Former American Idol winner, platinum recording artist, TV Host and restrauntuer, Taylor Hicks, who (along with INSP COO Dale Ardizone) accepted the "Best Reality Series" win on behalf of INSP for "State Plate" at the Cynopsis TV Awards in NY, as INSP announces 2nd Season for "State Plate."

In addition to currently touring the US (schedule below), his duties as host of "State Plate" (episode list below) will continue running weekly (Friday) on the INSP Network (Episiode link) as it has been picked up for a new season. Also, Taylor's theme song for The Paul Finebaum Show just recently premiered on ESPN. Taylor is now in the studio recording new music for a new single to be released in early 2017 and a new Album to be released later in 2017.

STATE PLATE states for 1st season include (2nd Season TBA): Season 1 episodes of "State Plate" will feature culinary treasures from California, Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maine, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.

PERFORMANCE TOUR DATES:

Feb 3 - Kalamazoo, MI / Bellâ™ Cafe

Feb 4 - Kent, OH / Kent Stage

Feb 14 - Sheridan, WY / WYO Theater

Feb 16 - Seattle, WA / Benaroya Hall

Feb 17 - Spokane, WA / The Flour Mill

Mar 30 - Orlando, FL / Private Event

Mar 31 - Orlando, FL / Private Event

Apr 6 - Wilkesboro, NC / Community Center

Apr 7 - Charlotte, NC / Neighborhood Theater

Apr 8 - Atlanta, GA / City Winery

Apr 12 - Milwaukee, WI / Shank Hall

Apr 13 - Chicago, IL / City Winery

Apr 22 - Jackpot, NV / Cactus Petes Casino

 


 

Family Entertainment Network INSP Announces Season 2 of Original Series State Plate
Taylor Hicks Will Continue as Host

(Indian Land, SC) - INSP, the recognized leader in family entertainment, has announced an order for a 2nd season of its original series, State Plate.  Production will begin this spring  with a premiere of the new episodes scheduled for late summer.  The announcement was made by Doug Butts, SVP of Programming for INSP.

 “In 2016, State Plate celebrated the unique food traditions of 13 different states,” said Butts.  “We have been extremely pleased with the way our audience has responded.  Ratings  continue to exceed our expectations, and viewer engagement has been strong.  Now that a second season has been greenlit, we will add programs featuring additional states to the  series library.  Our goal, eventually, is to feature every state in the U.S.!”

Taylor Hicks returns as host. “Taylor's wide popularity, experience as a restaurateur and down-home charm made him an ideal host for this series,” said Butts.  “Building on the rapport  he developed with audiences in season one, Taylor once again will take viewers on a culinary tour of each state featured and 'assemble' a plate filled with the food most associated with  each state. In the process, he uncovers the customs and cultural insights behind each state's unique food traditions.  It's a heaping helping of America's most beloved cuisine, rich in  history, folklore, and flavor.”

State Plate is produced by RIVR Media.  The series originally  premiered on INSP in October 2016.  

About INSP

INSP is available nationwide to more than 83M households via Dish Network (channel 259), DirecTV (channel 364), Verizon FiOS (channel 286), AT&T U-verse (channel 564) and more than 2,800 cable systems.  Click here to find INSP in your area. For quality dramas, positive entertainment and inspiring stories, celebrating the American spirit and honoring timeless traditional values, it's INSP.

About RIVR Media

RIVR Media is an American-based TV production company, specializing in reality, documentary and digital programming. RIVR has produced over 2000 shows for 21 cable networks including such series as Renovation Realities, Escaping Polygamy, Trading Spaces, Whale Wars, and  Fat Guys in the Woods, to name a few.

 


Taylor Hicks - Bio In Brief

Taylor Hicks launched his career as one of the most popular AMERICAN IDOL winners of all time, going on to prove himself a multi-faceted powerhouse, dominating in music, on Broadway, as an author, entrepreneur and actor.

From the start, Hicks' material on the mega-hit show set him apart, with a unique take on Southern soul, R&B, country and blues. 64 million votes were cast when Hicks won. Over 37 million Americans- 200 million viewers worldwide, tuned in to crown Hicks the Season 5 winner of AMERICAN IDOL, making it one of the most-watched TV events of the last decade.

Hicks' star continued to rise after he stepped off of the IDOL stage. Less than three weeks later, his debut single, “Do I Make You Proud,” entered at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100, Pop 100 and Single Sales Charts. People magazine named him “Hottest Bachelor of the Year”.

His self-titled album (Arista) debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and was quickly certified RIAA Platinum. In 2007, Hicks penned a best-selling autobiography, “Heart Full of Soul” (Random House). He is the first male IDOL winner featured on a Grammy Award-winning album, Jimmy Fallon's “Blow Your Pants Off,”- 2013's Grammy for Best Comedy Album.

On Broadway, Hicks starred in the hit musical, GREASE, as Teen Angel, subsequently joining the 18-month national tour.

In 2012, he began his residency at Bally's Las Vegas. As a testament to his musical talent and showmanship, Hicks received a year-long extension through 2013 at a larger venue, Paris Las Vegas, making him the first Idol winner in history to secure a long-term residency in Vegas. He rapidly evolved into one of the most popular acts in the city.

It was during this time he returned to TV as an actor, guest-starring on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

He has performed with artists such as Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson, Gladys Knight, Earth Wind and Fire, The Allman Brothers and more.

Hicks had music on his mind from childhood. As a young adult, he was a fixture in the Southeast music scene, performing with stars like James Brown, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, Robert Randolph, Keb' Mo' and Widespread Panic. He released the independent albums “In Your Time” and “Under the Radar.” Later, they were compiled and released by Vanguard Records as “Early Works.”

Hicks applied his entrepreneurial nature to food and opened Saw's BBQ and Juke Joint, a BBQ restaurant and live music venue, in his hometown of Birmingham, AL. Saw's has earned acco-lades in 'Best of BBQ' lists from NY Times Magazine, Men's Journal, GQ and more.

Hicks recently joined the star-studded Idol series finale send-off. In true Hicks fashion, he is plowing ahead full steam. Currently he is touring the U.S., writing his next album and filming for his latest venture in television. He will star in his own show as the host of State Plate, a new food and travel series on INSP, premiering this fall.

TAYLORHICKS.COM

For interviews, press, high res photos and updated biography please send an email to harlan@bhbpr.com or call 626.296.3757