Guarini wrote, co-arranged and recorded a benefit song released with H.H. [20][21] In It's a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play Guarini voiced George Bailey in a 2015 on-stage comedic production. Justin Guarini (born Justin Eldrin Bell; October 28, 1978)[1] is an American singer, songwriter and actor who in 2002 was the runner-up on the first season of American Idol. The Georgia-native singer ended up losing to pop songstress Kelly Clarkson, who now has several Grammy Awards to her name! It was really a difficult decision," Guarini told TheaterMania. Soon after, Guarini signed with American Idol's 19 Management and secured a record deal with RCA. ", "Drink Up! Jerry reportedly has eight children, including Justin.At Lenape Middle School, Justin impressed Bucks County Music Festival director Donald Dumpson - a professor at Westminster Choir College and composer who has worked with notables like Patti LaBelle and Boyz II Men - so thoroughly that he canceled the rest of the auditions. Justin Guarini is back. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) The Recap Group. The spot premiered during Monday nights College Football Playoff National Championship. He made his Broadway debut in 2010 in Women on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown. [9], Guarini became a part of the Broadway community with his 2010 Broadway debut as Carlos in a musical adaptation of Pedro Almodovar's film Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. So what has Justin Guarini been up to? In 2013, the singer actually sat down with Oprah, and revealed that his fame from American Idol may have helped his career, but it damaged his life. See Justin Guarini and Rose Hemingway Go Country in Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical", "Justin Guarini Joins the Muny Cast of Mamma Mia! But in 2009, he married his high school sweetheart Reina Capodici (per Bustle), and they are raising three kids outside Philadelphia, Pa. The runner-up from the 2002 debut season of American Idol he lost to Kelly Clarkson has reprised his role as Lil' Sweet in an odd series of Dr. Pepper commercials . Justin as Lil' Sweet in the Diet Dr. Pepper Commercials, Justin with American Idol season two runner-up Clay Aiken, Justin performs onstage at the Winter Gala at Lincoln Center at Alice Tully Hall on February 13, 2018, in New York City. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. [7], Guarini co-produced his second album Stranger Things Have Happened, independently released in December 2005 through his own production company, Justice Entertainment, Ltd.. March 27, 2015. He then asks if it is hot in the room or if it was just him. that at one point he and Kelly Clarkson's relationship did get romantic. and they went on to co-star in the critically panned (but undeniably fun) musical vacation flickFrom Justin to Kelly. . The door flings open and a spotlight shines on Lil' Sweet, played by American Idol alumnus Justin Guarini, who sings his arrival as the daughter runs off scared. Son, William Neko Bell Guarini was born April 26, 2011; Asher Orion Guarini was born February 25, 2013. Usually, he advertises the diet version of the drink, but the new ad is for the regular soda. Published. He also took on lead roles in numerous high school and college plays. The Voices Team Ariana Sings Together in Cute New Video, Selena Gomez Talks About Losing Touch with Wizards of Waverly Place Castmates, Everything to Know About The Voice New Coach Niall Horan, 10 Things Got Talent Didnt Tell You About Marcelito Pomoy. LIL' SWEET is a fictional miniature musician who finds his home in various Dr. Pepper advertisements. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. By Madeline Boardman. Guarini, best known known as the runner-up on American Idol 's debut season in 2002 when Kelly Clarkson took the first title, has since . [17] Guarini joined the Broadway production of Wicked, in the role of Fiyero from February 25 to December 14, 2014. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Prior to the American Idol Tour, he was the only contestant asked to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show, on which Oprah Winfrey told him, "Justin, you have it. Now in his 40s, Guarini has had roles in a number of Broadway musicals, including Wicked, Romeo and Juliet, and American Idiot (per Broadway World). In 2002, Justin's life changed forever when he turned down a role in The Lion King to audition for American Idol. He began singing with the Atlanta Boy Choir at the age of four. A Shakespeare Theatre musical that may be headed to Broadway", "Briga Heelan, Justin Guarini, and Aisha Jackson Will Star in Broadway's, "American Idol finale: After 10 years, the beat goes on", "BWW CD Reviews: Broadway Records' WHERE THE SKY ENDS: THE MUSIC OF MICHAEL MOTT Awakens Dreamers", "USATODAY.com Guarini to star in 'Good Vibrations', "Ask a Star: Justin Guarini of American Idiot | Videos", "Full Cast Announced for Justin Guarini-Led RENT at Surflight", "American Idiot's Justin Guarini Will Star in Media Theatre's Chicago", "Talking with Justin Guarini, starring in 'Ghost Brothers of Darkland County' | Radio & TV Talk", "Justin Guarini Will Star in Muny Production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", "Christian Camargo, Justin Guarini and Roslyn Ruff Join Cast of Broadway Revival of Romeo and Juliet - Playbill.com", "Christine Dwyer, Jenni Barber, Justin Guarini & More to Join Cast of WICKED in February", "Highlights From Paint Your Wagon With Keith Carradine, Alexandra Socha and Justin Guarini", "First Look at Keith Carradine, Alexandra Socha, and Justin Guarini in Paint Your Wagon", "Photo Call: First Look at Justin Guarini in Bucks County Playhouse Production of Company", "Justin Guarini, Rose Hemingway & More Will Star in MOONSHINE: THAT HEE HAW MUSICAL at Dallas Theater Center", "Justin Guarini Leads Cast of Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical", "Justin Guarini, Rachel Bay Jones, Michael Rupert, Sally Struthers Set for Reading of First Gentleman Musical", "Justin Guarini, Michele Ragusa and Euan Morton to Lead New Musical CAKE OFF at Bucks County Playhouse", "In Transit on Broadway: Justin Guarini joins a capella musical cast", "Read the Reviews for Britney Spears Jukebox Musical Once Upon a One More Time", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Justin_Guarini&oldid=1139771515, University of the Arts (Philadelphia) alumni, 21st-century African-American male singers, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 20:39. 2010present: Acting, hosting and performing, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, "Today's famous birthdays list for October 28, 2022 includes celebrities Julia Roberts, Matt Smith", "Atlanta Boy Choir to perform at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit | News", "Justin Guarini in world premiere of Stephen King musical", "Where's Justin Guarini These Days? Top 5 Most Exciting Diet Dr Pepper Lil Sweet Feat Justin Guarini Commercials 2016 BEST TV ADS COMPILATIONS 297 subscribers Subscribe 271 views 5 years ago It's cable reimagined No DVR. The judges were very impressed with his audition and couldn't believe he was still undiscovered. )Raised in central Bucks County, Pennsylvania, by mom Kathy Pepino Guarini and step dad Jerry Guarini, Justin was born in Columbus, Georgia, where his mom was an anchor for the local 'Action 9 News' on WTVM. Sadly, the film did not receive great ratings from critics. He went on to sign with 19 Management, landing a record deal with RCA. Oh, not to mention his role as that groovy Prince-esque "Lil Sweet" guy in the Diet Dr. Pepper commercials. The Idol alum continues to direct and produce musicals. Justin Guarini as Lil' Sweet croons to the man that his hard work deserves a sweet Diet Dr Pepper. Idol judge Simon Cowell praised Guarini's performance in the show's first season, at one early audition telling him "Justin, you know, occasionally you're very privileged when you do a competition like this to hear somebody undiscovered who has a voice like yours", with Guarini ultimately becoming the runner-up to winner Kelly Clarkson in September 2002. [citation needed], In 2021, Guarini starred as Prince Charming in the world premiere of the jukebox musical Once Upon a One More Time. He worked in New York nightclubs, and auditioned for New York Theatre before successfully auditioning for American Idol in April 2002. Jill ORourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like AGT, The Voice, and American Idol. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. RememberAmerican Idol Season 1, when an unknown, Texas-born singer named Kelly Clarkson rose to superstardom and had her "Moment Like This?" Justin guarini, who competed on american idol in 2002, plays the character and mascot of keurig dr pepper's lil' sweet. The following year, iTunes promoted an album for the commercial mascot with video clips, promotional pictures, and a Twitter page for the character. Justin and his wife Reina met in high school but the pair only started dating in the mid-2000s. Also, Who is Justin Guarini's wife? Since then, she has, of course, become a massive star, proving all it took at least back then was a killer voice, a dream, and an audition number. He's no lifeguard, but he presents her with an ice-cold Diet Dr Pepper that gives him the shivers and makes her swoon. But Broadway seems like it is not a detour for Guarini, but a destination. The late Nikki McKibbin, Justin, and Kelly at FOX-TVs American Idolin Los Angeles, Ca. In the ad, Lil Sweet defies gravity by sliding down the banister as he rescues two dads craving a cupcake, but fearful of the calories. Guarini made a name for himself in Season 1 of "American Idol." His high school and college theatre credits include the lead roles in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Little Prince, The Pirates of Penzance, The Taming of the Shrew, and Once on This Island. [28] Also in 2016, Guarini was cast in Broadway's new In Transit, the first a cappella musical with book, music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, James-Allen Ford, Russ Kaplan, and Sara Wordsworth.[29]. Lil Sweet comes to the rescue in the latest 30-second ad spot by bringing the zero-calorie beverage to a cupcake-filled birthday party. Idol judge Simon Cowell praised Guarini's performance in the show's first season, at one early audition telling him "Justin, you know, occasionally you're very privileged when you do a competition like this to hear somebody undiscovered who has a voice like yours", with Guarini ultimately becoming the runner-up to winner Kelly Clarkson in September 2002. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Paula Abdul Admits to Kicking Simon Cowell Under American Idol Desk, Singer Turns Four Chairs in The Voice Early Release Audition, Daniella Karagach Shares Friends Reactions to Finding Out About Her Pregnancy. Your email address will not be published. Despite not winning on "Idol," Guarini scored a record deal with RCA. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. "The Midnight Voices" was founded "to serenade their 'female friends' the night before high school graduation," but the group went on to burn a CD and take second at the 2000 Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival Mid-Atlantic Regional. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. He went on to sign with 19 Management, landing a record deal with RCA. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Dr. in 2016. View our online Press Pack. 6. He also played Prince Charming in the 2021 regional show, Once Upon a One More Time, the Britney Spears Jukebox Musical. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Justin Guarini has an estimated net worth of around $700,000. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. There he worked in nightclubs and auditioned for theater roles. Im not saying that 100% of National Championship Lil Sweet commercials lead to a #Bulldogs win, but. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. You can watch all Dr Pepper Lil Sweet commercials featuring Justin Guarini in one video. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. [18][19], Other stage work includes lead roles in regional productions of Rent, Chicago, Company and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Seriously, if Justin Guarini had looked and sounded like this back in Season 1, I totally would have voted for him. Teen Mom Cheyenne Floyd STUNS in tight white dress for over-the-top engagement photoshoot with fianc Zach Davis. They married a few months later in September 2009. In other news, Guarini recently appeared as Julio in a revival of Paint Your Wagon at New York City Center. returned in a new ad. Yes, That's Justin Guarini In That Diet Dr Pepper Commercial. He was also considering a contract offer from an independent record label, but the show's rules prohibited participants from having existing record contracts. Oh, not to mention his role as that groovy Prince-esque "Lil Sweet" guy in the Diet Dr. Pepper commercials. During that time, the singer also learned to play the guitar, piano, and banjo. Nick Ballard plays the role of a Dr. Pepper fan. Though perhaps not every moment post-Idol has been easy, Guarini is extremely proud of his former competitor Kelly Clarkson. No one knows where he keeps it, though, the soft drinks YouTube channel states. Beck Bennett (AT&T) - $250,000 Justin Guarini is back on the small screen, but he looks very different from his "American Idol" days. Born on October 28, 1978, in Columbus, Georgia, Justin was raised in the Philadelphia, PA, suburb of Doylestown. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Justin Guarini is best known for his time on season one of American Idol, He is now known as Little Sweet in the Dr. Pepper commercials, Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini on American Idol. American Idol season one runner-up Justin Guarini stars in a new ad campaign for Diet Dr Pepper. Justin guarini, who finished second to kelly clarkson . A middle school acquaintance was fellow choir member at the time, pop singer Pink.In 1996, Justin helped to form an a Capella group with school friends. One year later, Justin kept up with his public appearances by attending the grand opening of The American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios. His father, Eldrin Bell, is a former Georgia Chief of Police and is African American. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. The title track from his album Stranger Things Have Happened was also used in the documentary. Guarini performed on stage throughout high school and college and learned to play the piano, guitar, and banjo. [22], In 2015, he starred in the New York City Center Encores presentation Paint Your Wagon. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Justin isn't the only actor starring as a. Guarini takes on an alter ego named Lil Sweet in the commercial. He attended Central Bucks High School East. 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Hes also appeared on Broadway, making his debut in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown in 2010. Published February 19, 2019 Advertiser Diet Dr Pepper Advertiser Profiles Facebook, Twitter, YouTube . Justin Guarini is in a new Diet Dr. Pepper commercial. Kathy also anchored news programs in Philadelphia and Atlanta (CNN), where she met Justin's father, Eldrin Bell, who rose through the ranks of the Atlanta police department to become its commissioner.Justin was accepted into the Atlanta Boys Choir at four years old. While he may be no pop leading man, he has still become impressively successful. Since 2015, Guarini has been starring as Lil' Sweet in Diet Dr Pepper television commercials, and web marketing. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Deputy Director of News & Analytics, HuffPost. Multitalented entertainer Justin Guarini portrays him. Justin Guarini is married to wife Reina Capodici. "Lil' Sweet is BACK, y'all!" says the rapper. [10] Critics called Guarini's debut "surprisingly charming", "captivating" and "extremely likeable". The Midnight Voices CD can be purchased. Guarini told Entertainment Weekly in 2015 that his Lil Sweet persona is the kind of thing he does around the house all day every day, adding that he loves to make his wife and kids laugh. Fans of American Idol may recognize Lil' Sweet, the zazzy littlevery littlestar of Diet Dr. Pepper's new . But Broadway seems like it is not a detour for Guarini, but a destination. Their relationship did not last due to her career taking off. Is Lil' Sweet a tiny pop star. Guarini starred in the 2015 original musical "Moonshine: The Hee Haw Musical" premiering at the Dallas Theater Center on September 2 through October 11,[25][26][27] and Mamma Mia! . ". Lil known fact about Lil Sweet: He sings in the key of sweet and always carries a spare six pack of Diet Dr Pepper with him. But, now I knew I was onto something, and I wasn't letting go. Lil' Sweet is seemingly the mascot for Diet Dr. Pepper but sometimes shows in ads for the regular version of the soda. Brian Bosworth plays the role of a Fansville resident. Guarini finally made his Broadway debut in 2010, appearing in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Born on October 28, 1978, Guarini is a native of Georgia. Then in 2013, his wife gave birth to their second son, whom they named Asher. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Justin met his idol, Stevie Wonder, at Quincy Jones' birthday party held at Spago restaurant in LA on March 15, 2003.Justin has a large family-- he has nineteen brothers and sisters! The first Lil Sweet commercial debuted in February. He attended the 2016 Tony Awards, where he co-hosted backstage coverage of the live show. In 2011, he and Reina welcomed their first child together, a son named William Neko Bell Guarini. After taking a sip, the father invites Lil' Sweet into the house to . Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. co-star with her in the box-office bomb "From Justin to Kelly". Lil' Sweet is seemingly the mascot for Diet Dr. Pepper but sometimes shows in ads for the regular version of the soda. Real-Time Video Ad Creative Assessment. film did not receive great ratings from critics. In December 2003 Guarini was dropped from RCA Records.