Looking relaxed and elegant in a tan suit and light lavender shirt, American Idol star Ruben Studdard tipped his hat Saturday night to the crowd of 850 or so who came out for the second concert of the 2009 season of Music at McClellan.

"If it wasn't for you, there would be no Ruben!" he exclaimed to the audience as he began performing.

Fresh off of 71/2 months of a cross-country tour, Studdard, of Birmingham, warmed the hearts of fans like Tacara Williams of Anniston, seated with family members.

"We like Ruben, we voted for him on American Idol," she said.

Melba White of Oxford said she once heard Studdard as part of a gospel concert, so she was looking forward to enjoying his solo voice ring out across McClellan's verdant venue.

It indeed did so, backed up by Studdard's four-man band and two female vocalists.