Chris Medina

Although raised in America, pop/rock singer Chris Medina found greater success overseas, where his debut single, "What Are Words," became a Number 1 hit in Norway, Sweden, and Singapore in 2011. Born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 30, 1983, he auditioned for American Idol's tenth season in late 2010 and quickly became a fan favorite. The show didn't just highlight Medina's voice; it also introduced the world to his fiancé, who had suffered permanent brain damage after a life-threatening car accident. After leaving the American Idol competition in February 2011, Medina released "What Are Words," an emotional pop ballad dedicated to his fiancé. The song became an International hit, reaching Number 1 on Norway's VG-lista chart in April 2011 and holding the top position for eleven weeks. It eventually went quadruple platinum in Norway and double platinum in Sweden, while peaking at Number 83 in America. A full-length album, also titled What Are Words, was released in Scandinavian countries later that year, cracking the Top 10 in both Sweden and Norway. Medina later relocated to Oslo, Norway, where his song "We Try" was one of several Norwegian tracks to compete in the Melodi Grand Prix round of 2019's Eurovision Song Contest.