Jake Simpson

After would-be pop star Jake Simpson finished his performance of Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours," the celebrity judges of CBS' 2003 Star Search revival were stunned, to say the least. Saying more than that, Naomi Judd exclaimed, "You make my molecules vibrate at a high frequency — you're a sonic blast!" After an endorsement like that, how could he lose? The nationwide fan voting for Simpson was enthusiastic, and the young singer from Crocker, MO, walked away with the victory, receiving $100,000 and a recording contract with Sony/Columbia. The imaginatively titled Star Search Winner: Jake Simpson appeared in April of 2003; it included the three songs he sang during his appearances on the program, as well as five other tracks. A full-length debut was planned for the summer.