Frenchie Davis: Where are they now?

Born on May 7, 1979 in Lawndale, Calif., Franchelle “Frenchie” Davis is one person who probably won’t say “I want to be in pictures”- at least not the controversial variety that resulted in Davis’ expulsion from Season Two of “American Idol.” Years before her appearance on the Fox reality show, it is claimed that Davis had posed mostly nude and in lingerie on an adult website to earn money for college.

The Washington D.C. resident whose talent once drew raves and was a projected frontrunner by “American Idol” panelists in late 2002, retained a flair for the radical, appearing on the Broadway hit “Rent” in ensemble roles and as a soloist by the middle of 2003.

Through most of August 2007, Davis starred in the Hartford Stage production of “Mahalia, A Gospel Musical” in the role of Mahalia Jackson. After a West Coast tour as a member of the musical “Dreamgirls,” Davis continued her past role in “Rent” for two more seasons, supplementing her income with a weekly cabaret act at the “XL” bar in New York City.

Davis has expressed intent to return to Howard University, a private university in Washington, D.C., in the fall, to finish her undergraduate degree.

Not “Misbehavin’” now, Davis has joined with Ruben Studdard to star in the 30th anniversary national tour of the musical review “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” a revival of the 1978 Broadway show that ran for nearly 1,600 performances.

Still in the early stages of recording a debut CD, Davis’ work will be a combination of classics, Broadway and original songs.

One recently recorded track by DJ/Producer Tony Moran titled “You Are” will appear on the CD and possibly as a single release as well. A release date has not been announced.

Davis will undergo surgery to remove a vocal cord polyp - it has begun to cause fatigue and hoarseness after performances.

“I’ve talked to other singers who had surgery. One girl said her voice went up. Others’ voices got clearer. I’m just excited to see and a little nervous, of course. It’s still surgery,” Davis told The Associated Press in late March.

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