RUBEN STUDDARD IS BACK WITH NEW VIDEO - TOGETHER

Second season winner of American Idol and Grammy nominated singer Ruben Studdard is back with a new single, new video and soon a new album! Ruben is the only African-American male to win the American Idol competition. In late 2007 Ruben was dropped from J Records but he was eventually picked up by Hickory Records.

Studdard tells Billboard.com of the new Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis produced disc that he "just wanted to do the music the fans always ask me for. Ever since I won 'American Idol,' people have always been saying they love the way I sing ballads and would love to have me do an album of love songs. I've been in the music business awhile now. I've had an opportunity to see exactly what the fans want from me and expect, and I think this is exactly the kind of album they've been waiting on."

Studdard also feels signing with Hickory Records, like J records, distributed by Sony, puts him in a better position to connect to his fans.

"I think J Records didn't do a good job with connecting me to my 'American Idol' fan base," says Studdard, whose last outing, 2006's "The Return," was a commercial disappointment that's sold less then 240,000 copies. "I wanted to make sure we had an opportunity to make the music they want to hear, and we got that."

"Love IS" also features covers of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help You," Al Green's "For the Good Times," the Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road," Extreme's "More Than Words" and Johnnie Taylor's "Just Because."

"Love Is," hits stores and digital retailers May 19

Here is the new video for "Together"