Siobhan Evelyn Magnus (born March 15, 1990) is an American singer-songwriter who was the sixth place finalist on the ninth season of ''

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American Music competition, singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle (company), Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It a ...

''.

Biography

Early life

Siobhan Magnus was born on March 15, 1990, to parents Alan and Colleen Magnus. She was raised in

Barnstable, Massachusetts Barnstable ( ) is a List of municipalities in Massachusetts, town in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population ...

, along with her two older brothers, her older sister and her two younger siblings. Magnus' father was a singer-songwriter, her siblings play in various bands, and her brother Rory is in the film animation industry. She is the niece of two musicians:

Tracy Ferrie Tracy Ferrie is an American musician, who is the current bass player for the classic rock band Boston and is the former bass player of Christian metal band Stryper. Biography Ferrie grew up in Northern Indiana where he was encouraged by his hig ...

, currently the bassist for

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

and former bassist for

Stryper Stryper is an American Christian metal and heavy metal music, heavy metal band from La Mirada, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Perry Richardson (bass), and Robert Sweet (musician), ...

, and Alan Ware, drummer for Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra. Magnus first started singing in a fourth grade choral concert when she sang " Tomorrow" from the play ''Annie''. She also previously fronted an

alternative rock Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s w ...

band called Lunar Valve, also consisting of Ralph Bousquet (lead guitar), Matthew Kohler (bass), and Jordan Bonina (drums).

Education

Magnus is a 2008 graduate of

Barnstable High School Barnstable High School is a public high school (grades 8–12) in the village of Hyannis, Massachusetts, United States, Town of Barnstable. The school is part of the Barnstable Public School District. Barnstable High School was founded in the ...

Hyannis, Massachusetts Hyannis is the largest of the seven villages in the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. It is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area at the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hya ...

. In school, she was a member of the Barnstable High School Drama Club. When the drama club was filmed for an internet reality show by

Warner Brothers Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...

, she was featured as one of three Dorothys for the play ''

The Wizard of Oz ''The Wizard of Oz'' is a 1939 American Musical film, musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Based on the 1900 novel ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' by L. Frank Baum, it was primarily directed by Victor Fleming, who left pro ...

''. In May 2008, in a local profile about Magnus's singing talent, the music department chair of her school district was quoted as saying "Hands down, I think she'd win 'American Idol'." During her senior year in high school, she was voted the most individual girl. She auditioned as a vocal major

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music () is a Private university, private music college in Boston, Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern Music of the United ...

, but was not accepted. She attended

Salem State College Salem State University (Salem State or SSU) is a public university in Salem, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1854, it is the oldest and largest institute of higher education on the North Shore (Massachusetts), North Shore and is p ...

, but dropped out after one semester. Magnus worked as an apprentice

glassblower Glassblowing is a glassforming technique that involves inflating molten glass into a bubble (or parison) with the aid of a Blowpipe (tool), blowpipe (or blow tube). A person who blows glass is called a ''glassblower'', ''glassmith'', or ''gaffer'' ...

in Hyannis before taking part in ''American Idol''.

''American Idol''

Magnus auditioned for ''American Idol'' in the summer of 2009 in Boston, and was one of two

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

contestants to make the semi-finals of the show. Magnus emerged as an early contender after her interpretation of "

Think In their most common sense, the terms thought and thinking refer to cognitive processes that can happen independently of sensory stimulation. Their most paradigmatic forms are judging, reasoning, concept formation, problem solving, and delibe ...

" by

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Soul", she was twice named by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine as the Roll ...

and "

Paint It, Black "Paint It Black" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. A product of the songwriting partnership of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, it is a raga rock song with Indian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European influences and l ...

" by

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

. Magnus' vocal range and dramatic performances prompted judge

Kara DioGuardi Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi ( ; December 9, 1970) is an American songwriter, record producer, music publisher, A&R executive, and singer. She primarily writes music in the pop rock genre. She has worked with many popular artists; sales of albums ...

to compare her to Season 8 runner-up

Adam Lambert Adam Mitchel Lambert (born January 29, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter and actor. He is known for his dynamic vocal performances that combine his theatrical training with modern and classic genres. Lambert rose to fame in 2009 after ...

. Magnus' elimination during Top 6 week came as a surprise to many ''Idol'' experts. It was reported that as a result, many fans of Magnus had vowed not to watch the rest of the ''American Idol'' season. The week after Magnus' dismissal, ''American Idol'' had its lowest ratings since 2002. Magnus, along with twelfth season finalist Angie Miller, are the only finalists on ''American Idol'' from Massachusetts.

Performances

Due to the judges using their one save to save Michael Lynche, the Top 9 remained intact for another week.

Post-''Idol''

After her elimination, Magnus gave several media appearances and performed "

House of the Rising Sun "The House of the Rising Sun" is an American traditional folk song, sometimes called "Rising Sun Blues". It tells of a person's life gone wrong in the city of New Orleans. Many versions also urge a sibling or parents and children to avoid the ...

" on ''

The Ellen DeGeneres Show ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' is an American first-run syndicated talk show that was hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. The show ran for nineteen seasons from September 8, 2003, to May 26, 2022, in which it broadcast 3,339 episodes. It was produced by ...

'', and "Paint It, Black" on the ''

Late Show with David Letterman ''Late Show with David Letterman'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS, the first iteration of the ''Late Show'' franchise. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was produced by Letterman's production com ...

''. Letterman would go on to say to Magnus "I don't know why they voted you off, frankly I don't care. As far as I'm concerned, you should be our American Idol"."Letterman: Magnus should be 'American Idol'"
, "Cape Cod Times" Magnus also visited the ''

If I Can Dream "If I Can Dream" is a song made famous by Elvis Presley, written by Walter Earl Brown of The Skylarks for the singer and notable for its similarities with Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech. The song was published by Elvis Pr ...

'' house and sang " I Will Come to You" by

Hanson Hanson or Hansson may refer to: People * Hanson (surname) * Hansson (surname) * Hanson (wrestler) or Ivar (born 1984), American professional wrestler Musical groups * Hanson (band), an American pop rock band * Hanson (UK band), an English ...

and also "

Halo HALO, halo, halos or haloes may refer to: Most common meanings * Halo (optical phenomenon) * Halo (religious iconography), a ring of light around the image of a head * ''Halo'' (franchise), a sci-fi video game series (2001–2021) Arts and en ...

" by

Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...

. She visited the house a second time with the Top 10 contestants, and sang many songs, including "

Wicked Game "Wicked Game" is a song by American rock musician Chris Isaak from his third album '' Heart Shaped World'' (1989). It was released as a single to little attention in July 1989 but became a sleeper hit when Lee Chestnut, an Atlanta radio station ...

", " No One", " Creep", and "

Umbrella An umbrella or parasol is a folding canopy supported by wooden or metal ribs that is mounted on a wooden, metal, or plastic pole. It is usually designed to protect a person against rain. The term ''umbrella'' is traditionally used when protec ...

". She also made an appearance on ''

The Wendy Williams Show ''The Wendy Williams Show'' (often shortened to ''Wendy'') is an American Broadcast syndication, syndicated talk show created and hosted by Wendy Williams, and produced by Wendy Williams Productions, along with Perler Productions. The show was d ...

'' performing "Summertime". Magnus returned to the finale of ''American Idol'' on May 26, 2010, and sang " How Deep Is Your Love" with Aaron Kelly, who were both joined by the

Bee Gees The Bee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry Gibb, Barry, Robin Gibb, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in ...

. She also had group performances with

Alice Cooper Vincent Damon Furnier (born February 4, 1948), known by his stage name Alice Cooper, is an American rock singer and songwriter whose career spans sixty years. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusion ...

Christina Aguilera Christina María Aguilera ( , ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer-songwriter, actress and television personality. Recognized as Cultural impact of Christina Aguilera, an influential figure in music and having received Public imag ...

and

Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreogr ...

. On June 9, 2010, Magnus performed with childhood Idols

at the Bardot in Hollywood, California. Magnus actually declared the experience (performing with Hanson) was "better than winning ''American Idol''." Magnus was featured in the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2010, where she sang

' "

No Doubt No Doubt is an American rock band formed in Anaheim, California in 1986. For most of its career, the band has consisted of vocalist and founding member Gwen Stefani, guitarist Tom Dumont, bassist Tony Kanal and drummer Adrian Young. Keyboar ...

's " Spiderwebs" and

Muse In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, the Muses (, ) were the Artistic inspiration, inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry, lyric p ...

's "

Stockholm Syndrome Stockholm syndrome is a proposed condition or theory that tries to explain why hostages sometimes develop a psychological bond with their captors. Emotional bonds can possibly form between captors and captives, during intimate time together, ...

." She also sang in two group performances:

Miley Cyrus Miley Ray Cyrus ( , born Destiny Hope Cyrus, November 23, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and director. Regarded as a contemporary pop icon, Cyrus has been recognized for her evolving artistry and image reinventions. She is ...

's " The Climb" and

Kelly Clarkson Kelly Brianne (born Kelly Brianne Clarkson, April 24, 1982), known professionally as Kelly Clarkson, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Rising to fame after winning the American Idol season 1, first season of ''Ameri ...

's "My Life Would Suck Without You". Her debut album "Moonbaby" was released in 2012.

Solo career

Magnus recorded her debut album, '' Moonbaby'', with Nashville-based Pacific International Music. Her first single, "Beatrice Dream", was released to iTunes on May 1, and her second single, "Black Doll", was released to iTunes on October 3. 1,000 pre-release copies of the album were made available for purchase through her official website in December 2011. "Moonbaby" was made available through digital retailers on January 22, 2012. In March 2013, Magnus showcased a new band called Doubtful Guest, featuring several members of bands from the 1990s. The showcase was held in Nashville at 12th and Porter on March 27, 2013. On July 8, 2014, during

Boston's Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and financial center of New England, a region of the Northeastern United States. It has an area of and a ...

''Heaven on Earth Tour'' to support '' Life, Love & Hope'', Magnus performed " Walk On" in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...

, on July 22 at the

Sandia Casino Sandia Resort & Casino is a casino and hotel complex on the Sandia Pueblo reservation near Albuquerque, New Mexico New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the M ...

Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...

, on August 5 at the

USANA Amphitheatre The Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre is an outdoor amphitheater, located in West Valley City, Utah. From 2003 to 2024, the Amphitheater was named after USANA Health Sciences, a manufacturer of nutritional supplements. A new naming rights agr ...

Salt Lake City Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in the state. The city is the core of the Salt Lake Ci ...

, Utah and on September 3 at the Ford Idaho Center in

Nampa, Idaho Nampa () is the most populous city in Canyon County, Idaho, United States. The population was 100,200 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is Idaho's List of cities in Idaho, third-most populous city. Nampa is about west of Boise, Id ...

as a lead and backup vocalist. In 2014, Magnus recorded the song "Wisdom" as the theme song for the movie ''The Wisdom to Know the Difference,'' "Wisdom" was included on her 2015 EP release ''Holiday Inspiration,'' which also included recordings of " What Child Is This?", "

O Holy Night "O Holy Night" (original title: ) is a sacred song about the night of the birth of Jesus Christ, described in the first verse as "the dear Saviour", and frequently performed as a Christmas carol. Based on the French-language poem ''Minuit, ch ...

", "

Old Cape Cod "Old Cape Cod" is a song written by Claire Rothrock, Milton Yakus and Allan Jeffrey that was published in 1957. The single, as recorded by Patti Page, became a gold record, having sold more than a million copies. Hailed by Cape Cod natives as the ...

", and "Did You Ever Wonder Why" The EP was made available only through her website as a CD. In November 2016, she released a single, "Breakfast in Bed", under her label Millbilly Music. She has also contributed vocals to video game soundtracks, including '' The End Is Nigh'' and '' Blade Strangers''.

Discography

Solo

Singles

References

External links

Official website

Siobhan Magnus
at ''

'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Magnus, Siobhan 1990 births 21st-century American singer-songwriters American women singer-songwriters American Idol participants American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters Barnstable High School alumni Living people People from Barnstable, Massachusetts Salem State University alumni Singer-songwriters from Massachusetts American blues singer-songwriters 21st-century American women singers