Photo courtesy American Idol

Paris Bennett, the sweetheart of American Idol season 5, charmed fans world-wide with her soft baby girl speaking voice and wowed them with her powerful bluesy singing voice. Paris was trained vocally by her mother Jamecice Bennett and Grandmother Ann Nesby (both members of the gospel group Sounds of Blackness). While she currently resides in Fayetteville, Georgia, Miss Bennett earns her Minneapolis musician status by living in the Minneapolis area through her high school years.

What's next for the young 18 year old superbly talented musician? Paris is currently on the American Idol Season 5 Tour and plans to release a Christmas and solo album sometime in the near future. In the meantime look for her duet with composer John Debney on the soundtrack of the animated film Everyone's Hero due out mid September 2006.

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Season 5 Encores features the top 12 finalists singing their best performances from this season. Rocker Chris Daughtry offers his take on Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive." Paris Bennett gives a soulful rendition of Gladys Knight's "Midnight Train To Georgia." And, Taylor Hicks sings the classic Doobie Brothers hit "Takin' It to the Streets."