Lauren Alaina is the stage name of Lauren Alaina Kristine Suddeth, an award-winning American country singer and songwriter who rose to fame after appearing on American Idol. ∙ Alaina, who began singing at age three, won her first talent competition five years later, taking first prize at the Southern Stars Pageant. ∙ In 2011, she appeared on the tenth season of American Idol, finishing as the runner-up behind winner Scotty McCreery. ∙ Her first single, “Like My Mother Does,” reached No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2011. ∙ Produced by Bryan Gallimore (Faith Hill, Sugarland), her 2011 debut LP, Wildflower, hit No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. ∙ In 2012, she won New Artist of the Year at the American Country Awards. ∙ “What Ifs,” her 2017 duet with Kane Brown, topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.