Although Cook played sports, primarily baseball throughout his high school years, music was the main focus of his life. But after an incident, he started focusing more on his musical pursuits. Cook pursued his study at the University of Central Missouri.
He first applied there for a theater scholarship. After two semesters, he made the decision to switch to graphic design. In 2006, he graduated from the college with a degree in graphic design and then left. Cook spent all four years of his college career as a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
Cook bravely chose to go to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to pursue a career in music after graduating.
He made the decision to wait till he was 26 years old before beginning a successful musical career. Cook originally had no plans to participate in American Idol.
He intended to support his younger brother at auditions in Omaha, Nebraska, but he caught the attention of a show producer and decided to apply for the part.
Cook stunned the judges with his rendition of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer.” Throughout the competition, he showcased his talent by playing electric and acoustic guitars and singing along to songs like Bryan Adams’ “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” and “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain.
What happened to David Cook after American Idol?
Following his victory on American Idol, he released his debut single, “The Time of My Life,” which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100. The song sold over 1.4 million copies and was given a platinum certification by the RIAA.