People : Will his future be star-Studdard?

Ruben Studdard is starting over.

After winning “American Idol” in 2003, Studdard became an instant superstar. His face was plastered everywhere and his debut album, “Soulful,” seemed to go platinum in an instant.

But after that initial hoopla, the fever for the so-called “Velvet Teddy Bear” cooled. His follow-up gospel album, 2004’s “I Need An Angel,” barely got any attention.

Now, as the 28-year-old releases his third album, “The Return,” he’s hoping America again falls in love with its “Idol.”

Q: How hard has it been to break away from the “American Idol” typecast?

A: Honestly, I never want people to forget I won the show, but I do want people to take me seriously as an artist outside of “American Idol.”

Q: Do you look at Kelly Clarkson as a model since she is now a Grammy-winning, multiplatinum star with cred?

A: Of course. I think everybody who has left that show looks at her as a model for what we want to do to further our career. It wasn’t easy for her to get that “American Idol” stigma changed. She really had to work hard for it.

Q: You’ve lost weight; did you do it because the album was coming out?

A: I really wanted to get in shape because I have a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure and things of that nature. … I went to this place called Duke Diet & Fitness Center for a month and learned how to change my eating habits. Two weeks after leaving there I turned to a vegetarian diet. It’s been wonderful.

Q: The “Today” show reported that you lost 100 pounds.

A: They said 100 pounds. I told them 70. They kept saying, “Ruben’s lost 100 pounds.” I only lost 70.

Q: What has been the hardest food to give up?

A: I think the hardest thing for me to give up was chicken. Right now I am trying my hardest to stay away from french fries.

Q: Most of your album is about love. Are you looking for love?

A: Yes. I think everybody is. I don’t think there is anyone out there who wants to be by themselves. I don’t want to be by myself for the rest of my life.

Q: I am sure you constantly meet women. Why are you still single?

A: It is just a choice I made right now because I don’t have time to devote to a relationship.

The birthday bunch

Keyboardist Manfred Mann is 66. Singer Elvin Bishop is 64. TV judge Judy Sheindlin (“Judge Judy”) is 64. Actress Carrie Fisher is 50. Actor Jeremy Miller (“Growing Pains”) is 30. Actor Will Estes (“American Dreams”) is 28.