He couldn‘t have been more wrong. The Alabama-born star’s energetic performances, soulful vocals and harmonica playing won the hearts of viewers around the country to win enough votes week-after-week to win a place in the final. Here he fought off tough competition from pretty brunette Katharine McPhee to be crowned the fifth American Idol, joining the likes of Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia Barrinoin the show’s hall of fame.

Before Idol, Taylor - who has no formal music training - started a band while at studying business, communications and marketing at Auburn University. When he dropped out of uni, he moved to country music capital Nashville, Tenessee in search of a career in music. While in Nashville, he worked with country veterans Billy Earl McClelland and Percy Sledge. Later, he returned to university - this time Alabama - and graduated.

While travelling around trying to find work as a musician, Taylor played many popular venues - even singing at the infamous Playboy Mansion - and worked as a wedding singer.

Taylor has even released two albums, 1997’s In Your Time and 2005’s Under The Radar. As these were released independently and he’d never signed a record contract, this meant he didn’t break Idol‘s contestant policies.

Hicks quotes his favourite singers as being Ray Charles(who he describes as his own American Idol), Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, whose soulful music has obviously profoundly influenced his own music.

Throughout Idol, Taylor fever gripped the nation - so much so that his unique performing style was even parodied twice on comedy show Saturday Night Live. With a cast member playing the blues harmonica and shouting “soul patrol!” - to imitate Taylor‘s trademark quirkiness. An impression which Taylor admitted that it made him "fall out on the floor" with laughter, while being interviewed by Idol's host Ryan Seacrest

He even found a fan in Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice - who comes from the same area and state as him. She reportedly "took time out from diplomacy to join the millions of Americans awaiting the results of the singing competition" and planned to send Hicks her congratulations.

Music aside, Taylor was born in Birmingham Alabama. His parents divorced when he was 8 and shared custody of their son until he reached adulthood. He has a half-brother called Sean.

Taylor’s single ‘Do I Make You Proud?’ / ’Takin’ It To The Streets’ is released in June.