According to a story by BusinessSheet.com, Studdard is in hock with the U.S. government for $200,000 in back taxes that they allege he never paid. The taxes stretch back to both 2003 and 2005, when Studdard was arguably at the height of his career - that is, just after he managed to edge out Clay Aiken for the title of American Idol.

The timing is especially bad, as Studdard was trying to stay afloat with his money by opening up a new nightclub. His reps say he has more than enough cash to cover the taxes, but will that cash also cover his six-figure nightclub deal as well? We’ll have to wait and see, I guess. Either way, the skies are looking pretty cloudy for the singer.

So successful was it, in fact, that “Shining Star” has been covered and used quite a few times - including by Ruben Studdard in the end credits to the 2004 movie Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.

More than that, though, Studdard actually makes an appearance in the movie at the very end, just before the credits role, dancing with the gang in a club as they celebrate their victory over the film’s monsters. It’s a slightly random appearance, but enough to help both Studdard and the movie.

Since we can’t find a video of it, though, here’s a clip of Earth, Wind & Fire playing “Shining Star”. Enjoy.

Surprisingly enough, the wedding was not a crazed affair worthy of a singer, nor was there even any singing to be had. Rather it was over and done quickly with little more than a private ceremony comprised of friends and family. The only music provided came from a string quartet.

Well, that’s Studdard off on a new path in life. Will marriage to his new bride help him get his music back on track? Here’s hoping. He’s set to release a new album later in 2008, so, good luck to you, Studdard.

Doubtless quite a few people had something similar to that run through their minds when Ruben Studdard first sauntered out onto the stage on American Idol. Yet he’s managed to excel in his singing and despite some lulls has put out a few popular albums.

But fame is a fickle mistress, and it was only a matter of time before Studdard decided to lose weight. Men get more leeway than women, but not much. So he started working on his weight.

And it looks like Studdard is making good progress. Between his second and third albums Studdard worked hard on lowering his poundage, eating mainly vegetables and working out to help him gruel his way through his performances. And as of January 2008 he’d managed to lose over 100 pounds.

Will he keep it up? Well, if he can get rid of 100 pounds then he can probably keep going. Hopefully his weight loss will inspire Ruben to get back in the studio and start making his next CD, too.

A good example is his song Sorry 2004, released in 2003 on his Soulful album. He spends the entire song (and the video, for that matter) lamenting his screw ups during a relationship he had with his main squeeze. He asks for forgiveness for his actions over the past year and promises to spend the next year making up for his stupid mistakes.

The inclusion of the year makes for a unique set of lyrics, though in the end this is really just another of the sweet and sour love songs that Studdard has become known for.

Lyrics to Ruben Studdard’s Sorry:

(I’m sorry, I’m sorry)
Verse 1
It’s like I missed a shot,
It’s like I dropped the ball. (Man I’m Sorry)
It’s like I’m on stage, and I forget the words. (Damn, I’m sorry)
It’s like building a new house, with no roof and no doors. (Damn, I’m sorry)
It’s like trying to propose, and I ain’t got the ring. (Oooh damn I’m sorry)
But girl I’ve apologized a million times before. (I’ll apologize a million more)
So here it comes again for all the wrong I’ve done. (so get ready babe)
Here’s one million one.

Chorus
This is my sorry for 2004.
And I ain’t gonna mess up no more, this year.
I’m ‘a take this one chance,
and make it real clear.

case I don’t tell you.

(2004)

Verse 2
It’s like stayin’ out at night, and way too much to drink.( Damn, I’m sorry)
It’s like you change your hair,
and I don’t say a thing. (Damn I’m sorry)
It’s like your fallin’ back to sleep,
with no kiss and before we hear. (Damn I’m sorry)
It’s like I forgot your gift,
on 02 14 03. (Damn. So sorry!)
But girl I’ve apologized a million times before. (I’ll apologize a million more)
So here it comes again for all the wrong I’ve done. (so get ready babe)
Here’s one million one.

Chorus
Girl This is my sorry for, 2004.
And I ain’t gonna mess up no more, this year.
I’m ‘a take this one chance,
and make it real clear.

case I don’t tell you.

(2004)

Hook-
(I’m sorry for the way that I did you)
(Sorry from the bottom of my heart for how I hurt you girl)
(Sorry on the weekend, sorry on the week days)
(Sorry for the things I did, sorry for the things I said)
(sorry for the lies)
(sorry for the time)
That I didn’t give you what you want,
That I didn’t give you what you like.
All that I can do is,
tell you that I’m sorry babe.
(I’m sorry babe, I’m sorry)
Oooooooooooooohhhhhhh!
Wooooooooh!
All them strip clubs,
all them hot tubs.
I’m gonna give them up,
’cause I don’t want to lose you now.

Chorus
Cause this is my sorry for, 2004.
And I aint gonna mess up no more, this year.
I’m ‘a take this one chance,
and make it real clear.

case I don’t tell you.

(2004)
Fading
This is my sorry for, 2004.
And I ain’t gonna mess up no more, this year.
I’m ‘a take this one chance,
and make it real clear.

case I don’t tell you.

Studdard, though born in Germany, is pure American. He was born while his father was stationed there in the United States military. He was raised in Birmingham, Alabama. He received a scholarship for football. He grew up listening to American soul artists Donny Hathaway. And, in 2003, he won the American Idol singing contest, beating out Clay Aiken by a fairly small margin.

After his success Studdard released his very first single, which was a cover of Flying Without Wings (originally created by Irish pop band Westlife). This was the last song he sang on the final show of American Idol before being declared the winner. Ironically enough, it was defeated on the New Zealand charts by Clay Aiken’s first single, though it did better on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting in second place.

Lyrics to Flying Without Wings:

Everybody’s looking for that something
One thing that makes it all complete
You’ll find it in the strangest places
Places you never knew it could be
Some find it in the faces of their children
Some find it in their lovers eyes
Who can deny the joy it brings
When you find that special thing
You’re flying without wings

Some find it sharing in every morning
Some in their solitary lives
You’ll find it in the works of others
A simple line can make you laugh or cry
You’ll find it in the deepest friendships
The kind you cherish all your lives
And when you know how much that means
You have found that special thing
You’re flying without wings

[Bridge]
So impossible as they may seem
You’ve got to fight for every dream
‘Cuz who’s to know which one you let go
Would have made you complete

But for me it’s waking up beside you
To watch the sun rise on your face
To know that I can say I love you
At any given time or place
It’s the little things that only I know
Those are the things that make you mine, all mine
And it’s the flying without wings
‘Cuz you’re my special thing
I’m flying without wings
You’re the place my life begins
And you’ll be where it ends
I’m flying without wings
And that’s the joy it brings
I’m flying without wings

Ruben Studdard Change Me was the first single to come from that album. It details the story of Studdard having an argument with his girlfriend over what he has become. She seems to be complaining about Studdard’s personality and is molding him into something he’s not. She gets annoyed (during the video) with his being a celebrity (she moves his piano into the garage, for example, and takes off when he signs autographs for a pair of fans) and does her best to get rid of that part of him.

Studdard resists, however, asking all the while why she wants to change him, and eventually he boots her out of his house.

Lyrics for Ruben Studdard’s Change Me:

How would you like it if I talked about your skin
The way you wear your hair (oh girl)
Would u like if I talked about your butt
Or once a month
Turned into someone that was hard to love

How would you like it if I didn’t like your smoke
Didn’t like your polish you be wearin on your toes
If I didn’t like your neck-a-lace
Or what u cooked for breakfast
Would I be wrong
Would I be wrong

[chorus]
Why you wanna change me
Flip all the thangs that really make me
The way that I am
Used to make you happy
Baby why u wanna change me
You used to like your big old teddy bear
You used to let me get it anywhere
Now baby
It’s crazy
Why why
Why you wanna change me

Now what if all I did was pick apart your friends cause they ain’t got no ends
What if I talked about your face in the morning
Cause we know that u aint cute in the morning
What If I criticized the way that u be eating
And when u sleepin you b doin that heavy breathing
What if I was at or bout your house creeping
Would I be wrong
Would I be wrong

[chorus]
Why you wanna change me
Flip all the thangs that really make me
The way that I am
Used to make you happy
Baby why u wanna change me
You used to like your big old teddy bear
[ Change Me lyrics found on http://www.completealbumlyrics.com ]
You used to let me get it anywhere
Now baby
It’s crazy
Why why
Why you wanna change me

[bridge]
We used to love breakin up knowing well be together again
And we used to love the arguments cause we makin love by the end gurl
How u gonna change everything in return
Cause I don’t wanna go, if it ain’t gonna be the same
If it ain’t broke then why you wanna change

[chorus]
Why you wanna change me
Flip all the thangs that really make me
The way that I am
Used to make you happy
Baby why u wanna change me
You used to like your big old teddy bear
You used to let me get it anywhere
Now baby
It’s crazy
Why why
Why you wanna change me

Tell me why you wanna change
Why why,
Why you wanna change me
Why you wanna change me
Why baby tell me why
Girl
Why
Baby tell me
Why you wanna change me
Why you wanna change m
Why baby tell me why
Girl baby, tell me why
Why you wanna change me
Why you wanna change me
Why baby tell me why
Baby tell me why
Girl why

The classic love song, Ruben Studdard Beautiful is just that: a song about making a special somebody close to Studdard feel beautiful. As he says at the very beginning of the song, though, Studdard’s song is not dedicated to getting into the girl’s jeans, but rather to try and get to know her both inside and out. He then goes on to talk (or sing, rather) how beautiful the girl is in all ways in her life, telling her that she’s as beautiful as poetry and other such compliments involving the word beautiful.

Though ‘beautiful’ gets overused just a tiny bit, it’s still a good romantic ballad, and worth at least one listen.

Make Ya Feel Beautiful Lyrics:

Baby, first off let me start by saying
I ain’t trying to get in your jeans
First I’d rather learn your ups and downs
And everything in between

I wanna know you, your insecurities
Secrets and your needs
I want your mental and your physical too
And once I’ve got it I won’t stop
Until you know you’re beautiful

I just wanna make you feel beautiful
Wanna make you feel beautiful
Girl, that’s all I wanna do
Girl, just let me make you feel beautiful
Let me make you feel beautiful
Cause you are beautiful
I just wanna make you feel beautiful
Wanna make you feel beautiful
Girl, that’s all I wanna do
Girl, just let me make you feel beautiful
Let me make you feel beautiful
Cause you are beautiful

Beautiful as Sunday in the Spring
Saturday in the Fall, beautiful as poetry
Oh, when you look at me
Say nothing at all

I want you to know this
Girl, I want you to see that it’s real
I want you to feel that you’re my focus
And girl that’s what you’ll be
Until I make you see that you are beautiful

I just wanna make you feel beautiful
Wanna make you feel beautiful
Girl, that’s all I wanna do
Girl, just let me make you feel beautiful
Let me make you feel beautiful
Cause you are beautiful
I just wanna make you feel beautiful
Wanna make you feel beautiful
Girl, that’s all I wanna do
Girl, just let me make you feel beautiful
Let me make you feel beautiful
Cause you are beautiful

There’s so much for ya, girl
I know that you’re beautiful from your head to your toe
You are so beautiful there’s so much for ya, girl
I know that you’re beautiful from your head to your toe
You are so beautiful

I just wanna make you feel beautiful
Wanna make you feel beautiful
Girl, that’s all I wanna do
Girl, just let me make you feel beautiful
Let me make you feel beautiful
Cause you are beautiful
I just wanna make you feel beautiful
Wanna make you feel beautiful
Girl, that’s all I wanna do
Girl, just let me make you feel beautiful
Let me make you feel beautiful
Cause you are beautiful