Trivia

Worked at a shopping mall and would dress up as the Easter Bunny for Easter and spring promotions.

He was attending a friends wedding on the night Hurricane Katrina hit and used a ticket voucher to fly to Las Vegas.

His fans are known as the Soul Patrol.

According to his grandmother, Taylor has never had any music lessons. He came running up to her when he was about twelve years old saying, "Grandma, you've got to hear this!" Then he sang Otis Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness" for her.

Started going gray when he was 14.

Not only is he the oldest person to win American Idol, he is also the first white man to win, and the first guy to win over a girl in the finale.

His music reflect his favorite music: the old songs of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and Ray Charles. In fact, he used to always carry a tiny statute of Ray Charles, on stage with him. It was lost or stolen recently and he's been looking for another one.

He left college before graduating and went to Nashville for nine months to pursue a musical career. He has played for various venues around the United States. He has even played a couple nights at the Playboy Mansion.

Made the top final 2 on "American Idol: The Search for a Super Star"

Sang a duet with Toni Braxton, "In the Ghetto" in the finale of American Idol [2006], where later he won the title of the 'American Idol'.

He bought a $2 harmonica at a local flea market when he was 16 and has been playing harmonica ever since.

He is the second American Idol winner from Birmingham, Ruben Studdard being the first.

He also performed in the huge infield of Talladega Superspeedway in 2004 during a NASCAR race weekend. After he won Idol, driver David Stremme said that he hoped Hicks would come back for the October race weekend there.

In his Idol audition, Simon predicted he'd never "make it to the finals", but instead ended up winning American Idol without ever being in the bottom two or three. Simon quickly took back his words on the first week of voting.

Plays guitar and a "blues" harmonica or "harp." He writes most of his own songs. He has a CD entitled: Under the Radar.

On May 17 2006, joined Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood, as the only Idol contestants who were never voted in the bottom 2 or 3.

He was born at Saint Vincent Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, and his birth time is 10/06/76 at 3:30am.

Parodied on Saturday Night Live by Jason Sudeikis.

He performs the song "Takin' It To The Streets ", originally sung by the Doobie Brothers, on the American Idol top 12 CD.

"Do I Make You Proud" debuted at #1 on Billboard Hot 100.

In college was in a band called Passing Through.

Is close friends with Elliott Yamin.

Has two goldfish, named Lamont and Ray.

Is a fan of the Jonas Brothers.

His father Brad, is a dentist.

Has a younger half-brother named Sean, who encouraged Taylor to audition.

On May 24, 2006, he became the new American Idol.