Taryn Southern
Encyclopedia
Taryn Southern is an American singer, actress and comedian. She was part of American Idol season three
's Top 50. Southern gained national attention with her video Hot4Hill during the 2008 Presidential race. She later went on to star in and executive produce DirecTV
's first original series, Project My World
.
, and began landing starring roles in local theatrical productions by the time she was 10, and was co-hosting a local television show when she graduated from Wichita East High School in 2003.
In 2005 at the age of 20, Southern earned both a B.S. in Anthropology and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Miami
. In 2005, she also won the Miss University of Miami pageant. While in school she received a grant to travel to Peru to study the shamanic use of ayahuasca
among rainforest communities.
of American Idol
, in Los Angeles making it to Hollywood week and the Top 50.
On July 2, 2007, she released a YouTube
video called Hott4Hill
in support of the presidential campaign of U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton. The video, which she wrote and performed, shows her singing and dancing in a jokingly suggestive manner about her personal admiration of Clinton and how much she would like to see Clinton win the election.
In November 2008, Southern and her producing partner, Jessica Rose, launched Webutantes, a new media studio. Also in 2008, Southern wrote/produced her first comedic musical web series, Private High Musical, which was released across various media platforms.
In 2010, she had a recurring role in the 5th season of the CBS
comedy series Rules of Engagement
, as well as a small part in the movie Battle: Los Angeles
as a reporter.
Also in 2010, she released the first video, "Keep it in Your Pants," from her upcoming comedy album on YouTube. The song reached #20 on the iTunes comedy chart.
Southern currently hosts the pre-show for the US version of The X Factor.
American Idol (Season 3)
The third season of American Idol premiered on Monday, January 19, 2004 and continued until May 26, 2004. The third season was won by Fantasia Barrino, who defeated Diana DeGarmo by an approximate margin of 2% ; the vote total was the highest recorded vote total in the show's history until the...
's Top 50. Southern gained national attention with her video Hot4Hill during the 2008 Presidential race. She later went on to star in and executive produce DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
's first original series, Project My World
Project My World
Project Myworld is a reality television series that was broadcast on American satellite TV channel, The 101 Network, an exclusive service of DirecTV. The ten-part series premiered on October 16, 2006 and was shown on Monday nights....
.
Early Life
Southern grew up in Wichita, KansasWichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, and began landing starring roles in local theatrical productions by the time she was 10, and was co-hosting a local television show when she graduated from Wichita East High School in 2003.
In 2005 at the age of 20, Southern earned both a B.S. in Anthropology and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
. In 2005, she also won the Miss University of Miami pageant. While in school she received a grant to travel to Peru to study the shamanic use of ayahuasca
Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca is any of various psychoactive infusions or decoctions prepared from the Banisteriopsis spp. vine, usually mixed with the leaves of dimethyltryptamine-containing species of shrubs from the Psychotria genus...
among rainforest communities.
Career
In 2004, she auditioned for the third seasonAmerican Idol (Season 3)
The third season of American Idol premiered on Monday, January 19, 2004 and continued until May 26, 2004. The third season was won by Fantasia Barrino, who defeated Diana DeGarmo by an approximate margin of 2% ; the vote total was the highest recorded vote total in the show's history until the...
of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, in Los Angeles making it to Hollywood week and the Top 50.
On July 2, 2007, she released a YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
video called Hott4Hill
Hott4Hill
"Hott4Hill" is an internet viral music video, first posted on YouTube on July 2, 2007, that features a young woman singing of her love for Junior Senator of New York and 2008 U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. American singer and actress Taryn Southern wrote the song and performs...
in support of the presidential campaign of U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton. The video, which she wrote and performed, shows her singing and dancing in a jokingly suggestive manner about her personal admiration of Clinton and how much she would like to see Clinton win the election.
In November 2008, Southern and her producing partner, Jessica Rose, launched Webutantes, a new media studio. Also in 2008, Southern wrote/produced her first comedic musical web series, Private High Musical, which was released across various media platforms.
In 2010, she had a recurring role in the 5th season of the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
comedy series Rules of Engagement
Rules of Engagement (TV series)
Rules of Engagement is a sitcom that debuted on CBS on February 5, 2007, as a midseason replacement, immediately following Two and a Half Men, in the time slot that was occupied by now-cancelled The New Adventures of Old Christine...
, as well as a small part in the movie Battle: Los Angeles
Battle: Los Angeles
Battle: Los Angeles is a 2011 American military science fiction war film directed by Jonathan Liebesman, and starring Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Ramon Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, Ne-Yo and Michael Peña...
as a reporter.
Also in 2010, she released the first video, "Keep it in Your Pants," from her upcoming comedy album on YouTube. The song reached #20 on the iTunes comedy chart.
Southern currently hosts the pre-show for the US version of The X Factor.
Filmography
| |Year | |Title | |Role | | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 - 2007 | Project My World | Taryn | Nine episode documentary | ||||
| 2007 | Hot 4 Hill | Hot4Hill | Digital short featured on Fox, CNN, MSNBC and other news outlets | ||||
| 2007 - 2008 | The Heavy Show | Various characters | |||||
| 2008 | Senior Skip Day | Isha | movie | ||||
| 2008 | Sorority Forever Sorority Forever Sorority Forever is a web television series created and produced by web production company Big Fantastic, the creators of SamHas7Friends and Prom Queen. Film director McG is an executive producer of the show... |
Taryn Monaghan | 31 episodes | ||||
| 2008 | Private High Musical | Sandra Smith | In addition to starring also wrote and produced | ||||
| 2009 | Single Black Female | Jennifer | movie | ||||
| 2009 | Woke Up Dead Woke Up Dead Woke Up Dead is an American horror/comedy web series starring Jon Heder as a young man who awakes in a full bathtub after 'drowning' and has no heartbeat, prompting his friends to believe him to be a zombie. The show premiered on Sony Pictures Entertainment owned Crackle on October 5, 2009... |
Debbie | |||||
| 2010 | The Frankenstein Brothers The Frankenstein Brothers The Frankenstein Brothers is a 2010 independent romantic comedy that takes place in Denver, Colorado. The plot is centered around two orphan brothers, recently graduated from college, who inherit the Left Hand Brewing Company.- Plot :... |
Joy | movie | ||||
| 2010 | Pound of Flesh | Dyonesia Cosa | movie | ||||
| 2010 | Rules of Engagement Rules of Engagement (TV series) Rules of Engagement is a sitcom that debuted on CBS on February 5, 2007, as a midseason replacement, immediately following Two and a Half Men, in the time slot that was occupied by now-cancelled The New Adventures of Old Christine... |
Allison | 4 episodes | ||||
| 2010 | The Temp Life | Nancy Roder | 8 episodes | ||||
| 2010 | Battle Los Angeles | Reporter on beach | movie | ||||
| 2011 | ElfQuest: A Fan Imagining | Timmain | Digital short |