Justin Guarini Biography

Date of Birth: October 28, 1978

Justin Guarini was born to Kathy, a TV journalist and Eldrin Bell, an Atlanta police chief. However, the family broke up and when Justin was six, Kathy married Jerry Guarini, a physicist. Justin was attracted to performing at an early age, and when he was four he became the youngest member of the Atlanta Boys Choir. After graduating from high school, Justin went to college in Philadelphia to study performing arts, then moved to New York City where he studied acting at the School for Film & Television from 1999 to 2000.

He was in New York when his mother called to tell him she'd seen a TV advertisement for the TV talent show American Idol. He went on the Internet to find out more about it, and several weeks later, found himself standing in line with 1,000 other hopefuls in New York to audition. He was 126th in line, and was chosen to go to Hollywood to compete against other singers from around the country. Justin performed on live television, and each week received enough votes to keep him on the show, while other contestants had to leave due to lack of audience votes. By the last show Justin and Kelly Clarkson were the only two left. Although Kelly won the title of American Idol, Justin had developed a large fan base himself and received not only a recording contract, but a starring role in the movie From Justin to Kelly (2003).