William Hung knew he wasn't the best singer in America when he stepped in front of the American Idol judges in 2003, but he knew he had a chance to make his mark. Hung beat out 3,000 other wannabe Idols, but not in the traditional sense of being a great singer and getting his "ticket to Hollywood". Instead, his terribly bad audition caught the attention of millions of people and suddenly William Hung's failure turned into a huge windfall for him. William was able to parlay a one minute national TV clips into a top selling album, multiple TV appearances, concert performances in front of huge crowds & a became a piece of American pop culture synonomous with rejection. But there's more to his story, as we uncover what he's been up to in the 20 years since his Idol moment. He's taken on some surprising professions since.
About William Hung:
After his American Idol audition, William Hung’s rendition of “She Bangs” became famous for all the wrong reasons. Despite the harsh criticism he endured, William persevered—having gone on to attract a cult following, released three albums, and even performed live with Ricky Martin in Las Vegas.
A motivational speaker and entertainer, William is proof that the underdog can succeed when you rise above the haters and choose to be happy.
William has appeared on media outlets like FOX, ABC, CNN, and NBC and in such publications as Rolling Stone, TIME, and USA Today. He was a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Now, his mission is to help make other people’s dreams come true by using their voice.
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Host: Derek Spartz
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:23 The Original "She Bangs" Audition
01:35 Interview Starts
06:14 What Song He Almost Sang Instead
10:05 First Time He Saw Himself on TV
17:18 Performing with Ricky Martin
20:00 Jobs After Fame Wore Off
24:15 WIlliam Hung Sings A Song