Ace Young
An American Idol alumnus who leveraged his television fame into a multifaceted career on Broadway and as a songwriter.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American singer, songwriter, and actor·Birthday: November 15·Generation X
Biography
Brett 'Ace' Young stepped into the national spotlight as a charismatic contestant on the fifth season of American Idol in 2006, where his soulful voice and rock-star looks made him a fan favorite. While he didn't win the competition, finishing in seventh place, the exposure launched his career beyond the pop charts. Young pivoted to the stage, making his Broadway debut in the 2009 revival of 'Hair', a role that showcased his theatrical chops. He further demonstrated his creative range by co-writing the song 'It's Not Over' for fellow Idol alum Chris Daughtry, which became a top-five hit. His personal and professional life intertwined when he married season-three Idol finalist Diana DeGarmo, with whom he has collaborated on musical projects, cementing his place in the extended Idol family as a persistent and adaptable performer.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ace was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ace Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Ace's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished in seventh place on the fifth season of American Idol, gaining national recognition.
- Co-wrote the hit single 'It's Not Over' for Daughtry, which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Made his Broadway debut in the 2009 revival of the rock musical 'Hair'.
- Married fellow American Idol alum Diana DeGarmo in 2013.
Did You Know?
He was a competitive gymnast for over a decade before pursuing music.
Young and his wife, Diana DeGarmo, competed as a team on the reality show 'The Amazing Race' in 2013.
He is an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and performed in the 'It Gets Better' Broadway concert.
“You have to create your own breaks after the spotlight fades.”
