American Idol Contestant is 'Already a Winner' to Stuttering Community

Click here: Singing and Stuttering: What We Know

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Jan. 18, 2013) — Stuttering Foundation president Jane Fraser had the following comment about Thursday's American Idol show featuring Lazaro Arbos, a contestant who stutters:

"The Stuttering Foundation is jumping for joy after seeing Lazaro Arbos successfully move on to the Hollywood round! For his courage to speak and perform on one of the most-watched shows on television in America, Lazaro Arbos is already a winner to the stuttering community. His participation on American Idol is an inspiration to so many and provides us with yet another wonderful opportunity to educate the public about stuttering. It is very common for people who stutter to be able to sing fluently and beautifully. B.B. King, Carly Simon, Bill Withers and Nancy Wilson are among the most famous singers who stutter. All have been prominently featured in our Famous People Who Stutter brochure and poster which can be viewed on our website at www.StutteringHelp.org. Lazaro is in great company and we wish him great success throughout his singing career!"

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Dave Taylor

Dave Taylor has been on the Stuttering Foundation's list of Famous People Who Stutter for many years, but probably few people know all of the unique accomplishments of this former hockey great who was born on December 4, 1955, in Levack, Ontario.

Carly Simon

Carly Simon began stuttering severely when she was eight years old.

Bruce Willis

While the world knows Bruce Willis as an A-list actor, few know that he struggled with stuttering throughout his first 20 years.

Walter Bruce Willis was born in 1955 in West Germany to his German mother, Marlene, and his American GI father, David Willis. The family settled in David’s hometown of Penns Grove, New Jersey in 1957, and the couple has three other children.

Alan Rabinowitz

Alan Rabinowitz, Ph.D., who passed away in 2018, was an explorer, wildlife conservationist, and author. He established the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve in northern Myanmar, which is about the size of the state of Vermont.

His love for animals began when he was very young.

Darren Sproles

Darren Sproles, a former player for The Philadelphia Eagles, the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers, made history in 2007 when he became the first player in NFL history to return a kickoff and a punt for his first two NFL touchdowns in the same game. In 2021, he was selected to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.