Paris Giselle Bennett is an American singer, best known for being a finalist on the fifth season of American Idol, where she finished in fifth place.
Paris was born in Rockford, IL. Her mother, Jamecia, and grandmother, famed singer Ann Nesby, were both members of the gospel group Sounds of Blackness. Bennett has lived with her grandmother the past two years in Fayetteville, Georgia, attending Starr's Mill High School for eleventh and twelfth grades, but is originally from Edina, Minnesota. She attended Edina High School from 2003-2005 for tenth and eleventh grades. She was very active in theater and the performing arts. She played Dorothy, the lead in the school's production of "The Wiz". She was also a member of her school's Danceline and Hip-Hop Dance Club.
Her audition in Greensboro, North Carolina initially featured "Cowboy Take Me Away" by The Dixie Chicks. When judge Paula Abdul invited her to sing a second song, she continued with Carmen McRae's vocal version of Dave Brubeck's "Take Five." All three judges, including Simon Cowell, who is often cited as being conservative with his praise, were impressed with Bennett's talent.
On the first elimination episode, Bennett performed the Gladys Knight & the Pips song "Midnight Train to Georgia." The judges were unanimous in their praise of her performance, remarking on her energy and seeming lack of nerves.
Her favorite judge is Randy Jackson because "he knows music and he's honest." Her favorite American Idol is 2004 winner Fantasia Barrino, because "she is a survivor!"
On May 3, 2006, Bennett was in the bottom two with Elliott Yamin and eliminated from the competition.
