Phillip LaDon Phillips Jr., better known in the music industry as Phillip Phillips, is an American vocalist who won the eleventh season of the American singing competition ‘American Idol’ in 2012. He holds the mark for the best-selling ‘American Idol song of all time after his coronation song titled ‘Home’ surpassed all previous records. Phillips has to date released three studio albums, ‘The World from the Side of the Moon,’ ‘Behind the Light,’ and ‘Collateral,’ following his victory on the reality talent show. Two of his albums have reached the top ten on the US Billboard 200 chart. Growing up, he listened to renowned rock bands such as ‘Led Zeppelin’ and musicians such as Jimi Hendrix. Later on, he was influenced by artists such as Dave Matthews, Damien Rice, and John Butler. “The World from the Side of the Moon” was certified platinum in both the United States and Canada. The singer has received multiple Teen Choice Award and Billboard Music Award nominations. In a brief amount of time, he has gained a substantial amount of notoriety by touring various regions of the United States and Canada.
Youth and Early Life
Phillips was born on September 20, 1990, in Albany, Georgia to Phillip LaDon Phillips, Sr., and Sheryl Jacks. His family moved to Leesburg, Georgia when he was 12 years old, where he grew up alongside his two older sisters, LaDonna and Lacey.
After graduating from Lee County High School, he enrolled at Albany Technical College. In 2012, he graduated with a major in Industrial Systems Technology, but he was unable to attend his convocation due to his involvement with ‘American Idol.’
Phillips founded a band with his brother-in-law and longtime friend Benjamin Neil and Todd Urick when he was young. They performed at numerous locales and occasions. Phillips also won the ‘Albany Star’s local contest. Before becoming a full-time musician, he labored in his family’s pawnshop. Phillips labels his musical approach as “jazz and alternative rock sound” and openly cites Dave Matthews and John Butler as his primary influences.
American Idol and Rise to Fame
Phillip Phillips performed Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” during his audition for the reality competition program “American Idol” in Savannah, Georgia. He was also requested to sing another song while playing his instrument, and he performed “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. In February 2012, Phillips was selected as one of the top 25 semi-finalists after advancing through the Hollywood and Las Vegas rounds. Then, he advanced to the top 13 semi-finalists.
Audience members and judges noticed similarities between his singing technique and that of Dave Matthews after he performed “The Stone” by Dave Matthews. When questioned about the similarity and imitation of his style, Matthews himself praised Phillips.
After his Top 13 performance, Phillips experienced severe abdominal agony and was taken to the hospital. It was determined that he had kidney stones. Due to his medical issues, he considered leaving the program, but he persisted despite the pain.
Eventually, he advanced to the round of the Top 3 finalists. He performed “We’ve Got Tonight” by Bob Seger and advanced to the finale alongside Jessica Sanchez. Phillips defeated Jessica Sanchez to win the competition after a record 132 million votes were tallied. He was the only contestant who had never been in jeopardy of elimination during any week of the competition.
A Later Career
From July to September 2012, Phillip Phillips embarked on the ‘American Idol LIVE Tour,’ and subsequently performed the national anthem at the opening game of the 2012 World Series. He appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the American Music Awards, and the Billboard Music Awards, among others.
Under the production of Greg Wattenberg, Phillips released his debut studio album ‘The World from the Side of the Moon’ on November 19, 2012. Phillips wrote or collaborated on the preponderance of the album’s lyrics. On November 6, 2012, the single “Where We Came From” was made available for free download upon pre-ordering the album.
The album was a tremendous commercial and critical success. It debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with over one million copies sold. In 2013, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
His second studio album, ‘Behind the Light,’ was released on May 19, 2014, and was met with a variety of responses from publications and critics.
The album debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 123,000 copies in the United States in its first year of release. Ryan Hadlock produced his third studio album, ‘Collateral,’ which was released on January 19, 2018.
Philip’s Major Opera
American Idol was the crowning achievement of Phillips’s career to date. This is where he made his name in the entertainment industry. Not only did he win the competition, but his coronation song, “Home,” which was released after his final performance, became the best-selling song in the history of “American Idol.” This composition was nominated for multiple awards, such as the World Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards.
His first studio album, ‘The World from the Side of the Moon,’ was an enormous success. In addition to earning him a platinum certification in the United States and Canada, the album sold over a million copies within the country. The album entered the Billboard 200 at No. 4. In 2013, he was nominated for the Teen Choice Award for his single “Gone, Gone, Gone.”
Philip’s Personal Life
On October 24, 2015, Phillip Phillips wed his longtime fiancée Hannah Blackwell at the Resora Plantation in Albany, Georgia. Phillips is a well-known social worker who is involved with a number of organizations, including DoSomething, the National Park Foundation, NCIRE – the Veterans Health Research Institute, Habitat for Humanity, and the Save The Music Foundation. He is also the ‘Brave Beginnings’ ambassador and is actively involved in the Gibson disaster relief campaign.
Estimated Net Worth
Phillip Phillips is an American singer who rose to prominence after becoming the eleventh champion of the FOX reality singing competition American Idol. The net worth of Philip Phillips is $1.5 million. Before being chosen as an American Idol finalist, Phillips worked at his family’s pawn store in his Georgia hometown.