David Cook appeared on the show American Idol. (Photo: Fox)

A resident of Tulsa, OK, David Cook grew up in Blue Springs, MO, but was born on Dec. 20, 1982 in Houston, TX. He graduated from Central Missouri State University in 2006 and has been singing since he was in the 2nd grade. He also plays the guitar and it was his EMO-rocking version of Lionel Richie's 1980s pop ballad, "Hello" that put Cook on the viewer's radar. Prior to his turn on "American Idol," Cook was a member of two bands, Axium and MWK. Cook would go on to win the "Battle of the David's" on "Idol."