Sanjaya Malakar

Guide Note

Sanjaya Malakar was the seventh place finalist on the sixth season of the hit television reality series singing competition American Idol. After the conclusion of the show, he went out on the American Idols Tour 2007 joined by the top 10 finalists of the season. One of the youngest contestants, his questionable singing ability and teenybopper appeal caused controversy on the show.

Since his appearance on the show, Malakar has hosted the television special Idol Stars: Where Are They Now? on the TV Guide Channel and co-authored the book Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul.

Fast Facts

1. Full name: Sanjaya Shekar Malakar
2. Born: September 10, 1989
3. Hometown: Federal Way, Washington

1. Season: 6
2. Placed: 7th
3. Eliminated: April 18, 2007
4. Audition city: Seattle, Washington

Vote for the Worst named Malakar the person to eliminate from American Idol for six weeks. Radio broadcaster Howard Stern also called upon his fans to "to corrupt the No.1 show on television" by voting to keep Malakar on the show. The judges (Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell) only praised one performance of his nine total, and Cowell even stated in an interview that he would quit the show if Malakar won.

1. "I sing all the time. I’m kind of constantly rehearsing – whether people around me want me to be or not."
2. "You’re human; you’re supposed to make mistakes. Everyone’s not supposed to like you; I mean, that’s just how life works."
3. "I do have great hair, I have to admit. Once that became my thing, I just played on it. It was fun."