You probably remember Ruben Studdard as the 2003 winner of 'American Idol. He was nicknamed the "Velvet Teddy Bear" because of his soulful voice and gentle disposition. He found himself fighting obesity that maxed out at about 450 pounds. The added weight also contributed to Type 2 diabetes.
As had been rumored for a while, Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj have both publicly confirmed that they are leaving 'American Idol' after this season, following the announcement that Randy Jackson was also retiring. This leaves Keith Urban as the last judge standing, though perhaps not for long.
Yes, there have been big rumors of a significant change coming to 'American Idol', but few expected it to include Randy Jackson departing the show. He announced Thursday that he would be walking away from the long-running show at the end of season twelve.