Kimberley Dawn Locke (born January 3, 1978) is an American singer and television personality. She has recorded in the dance and pop genres, and has targeted the adult contemporary radio format. She was the cohost of the daytime talk show Dr. and the Diva.
Locke gained fame with her participation in the 2003 American Idol television series in which she placed third. In 2007, she garnered media attention for her participation in Celebrity Fit Club.
Early life
Locke was born in Hartsville, Tennessee on January 3, 1978 to Donald and Christine Locke, the second of two children, with an older brother named Ashley. She and her brother spent most of their life in Gallatin. At age five, Locke began singing in church. Her parents divorced when she was eight.
Locke grew up admiring such singers as Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle, and Diana Ross. She and childhood friends Chandra Boone, Selina Robb, and Nacole Rice formed a quartet as teens named Shadz of U, which performed at many local churches. The group later appeared on Locke's 2007 Based on a True Story album, singing backup on Everyday Angels.
Locke went to Gallatin High School, where she was one of 16 members to participate in its performing group. She remained in the group throughout her high school years. She was also selected twice as a member of the All-Middle State Chorus. After graduating, she began to work for a company in Nashville as an administrative assistant.
Like 2007 American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle, Locke is an alumna of Belmont University in Nashville.
Career American Idol and singing career On October 30, 2002, the reality TV singing competition American Idol held auditions in Nashville, Tennessee for the show's second season. Locke successfully passed through to the next round, and in December was chosen to perform on the show. She finished third, behind winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken. She has since been invited back to the show to perform twice (seasons 3 and 7).
Locke went on to sign a record deal with Curb Records on September 6, 2003. Her debut album, One Love, was released May 4, 2004. Debut single "8th World Wonder" reached the top half of the Billboard Hot 100 and was successful on other charts, and entered the UK charts. "Wrong" and "I Could" followed as singles.
Locke released her version of "Up on the House Top" in the autumn of 2005 and by the end of year, it had reached the top spot of the Adult Contemporary (A/C) charts. The following year, Locke's version of "Jingle Bells" was released and topped the same charts. A full Christmas album entitled Christmas — only available digitally — was released on November 6, 2007.
Locke's second album, Based on a True Story, was released on May 1, 2007. The album's original lead single, "Supawoman," co-written with her producers Damon Sharpe and Mark J. Feist, was released to radio on August 7, 2006. "Change," was released to radio on January 15, 2007. The album's next single was a cover of Freda Payne's "Band of Gold," which was released to radio on August 13, 2007, and became Locke's sixth solo A/C Top 10 hit. The album's third single,"Fall," co-written by Clay Mills and also recorded by country music artist Clay Walker, was released to radio in February 2008. All three singles from this album hit number one on the Billboard dance club chart.
After parting ways with Curb Records in 2009, Locke went on to be the first artist to sign a deal with Randy Jackson's Dream Merchant 21 record label"Kimberley Locke & Harvey Walden Split", HipHollywood.com, March 5, 2010"Randy Jackson Launches New Dance Label And Announces First Artist - Kimberley Locke" , Music Industry Report, May 5, 2010 and recorded the single "Strobelight", which was released April 6, 2010."Kimberley Locke Official", Kimberleylockeofficial.com, retrieved March 5, 2010 as part of the "singles only" agreement about which Locke stated, "We live in a world where people go to iTunes and download the songs they want."Kimberly Locke Dishes On Life After Idol And Her New Single Strobelight" , Plus Model Magazine, April 2010 "
In 2011, Locke issued a press release announcing her new entertainment company called I AM Entertainment. Her first independent release through her new company was her danced-themed EP album, "Four for the Floor", which was released on July 19, 2011. On November 1, 2011, Locke released a cover of Silver Bells which was accompanied by an I AM Entertainment produced music video."Kimberley Locke - Silver Bells (Official Music Video)", YouTube, December 20, 2011 During the summer of 2011, fans chose via a Facebook voting campaign,"Kimberley Locke Let Facebook Fans Choose Next Single", AllAccess.com, May 10, 2011 which would be Locke's next single. The winning song was "Finally Free" which was released with a full remix package in 2012."Kimberley Locke Official Biography" , retrieved January 6, 2012
In 2013, Locke teamed up with British production team Cahill to release the single, "Feel the Love," on 3 Beat Records, that was promoted exclusively to the United Kingdom. The song reached number one on both the ClubJones, Alan (May 17, 2013). "Cahill rule Upfront list". Music Week, issue 20, p. 35. and Pop"Commercial Pop Top 30" (April 12, 2013). Music Week, issue 14, p. 61. charts in the United Kingdom, and reached number 29 on Billboard's Global Dance chart."Global Dance Songs: May 11, 2013 Billboard Chart Archive" Billboard, Retrieved May 21, 2015.
In 2015, Locke began working on her next album which will feature songs she co-wrote with Bill Grainer.Bill Grainer (July 5, 2014)"Always love my power lunches with the one and only @KimberleyLocke #staytuned #newmusic" Twitter.com
In 2018, Locke released the single "Raise Your Hands." In 2019, she released "Sleep Tight Baby Bright," the first single off her upcoming album of lullabies.
In 2021, she released two more studio albums. Her first album of Children's music, You're My Baby, was released in May and her second album of Christmas music, Christmas Is Here, on which she teamed up with the band EMP3 was released in September. The title track from the album, a cover of a Donna Summer song was released as the lead single.
In 2023, Locke released a compilation album, Best of Kimberley Locke. The 16 track album features her singles, two previously unreleased songs, and two brand new recordings; including her new single Keep On (Falling in Love), which was produced by Dave Audé.
Songs performed on American Idol Round Song choice Original artist Theme (if any) ResultAudition"Over the Rainbow"Judy Garland[N/A]AdvancedHollywood"Band of Gold" (with Frenchie Davis)Freda PayneGroup PerformancesAdvancedTop 32"Over the Rainbow"Judy GarlandSemifinal Group 2AdvancedTop 12"Heat Wave"Martha and the VandellasMotownBottom 3Top 11"Home"Stephanie MillsMovie HitsSafeTop 10"I Can't Make You Love Me"Bonnie RaittCountry/RockSafeTop 8"It's Raining Men"The Weather GirlsDiscoBottom 3Top 8"My Heart Will Go On"Celine DionBillboard Number One HitsBottom 3Top 7"New York State of Mind"Billy JoelBilly JoelSafeTop 6"If You Asked Me To"Patti LaBelleDiane WarrenSafeTop 5"I Heard It Through the Grapevine""Where the Boys Are"The MiraclesConnie Francis1960sNeil SedakaSafeTop 4"I Just Want to Be Your Everything""Emotion"Andy GibbSamantha SangBee GeesBottom 2Top 3"Band of Gold""Anyone Who Had a Heart""Inseparable"Freda PayneDionne WarwickNatalie ColeRandomJudge's ChoiceIdol's ChoiceEliminated
Due to Corey Clark's disqualification, the Top 9 performances became Top 8 when no one was eliminated. When Ryan Seacrest announced the results in the particular night, Locke was in the bottom two and declared safe when Josh Gracin was eliminated.
Television While pursuing her music career, Locke was also interested in becoming a television star. Since 2005, Locke has been featured on many television shows.
In August 2004, Locke was invited to be a guest host on Good Day Live, and was invited back to co-host twice more. In 2005, she was a contestant on the game show, Family Feud, and she hosted Word Slam!, a GSN live game show; an accompanying documentary with Locke aired on that cable channel that September. Throughout the summer of 2005, a proposed reality TV series, Aren't You That Girl?, taped Locke's progress on her second album and preparations for her upcoming wedding. The engagement was later called off and the project was cancelled.Stiletto Entertainment "Kimberley Locke Models For Lane Bryant" , June 29, 2005. During MTV's early fall 2006 lineup, Locke was a judge and co-host on the short-lived reality-show competition "Little Talent Show".
In 2007 Locke was a participant on the fifth season of Celebrity Fit Club. She has been the focused target of derision from fellow cast member Dustin Diamond, who has repeatedly insulted Locke. The ensuing argument caused all other contestants to leave the stage.Ho, Rodney "Kelly, charts, Fit Club", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Idol Blog, May 9, 2007. On June 17, 2007, the season finale of Celebrity Fit Club aired, drawing in 2.7 million viewers, the show's highest yet.
Locke sat in as a guest co-host of The View in March 2007. In April 2008, she also appeared on "Don't Forget the Lyrics!" with her winnings to benefit Camp Heartland. She was the first contestant in the history of the show to attempt the million dollar song. Although unsuccessful, she was awarded $100,000 for ranking so well. Locke vowed she would raise the $400,000 she lost when she unsuccessfully attempted to win the million dollars.
On June 24, 2009, Locke became one of the hosts of the talent show Gospel Dream 2009 on Gospel Music Channel.
On September 11, 2010, Locke appeared on Celebrity Ghost Stories.
She has also hosted Windy City Live, The Better Show, and Word Slam. In 2013, she appeared as an expert judge on Next Great Family Band.
Locke cohosts Dr. and the Diva with Dr. Steve Salvatore. The daytime talk show began in the fall of 2019 and discusses health, food, fashion and fitness.
In 2020, Locke began co-hosting TV infomercials for kitchen appliances marketed by chef Emeril Lagasse.
Theatre In 2019, Locke made her Broadway debut as a special guest of Kristin Chenoweth in her one-woman show Kristin Chenoweth: For the Girls.
The following year, she announced her own one-woman show called The Sum of All Parts which, as summarized by BroadwayWorld.com, "traces the intimate journey down her very own yellow brick road, from growing up bi-racial, to being involved with "American Idol," to finding herself in the music that flowed throughout her life". Backed by a 13-piece orchestra, she presented an evening of intimate storytelling of meeting some of her own idols and pays tribute to Etta James, Judy Garland and others.
In 2022, it was announced that Locke would make her musical theater debut, as the lead role in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on board the Norwegian Prima. Locke plays Diva Donna, playing Summer as she reaches the height of her career. Of taking on the role, Locke stated "Donna Summer's inspirational story and pioneering talent led the way for so many of today's brightest vocalists. She has left an immeasurable impact on music and culture, and I am excited to bring her story to guests around the world aboard the beautiful Norwegian Prima."
Modeling career and weight loss From 2005 through September 2006, Locke was signed with Ford Models' 14+ Division. She has appeared on the covers of the July 2005 issue of Figure magazine and the summer 2007 issue of UneQ magazine. She has also been a former spokesperson for Lane Bryant and Seven7 Jeans.