Nikki McKibbin

Nikki McKibbin (born Katherine Nicole McKibbin on September 28, 1978 in Grand Prairie, Texas, USA) is an American singer and was the third place contestant in the original American Idol, and one of the top twenty finalists in the first season of Popstars.

Related Topics:
September 28 - 1978 - Grand Prairie, Texas - USA - American Idol - Popstars

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McKibbin was a cheerleader in high school. After becoming a finalist in the top 10, she was in the bottom three vote-getters on nearly every American Idol results show. This also led to a controversy over "power dialing", a claim that computer nerds helped her stay in the competition by using special modems to cast thousands of votes.

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According to the American Idol archives, McKibbin is the only finalist to ever sing rock in the whole competition. Her performances of "Mary Jane," by Alanis Morissette, and "I'm the Only One," by Melissa Etheridge led to the startling elimination of the contest front-runner Tamyra Gray. Both of McKibbin's performances that day were highly praised by Simon Cowell. She ended her run in the third place position on the first season of American Idol, behind victor Kelly Clarkson and runner-up Justin Guarini.

Related Topics:
Alanis Morissette - Melissa Etheridge - Tamyra Gray - Simon Cowell - Kelly Clarkson - Justin Guarini

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She is still pursuing a singing career, and is featured on the 2004 www.thefishbowl.com Christmas album. She also appeared on a special "Reality TV Stars" episode of the NBC series Fear Factor in February 2005. Although she did not finish in first place, she did win a bonus prize of $20,000. She was also a contestant on the television show Battle of the Network Reality Stars. She was not popular with her fellow contestants and was on at least one occasion voted off of her team only to be brought back onto another team.

Related Topics:
Fear Factor - Battle of the Network Reality Stars

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McKibbin owns her own karaoke business. She has a son named Tristen by an ex-boyfriend, and was married from 2001 until 2002.

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Her debut album is expected to be released sometime in 2006.

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