Kristy Lee Cook
(born January 18, 1984) is an American country music artist. She released an album, Devoted
, under the name Kristy Lee in 2005. In addition, she was also the seventh place finalist on the seventh season of the television series American Idol
. She signed in June 2008 to Arista Nashville and released her debut album in September 2008. [1] This album has produced her first chart single in "15 Minutes of Shame", a Top 30 hit on the Billboard
country charts.
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KRISTY LEE COOK TICKETS
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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 1 1/2 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.
[2]However, RCA placed Kristy Lee and other younger artists on hold and then dropped her.
[3]
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.
Kristy Lee returned to Selma, Oregon, in 2007 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 12th, 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 2nd, she was placed in the bottom 3 alongside her 2 roommates,
Ramiele Malubay and
Brooke White. Malubay was eliminated.
Performances and results (during voting weeks)
| 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
|
- Note 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.
[4]
It was announced on June 29, 2008 that Cook has once again signed with
Arista Nashville along with 19 Recordings. On August 12, 2008, "
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
Brett James.
[5] On October 25, 2008, Cook made her debut on the
Grand Ole Opry.
[6]
Cook performed the
Star-Spangled Banner at an
NCAA football game between the
Vanderbilt Commodores and
Duke Blue Devils in October 2008.
[7]
It was announced by
Arista Nashville on December 10, 2008 that Kristy Lee Cook and the label had parted ways.
[8] [9]
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." Cook has also signed with Morey Management. Cook is currently still unsigned, but meeting with labels.
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."
[10] 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.
[11]
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
|
References
- FOXNews.com - 'American Idol' Finalist Kristy Lee Cook Signs With Arista Nashville - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment
- Kristy Lee Signs In Triplicate with Arista, Britney, and BMI
- About Kristy Lee from her website
- [1]
- Cook's '15 Minutes'
- [1]
- http://vucommodores.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/102408aac.html
- Kristy Lee Cook, Arista part ways
- Kristy Lee Cook, Arista Nashville split
- http://www.klchorseheaven.org/id1.html
- http://www.klchorseheaven.org/id7.html