Justin Guarini

S1 · Runner-up

As of April 8, 2026

Justin Guarini works as a keynote speaker and coaches entrepreneurs on storytelling. His self-help book Center Stage Confidence (Entrepreneur Press) is listed for publication on October 6, 2026. His most recent Broadway role was Prince Charming in Once Upon a One More Time, which opened in June 2023.⁠[1][2][3][4]

Career

After the show

  1. June 10, 2003Released his self-titled debut album on RCA Records.⁠[5][9]
  2. December 12, 2005Self-released a second album, Stranger Things Have Happened, a set of jazz standards, through his own company Justice Entertainment.⁠[5]
  3. 2015Played the character Lil' Sweet in a Diet Dr Pepper advertising campaign by the agency Deutsch from 2015; the campaign launched with two ads.⁠[5][10]

Date not documented

  1. Signed a record deal with RCA soon after finishing as runner-up; MTV reported in December 2003 that RCA had dropped him after weak sales of his debut album.⁠[5][9]
  2. The album Justin Guarini peaked at No. 20 on the U.S. album chart.⁠[5]

Discography

TitleTypeYearLabelRIAA certificationU.S. sales
Justin Guarini⁠[5]Album2003RCA Records146,000⁠[5][11][12]May 23, 2011
Stranger Things Have Happened⁠[5]Album2005Justice Entertainment, Ltd.
Revolve⁠[5]EP2008
JG⁠[1][5]EP2016

Awards

Checked October 6, 2026; none found.

Other activity

  • Runs a speaking and coaching business for entrepreneurs; his website names him CEO of Warrior Artist Empire LLC.⁠[1][4]
  • 2003Co-starred with Kelly Clarkson in the feature film From Justin to Kelly, playing Justin Bell.⁠[5]
  • 2007Co-hosted the TV Guide Network programs Idol Wrap and Idol Tonight.⁠[5]
  • October 8, 2010Made his Broadway debut as Carlos in the original cast of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown at the Belasco Theatre.⁠[3][13]
  • March 1, 2011Joined Broadway's American Idiot as a replacement in the role of Will and stayed until the production closed.⁠[3][5][14]
  • September 19, 2013Played Paris in the original cast of the Broadway production of Romeo and Juliet, which opened September 19, 2013.⁠[3][5]
  • February 25, 2014Played Fiyero in Wicked on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre as a replacement cast member.⁠[3][15]
  • December 11, 2016Played Trent in the original Broadway cast of the a cappella musical In Transit at Circle in the Square.⁠[3][16]
  • June 22, 2023Played Prince Charming in the Britney Spears jukebox musical Once Upon a One More Time on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre, after creating the role at its 2021 Washington, D.C. premiere.⁠[3][17]
  • October 6, 2026Wrote the self-help book Center Stage Confidence: How to Own Your Story and Command Any Room, published by Entrepreneur Press.⁠[2]

Sources

17 sources

  1. Justin Guarini Has Major Life Update 24 Years After 'American Idol' — Yahoo Entertainment, published April 8, 2026. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (2)
    • career section: “Additionally, Guarini is a keynote speaker and speaker coach.”
    • music career paragraph: “as well as an acoustic EP in 2008 and another EP in 2016”
  2. Center Stage Confidence | Justin Guarini | 9781642011807 | NetGalley — NetGalley. Release database. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • book details: “Pub Date Oct 6 2026”
  3. Justin Guarini (Performer) - Playbill Vault — Playbill. Release database. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (6)
    • Roles list: “Once Upon A One More Time Opened June 22, 2023 as Prince Charming (Original)”
    • Roles list: “as Carlos (Original) Oct 08, 2010 - Jan 02, 2011”
    • Roles list (role; its Feb 28, 2011 arrival date differs from the start used, see notes): “as Will (Replacement) Arrived On Feb 28, 2011”
    • Roles list: “Romeo and Juliet Opened September 19, 2013 as Paris (Original)”
    • Roles list: “as Fiyero (Replacement) Feb 25, 2014 - Nov 23, 2014”
    • Roles list: “In Transit Opened December 11, 2016 as Trent (Original)”
  4. Justin Guarini official website — Warrior Artist LLC. Label or artist. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • home page header: “CEO: Warrior Artist Empire LLC”
  5. Justin Guarini — Wikipedia, updated September 28, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (8)
    • Lead sentence: “October 28, 1978”
    • Infobox, Born line (birth_date): {{birth date and age|1978|10|28}}
    • American Idol section; 2003-2004 section: “In December 2003 Guarini was dropped from RCA Records.”
    • 2005-2007 section: “independently released in December 2005 through his own production company, Justice Entertainment, Ltd.”
    • Discography, Studio albums table: “Released: June 10, 2003”
    • 2005-2007 section; Studio albums table: “independently released in December 2005 through his own production company, Justice Entertainment, Ltd.”
    • Other work paragraph: “Since 2015, Guarini has been starring as Lil' Sweet in Diet Dr Pepper television commercials, and web marketing.”
    • American Idol section; 2003-2004 section: “Soon after, Guarini signed with American Idol's 19 Management and secured a record deal with RCA.”
  6. American Idol season 1 — Wikipedia, updated September 21, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (2)
    • Elimination chart row Justin Guarini: Pl. 2, Runner-up in the Finale column (9/4); ratings table episode 'Season 1 Finale', September 4, 2002
    • Lead section: “Kelly Clarkson won the competition, defeating Justin Guarini, who finished in second place.”
  7. List of American Idol finalists — Wikipedia, updated June 10, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • Contestants table, row Justin Guarini: season 1, place finish Runner-up
  8. Kelly Clarkson Won 'American Idol' 23 Years Ago. See Her on TODAY at 20 — TODAY (NBC News), published September 9, 2025. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • Article text: “The former waitress-turned-pop star beat fellow contestant Justin Guarini in the final on Sept. 4”
  9. Where's Justin Guarini These Days? Not On RCA Records, Apparently — MTV News, published December 2, 2003. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (2)
    • paragraph 1: “Justin Guarini has reportedly been dropped from RCA Records”
    • paragraph 5: “Guarini released his album in June”
  10. Diet Dr Pepper's Lil' Sweet Is Back, and Sweet-Talking All Over Your House, in New Ads — Adweek, published January 25, 2016. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • paragraph 2: “plays Lil' Sweet in the campaign from Deutsch, which launched with two ads last year”
  11. List of American Idol alumni album sales in the United States — Wikipedia, updated September 21, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • Justin Guarini row, debut album: “Justin Guarini (2003) #20 — 146,000”
  12. American Idol finale: After 10 years, the beat goes on — The Washington Post, published May 23, 2011. News report. Cited by another source; not opened by our researchers.
  13. Justin Guarini Joins Broadway's Women on the Verge; Casting Complete — Playbill, published August 19, 2010. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • paragraphs 1-2: “Guarini has been cast as Carlos, the son of Iván and Lucía”
  14. Davey Havok, Justin Guarini, Van Hughes Will Be New Leads of Broadway's American Idiot — Playbill, published February 10, 2011. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • paragraphs 1-2; new leads begin March 1 at the St. James Theatre: “Justin Guarini to the role of Will”
  15. Christine Dwyer, Jenni Barber, Justin Guarini, Mary Testa and P.J. Benjamin Join Cast of Wicked Feb. 25 — Playbill, published February 25, 2014. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • paragraph 1: “is the latest actor to play Fiyero”
  16. Telly Leung, Justin Guarini Among Cast of A Cappella Broadway Musical In Transit — Playbill, published August 30, 2016. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • paragraph 1: “has announced a cast that includes Justin Guarini”
  17. Briga Heelan, Justin Guarini, and Aisha Jackson Will Star in Broadway's Once Upon a One More Time — Playbill, published February 16, 2023. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • paragraphs 1-2: “Reprising their roles from the 2021 world premiere at the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington, D.C.”

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