashville
8 49
"—" denotes the album failed to chart or not released
Singles
Year Single US Country Album
2008 "15 Minutes of Shame" 28 Why Wait
Source:Kristy Lee Cook
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