LaKisha Ann Jones[1] (born January 13, 1980) placed fourth on the sixth sea… Read Full Bio ↴LaKisha Ann Jones[1] (born January 13, 1980) placed fourth on the sixth season of American Idol.

Jones was born at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan, to a teacher at the Flint Foundation Academy, and was raised by her grandmother, Ruth Jefferson Morris.

An only child, Jones is a Baptist who began singing at the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church at age five.[1] She was formally trained in classical music, although her favorite genre is gospel music. Jones always dreamed of becoming a singer. She was home schooled in Flint, then attended Flint Central High School (now Flint Central Commencement Academy), where, in one of her earliest performances, she appeared in a play called Lead Poisoning. While in high school, Jones performed with one of the groups in the choral department: the Madrigal Singers. Jones graduated in 1998 and attended the University of Michigan-Flint, majoring in music. During college, she performed in the play Godspell. Jones stated in her Idol interview that Flint, Michigan was her home for the first 20 years of her life, and although she had briefly moved to Fort Meade, Maryland, she is now a Flint, Michigan resident again.

After she graduated college, Jones moved to Houston, Texas, where she lived for six years. One of her earliest jobs in Houston was that of a secretary at Abundant Life Cathedral, a church with 7,000 parishioners. Prior to working at the church, Jones sang in the 70-member choir. The choir has produced well-known gospel singer Yolanda Adams, among others. In 2006 , Jones moved to Fort Meade, Maryland, in order to be closer to her cousins and other relatives. At that time, Jones obtained a job as a bank teller at Provident Bank in Millersville, Maryland, which she gave up when she moved to Hollywood to compete in American Idol.

Jones was the 1997 winner of Flint's now defunct supershow, and while living in Houston, she took second place in the 2005 Gimme the Mic competition.

American Idol

[edit] American Idol performances
Week # Song Choice Original Artist Result
Top 24 "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" Jennifer Holliday Safe
Top 20 "Midnight Train to Georgia" Gladys Knight & the Pips Safe
Top 16 "I Have Nothing" Whitney Houston Safe
Top 12 "God Bless the Child" Billie Holliday Safe
Top 11 "Diamonds Are Forever" Shirley Bassey Safe
Top 10 "Last Dance" Donna Summer Safe
Top 9 "Stormy Weather" First performed by Ethel Waters, popularized by Lena Horne Safe
Top 3
Top 8 "Conga" Gloria Estefan Safe
Top 7 "Jesus, Take the Wheel" Carrie Underwood Bottom 2
Top 6 "I Believe" Fantasia Barrino Safe
Non-Elimination Week
Top 6 "This Ain't a Love Song" Bon Jovi Safe
Top 4 "Stayin' Alive"
"Run to Me" Bee Gees
Bee Gees Eliminated

[edit] Audition

Jones auditioned singing "Think" by Aretha Franklin. The judges were impressed with her powerful vocal and performance, and Simon noted that he "loved this girl". LaKisha was shown emotionally embracing her daughter after being sent into the next round. In her farewell montage on the episode of her elimination it was shown that she also sang "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" during her audition. She also performed Stevie Wonder's "Until You Come Back To Me" during one of the Hollywood audition rounds.

Semi-Finals

Top 24: And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
Top 20: Midnight Train to Georgia
Top 16: I Have Nothing

Jones received positive reviews for all three of her performances. During her first performance of the smash Dreamgirls hit, Simon went as far to tell her, "I'm very tempted to tell 23 other people to book their plane tickets home."

On March 8, 2007, Jones became a finalist of the sixth season of American Idol.

Finals

* Week 1 - 13 March 2007 with special guest Diana Ross, Jones sang God Bless The Child and received rave reviews from the judges praising her vocal control throughout the performance.

* Week 2 - 20 March 2007 with special guest Lulu, Jones performed Diamonds Are Forever. She received her first mixed review from Randy and Simon. Simon noted that although she was good vocally, she sounded like she was 50 years older. Jones replied that if she sounded this good 50 years from now, she'd be all set.

* Week 3 - 27 March 2007 with special guest Gwen Stefani, Jones performed Last Dance by Donna Summer. She received positive reviews from the judges, who especially liked the fact that she sang an upbeat song compared to her usual ballads.

* Week 4 - 3 April 2007 with special guest Tony Bennett, Jones sang "Stormy Weather", and once again received positive reviews from all judges. She was one of the top 3 vote-getters, along with Melinda Doolittle and Jordin Sparks.

* Week 5 - 10 April 2007 with special guest Jennifer Lopez, Jones sang Conga by Gloria Estefan. Although she "wowed" Randy with her nice runs and by "coming out of her shy box," Paula and Simon felt it was a "safe" performance.

* Week 6 - 17 April 2007 with special guest Martina McBride, Jones sang Carrie Underwood's hit Jesus, Take the Wheel, for which she received generally negative reviews. Randy wanted her to make it more of her own, and Paula agreed. Simon felt that she didn't go with the song, since country music was more of an unfamiliar territory to her.

* Week 7 - 24 April 2007 during the Idol Gives Back special, Jones performed season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino's hit I Believe, but once again received mixed reviews. Randy noted that she sounded good vocally, and Paula preferred Barrino's version. When Simon began giving a somewhat negative critique, the audience interrupted him several times and made it difficult to finish.

* Week 8 - 1 May 2007 with special guest Bon Jovi, Jones performed This Ain't a Love Song by Bon Jovi. She received ultimate praise from the judges. Randy noted that "LaKisha was back." After the performance, when Simon even said he wanted to kiss her, Ryan Seacrest prompted him to do so, which he did. He then told LaKisha she had "nice lips" and that he "loved them."

* Week 9 - 8 May 2007 with special guest Barry Gibb, Jones performed Stayin' Alive and Run to Me. She received mixed reviews from the judges. During the first performance, the judges felt she did not need to embellish the songs with any runs and that she could have kept the melodies. Simon noted there was "no kiss tonight." Her second performance was better received. All three judges noted that it was good, however Simon still felt that she and Blake Lewis were vulnerable. She was eliminated on May 9, 2007.

Jones performed at the American Idol 2007 finale, along with the top 6 girls and Gladys Knight. During her elimination she said " I'm glad I auditioned at American Idol. I'm glad people believed in me enough to think that I could be here."
Post-American Idol

After being voted off on American Idol, Jones plans to get a quick start on her career. She is already scheduled to tour with the Top 10 Idols on the Idols tour. Jones says that she will also be focusing on two goals: a record contract and a new home, which is likely to be in Houston, Texas.[2]

Performed the Star-Spangled Banner at Comerica Park before the Detroit Tigers game on June 8, 2007 versus the New York Mets.

LaKisha also had two homecoming events. The first at the Abundant Life Cathedral Church in Houston, Texas (Houston was her home from 2000 to 2006) on May 30th, 2007. This date was also declared 'LaKisha Jones Day' in Houston by Mayor Bill White.

The other homecoming was at Atwood Stadium, Flint, Michigan, where LaKisha was born and raised and where most of her family still resides, on June 9, 2007. It was at this ceremony that she received a $6,000 check and six-month free lease on a new Buick LaCrosse. She also received a Flint watch, personalized tree ornaments from Bronner's and a card signed by 300 fans.

June 10, 2007 was declared to be 'LaKisha Jones Day' in Michigan by Gov. Jennifer Granholm at Michigan State Capitol, Lansing.

In an interview in Toronto, LaKisha revealed that there are deals on the table and expressed her wish to record either a Soul album or an Inspirational Gospel album or maybe both. She also said that she may do some Broadway.

I Believe
LaKisha Jones Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Have you ever reached a rainbow's end?
And Did you find your pot of gold?
Ever catch a shooting star?
Tell me how high did you soar?
Ever felt like you were dreaming,
Just to find that you're awake?
And the magic that surronds you,
Can lift you up, and guide you on your way.

I can see it in the stars across the sky.
Dreamt a hundred thousand dreams before
Now I finally realize.
You see I've waited all my life for this moment to arrive,
And finally,
I believe

When you look out in the distance
You see it never was that far
ohh no Heaven knows your existance
and wants you to be everything you are
ooh theres a time for every soul to fly
its in the eyes of every child
its the hope the love to save the world and ohhh we should never let it go

chorus

(Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah)
I believe in the impossible,
If I reach deep within my heart (Yeah)
Overcome many obstacles,
Won't let this dream just fall apart
You see I strive to be the very best,
Shine my light for all to see
Cause anything is possible,
When you believe ( I Can see it in the stars across the sky)
Yeah, yeah (Dreamt a hundred thousand dreams before)
Now I finally realize
You see I've waited all my life for this moment to arrive
And finally
I believe
ohhhhhhh yeah
I believe
Oooooh Yeah Yeah
(Love keeps lifting me higher)
I believe in love
(Love keeps lifting me higher)
higher higher higher higher

(Love keeps lifting me higher)
yeah-hea yeah-hea hea hea hea yeah
(Love keeps lifting me higher)
Love keeps lifting, love keeps lifting me higher
(Love keeps lifting me higher)
You oughtta try it for yourself
lifting me higher yeah yeah
(love keeps liftin me higher)
i believe i believe in love
(love keeps lifting me higher)
love yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
(love keeps lifting me higher)

higher higher higher higher higher

(love keeps liftin me higher)
love keeps liftin love keeps lifting me higher

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I Believe" by LaKisha Jones convey a message of hope, resilience, and belief in oneself. The song encourages listeners to pursue their dreams and overcome obstacles, emphasizing the power of belief in achieving the impossible.

The first paragraph begins by asking if the listener has ever reached a rainbow's end and found their pot of gold. These lines symbolize the attainment of one's greatest desires and the realization of one's dreams. It then asks if they have caught a shooting star and describes the feeling of soaring high. This imagery signifies the feeling of accomplishing something extraordinary and the joy that comes with it. The lyrics further describe the sensation of dreaming while awake, highlighting the magic that surrounds us and can guide us.

The second paragraph suggests that when we look beyond what seems distant, we realize that it was never too far. It emphasizes that heaven acknowledges our existence and wants us to embrace our true selves. The lines about the eyes of every child represent the hope and potential in each individual. The lyrics urge us not to let go of this hope and love, as it has the power to make a positive impact on the world.

The chorus reinforces the message of believing in the impossible. It states that if we delve deep within our hearts and overcome obstacles, we won't let our dreams fall apart. The persona strives to be the best version of themselves and shine their light for all to see. The lyrics convey a sense of determination and the belief that anything is possible when one holds steadfast to their dreams.

The final part of the song highlights the power of love in lifting us higher. It suggests that love can inspire and propel us to accomplish great things. The repetitive lines emphasize the uplifting nature of love and encourage the listener to experience it for themselves. The lyrics conclude by reaffirming the belief in love and its ability to elevate us to new heights.

Overall, "I Believe" encourages listeners to hold onto their dreams, believe in themselves, and embrace the power of love to overcome obstacles and achieve the impossible. It serves as a reminder that hope and determination can lead to a brighter and more fulfilling future.

Line by Line Meaning

Have you ever reached a rainbow's end?
Have you ever achieved a goal that seemed almost impossible?

And Did you find your pot of gold?
And did you find the ultimate reward or success?

Ever catch a shooting star?
Have you ever experienced a rare and extraordinary opportunity?

Tell me how high did you soar?
Tell me about your greatest achievements and how far you have reached.

Ever felt like you were dreaming,
Have you ever felt like you were living in a fantasy?

Just to find that you're awake?
Only to realize that it was actually a reality?

And the magic that surronds you,
And the enchantment and wonder that surrounds your life,

Can lift you up, and guide you on your way.
Can uplift your spirits and show you the path to follow.

I can see it in the stars across the sky.
I can perceive it in the essence of the universe.

Dreamt a hundred thousand dreams before
I have dreamed countless dreams in the past

Now I finally realize.
Now I finally comprehend.

You see I've waited all my life for this moment to arrive,
You see, I have patiently waited for this significant moment to come into my life,

And finally,
And at last,

I believe
I have faith and trust in what is possible.

When you look out in the distance
When you gaze into the future

You see it never was that far
You realize that your dreams were always within reach

ohh no Heaven knows your existence
Oh, heaven recognizes your presence

and wants you to be everything you are
And desires for you to embrace your true self

ooh theres a time for every soul to fly
Oh, there is a moment for every individual to soar

its in the eyes of every child
It is evident in the innocence and wonder of every child

its the hope the love to save the world and ohhh we should never let it go
It embodies the hope and love that can bring salvation to the world, and we should always hold on to it

(Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah)
(Expressing excitement and affirmation)

I believe in the impossible,
I have faith in what seems unattainable

If I reach deep within my heart (Yeah)
If I connect with the deepest emotions in my heart (Expressing determination)

Overcome many obstacles,
Conquer numerous challenges

Won't let this dream just fall apart
I refuse to let this dream disintegrate

You see I strive to be the very best,
You see, I endeavor to be the utmost in excellence

Shine my light for all to see
Radiate my brilliance for everyone to witness

Cause anything is possible,
Because everything is within the realm of possibility

When you believe (I Can see it in the stars across the sky)
When you have faith (I can perceive it in the essence of the universe)

Now I finally realize
Now I finally comprehend

You see I've waited all my life for this moment to arrive
You see, I have patiently waited for this significant moment to come into my life

And finally
And at last

I believe
I have faith and trust in what is possible

ohhhhhhh yeah
(Expressing satisfaction and delight)

I believe
I have faith and trust in what is possible

Oooooh Yeah Yeah
(Expressing excitement and agreement)