Longtime “American Idol” fans were taken aback when season 1 runner-up Justin Guarini resurfaced 24 years after his iconic run.
While Guarini ultimately came in second place behind former “The Voice” coach Kelly Clarkson, he went on to have a successful Broadway career.
Guarini Today
Amid the 24th anniversary of the first season of “American Idol,” Guarini announced the release of his new book, “Center Stage Confidence.”
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Guarini appeared without his signature locks, and 24 years older than when fans first met the Georgia native.
“He looks totally different!!!” one fan commented on a clip shared to Instagram.
“Seriously🙌 would not have recognized him,” another responded.
“Good lord did he get even more handsome…and he always has been so charismatic….wishing him continued success and more tv appearances!” a third fan noted.
Another shocked fan wrote, “Wow, I didn’t realize that was him 👌.”
“How is that the same person?” yet another questioned.
“Omg I didn’t even recognize him without this famous curls! 😍” a longtime “Idol” fan wrote.
“How handsome! I didn’t even recognize him,” another added.
‘I Didn’t Lose’
Justin opened up about his time on the hit competition series, telling Entertainment Tonight that he and Clarkson relied on each other throughout the season.
“The two of us definitely did rely on each other a lot and thank goodness. I’m so glad. And yet we’re both competing against one another at the same time. And so it was a very unique experience and I’m just glad we had each other to get through,” he said. “When she won, I was like, that makes perfect sense. And I didn’t feel again like I’d lost.”
The Broadway star added, “I didn’t lose. Come on. I’m sitting here. Name somebody who came in second place from season 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Name the winners from 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. I don’t, I don’t know. They’re all wonderful people, I’m sure. But like Muhammad Ali says, ‘I don’t lose, I just win or I learn something.'”
Guarini is releasing a book about his experience to help others who aim to build confidence in front of a crowd.
“You probably remember me from ‘American Idol,'” he said in an announcement shared via Instagram. “30 million people watched my life change practically overnight. But, what you probably didn’t see was the box office flop, a battle with depression, or this moment,” he added alongside a clip of Tina Fey from “Saturday Night Live” during a “Weekend Update” segment talking about Guarini being dropped by his record label.
He continued, “Strangely enough, all that wasn’t the hardest part of my story. It was figuring out who I was when the applauses stopped.”
Guarini — who starred in “Once Upon a One More Time,” “In Transit” and “Wicked” on Broadway — is a father to two children, a keynote speaker, and a presentation coach.
“I discovered one thing I wish I had known at 23: Sometimes the thing that looks like your ending is actually your rehearsal for what comes next,” he continued. “That’s why I wrote ‘Center Stage Confidence.’ It’s the backstage story of what success really looks like and a playbook for showing up when your life puts you in the spotlight.”
