You've probably heard of her by now. She won the sixth season of the most watched reality show in the nation, American Idol. She's performed on every morning and late night show that's out there, and, most recently, was given the privilege to sing the national anthem in her hometown of Glendale, AZ, at Super Bowl XLII, which was watched by nearly 100 million viewers. Her name is Jordin Sparks, and if you haven't heard any of her music yet, that could soon change.

Jordin Sparks isn't by any means a newcomer to the music industry. She grew up performing at various Christian events and showcases. Her first huge step, however, came back in 2004 at the age of 14 when Jordin clinched the title of the winner of GMA's Music in the Rockies competition. This win couldn't have meant more, as it opened the doors to many more opportunities. Shortly before Music in the Rockies, Jordin had released her own 5 track EP (titled For Now), and that became a key factor to one of Christian music's greatest icons, Michael W. Smith, asking Jordin to tour with him twice. You're probably starting to see a pattern. One thing led to the next for Jordin, and that's where American Idol entered the picture.

From her very first live performance on American Idol, everyone could see the talent. Jordin easily won the national audience over with her powerful vocals, smile, confidence, and her humble, Christ-like attitude. Time flew by, and before she knew it, she was performing on the show's grand finale, singing her first single, "This Is My Now," written by none other than Scott Krippayne, who has written hits for huge Christian artists that include Avalon and Jaci Velasquez.

Then came November 2007, the time for Jordin to debut her first album as a signed artist. The first single, "Tattoo," had already been gaining steady airplay at Top 40 radio for several months, but both the mainstream and Christian markets were anxiously waiting to hear the entire record. Mainstream outlets were crossing their fingers in hopes that the album wouldn't be too "preachy," as they were well aware of her solid Christian roots. On the other hand, the Christian market was praying that her Idol experience hadn't forced her to desert her values to please the eagerly waiting mainstream crowd. But she satisfied both, and her current ongoing success is true evidence of that.

Jordin's self-titled debut was quite the piece of work. The album was a fresh mix of pop and R&B sounds with quite a bit of faith. Almost every song, in some way or another, instills core Christian values. "God Loves Ugly" openly praises an accepting, loving, and non-judgmental God, while others such as the extremely catchy "Tattoo" and "Next to You" encourage solid, faithful relationships. A bonus track, unfortunately available for only a limited time at some stores, titled "Worth the Wait," takes a stand for purity until marriage.

So there you have it. Jordin Sparks is a prime example of God's presence in the mainstream market. One thing's for sure--the combination of Jordin's talent and her strong faith ensure her a spot to witness in the mainstream for many, many years to come.