Jordin's Secret Weapon: Her Voice Teacher Talks To Star
When it comes to the velvet voice that landed her the American Idol title on the May 23 finale, Jordin Sparks admits she "can't take the credit for myself that I sound this good; I know it's God." Well, it appears Sparks and the Almighty had a little help from a third party — her former vocal coach, Melissa Black!
"Jordin was just 14 years old when she studied with me in 2004," Black, 49, of Peoria, Ariz., tells Star. "We were together for nine months of intense vocal work, with Jordin taking one 30-minute class a week at $25 per class. I knew she wouldn't take long to perfect her craft because she was so good."
HURTFUL OMISSION
But to her former teacher's surprise and shock, when she read Sparks' official bio on the Idol Web site, Jordin — who's never talked about Black in any interviews — answered "no" to the question of whether she had ever had formal vocal training!
"That threw me for a loop, and I was hurt for a week," says Melissa. "Jordin didn't have to mention my name, but at least acknowledge you had training. But I've moved on, and I hold my head up high."
For more on Jordin's vocal training and to see photos of her in youth theater performances, pick up this week's issue of Star.
