#86 Anthony Fedorov

Next on my American Idol finalist countdown is my number 86 American Idol finalist Anthony Fedorov. He got fourth place on American Idol season 4. He hails from Trevose, Pennsylvania. He is well known as a balladeer, and the judges view them as his best style.

Anthony Vladimirovich "Anthony" Fedorov (Ukranian: Анатолій Володимирович Федоров) was born on May 4, 1985, in Yalta, Ukraine, a city in Crimea in southern Ukraine, on the north coast of the Black Sea and located on the site of an ancient Greek colony. His family relocated to Trevose, Pennsylvania, in 1994. He faced tracheotomy at toddlerhood due to a birth defect in his windpipe, from which a scar is still visible. Despite skepticism that he would ever have the ability to speak again, he perservered and began to sing at an early age, and he is a tenor and pianist. He is a member of the Neshaminy High School class of 2003. He attended Bucks County Community College, a two-year community college located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia and founded in 1964. He speaks Russian and English. He can sing in English, Russian, Spanish, and Italian.

Fedorov resided in Trevose, Pennsylvania, at the time of his stint on American Idol. He auditioned for American Idol season 4 in Cleveland, Ohio, with the song "Angel" by Jon Secada. He performed "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" by Diana Ross, which would later be performed during that season by Vonzell Solomon, and reprised "Angel" by Jon Secada during the Hollywood Round. On top 24 week, Fedorov performed "Hold On the Nights" by Richard Marx. On top 20 week, he performed "I Want to Know What Love Is" by the British-American rock sextet called Foreigner. On top 16 week, he performed "I've Got You" by Marc Anthony. On top 12 week, he performed "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" by Neil Sedaka. On top 11 week, he performed "I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)" by Aretha Franklin and George Michael. On top 10 week, he performed "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" by Elton John. On top 9 week, he performed "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" by The Sound of Music. On top 8 week, he performed "Every Time You Go Away" by Paul Young. On top 7 week, he performed "Don't Take Away the Music" by Tavares. On top 6 week, he performed "I Surrender" by Celine Dion. On top 5 week, he performed "Poison Ivy" by The Coasters and "Incomplete" by Backstreet Boys. On May 11, 2005, Fedorov was eliminated from the show after performing "I'm Already There" by Lonestar and "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes.  It is said by many that his rendition of "If You Don't Know Me By Now" was one of his top performances, having been on-key through the entire song and praised by the judges. It was viewed as one of his most accomplished performances, along with his top 8 and top 6 performances.

Two days after Fedorov was eliminated from the show, his brother was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma. Following the show, rumors of a relationship between Fedorov and the season's winner Carrie Underwood dominated discussion of the season. The rumors were sparked by Underwood's reaction to Fedorov's departure, when she sobbed openly and was seen on-screen saying "I love you" to him.  Fedorov and Underwood denied the rumors, saying that they had a "brother–sister" relationship. They remained very close for some time after American Idol, with Fedorov accompanying Underwood to the CMA Awards on November 6, 2006. She also visited him on the set of The Fantasticks during his run on that show.

In June 2006, Fedorov finished in second place as a contestant on a special Reality TV edition of NBC's Fear Factor, which is scheduled to make a comeback in December 2011, alongside American Idol season 2 finalist Carmen Rasmusen. He also appeared in four episodes of MTV's talent show Little Talent Show — Triple Threat, which aired on the September 26, 2006, a few days after his brother Denis died of Ewing's sarcoma.

Fedorov now resides in New York City. In April 2007, he toured American Air Force bases in Europe, judging the Military Idol contest and performing.  He has since become a national spokesperson for the Sarcoma Foundation of America and, in 2008, was appointed to the SFA Board of Directors. He has been performing at the SFA Annual Gala every year since 2007. He performed "The National Anthem" for the New York Knicks, the Oakland Raiders, the Seattle Mariners, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He performed in the US tour of the stage production Simply Ballroom, touring across the United States March through April 2008. Fedorov will reprise the role of the Prince in the second annual production of Cinderella in Nashville on April 15, 2011.

Fedorov's first record, Never Over, is scheduled for release in July 2011. The initial release is going to be an EP with six original songs, written or co-written by Fedorov. His single, which is called "You’re Perfect" is scheduled for release on June 29, 2011. He said "When people hear it they won’t expect to hear what they are going to hear. What people remember me doing on American Idol was ballads, but it has been 6 years and my voice has gotten deeper and has developed a lot of color and a lot of strength. I am really excited to introduce this part of myself. I would say my journey begins on June 29th when we release the single. My record will be released sometime in July, but we will start with the single first. I am really excited about it all."

Next up on my American Idol finalist countdown is my number 85 American Idol finalist. He was saved by the judges on American Idol season 10.