Candidates
Bret Michaels
"If you're going to freak out, have a rock star freak out."
Bret Michaels is, if nothing else, a true survivor. He has survived a life-long battle as an insulin-dependent diabetic, a well-publicized near-fatal car crash and the countless musical trends and fads of the last two decades.
The 46-year-old award-winning, multi-platinum superstar singer, songwriter, producer, director and actor has been in the business for over 20 years and continues to move at warp speed.
Michaels' "Rock of Love" television series is one of the most successful in VH1's history. With three record-breaking seasons under his belt, Michaels is currently embarking on several other television projects, including the upcoming "Bret Michaels Show."
As front man for the legendary rock band Poison, Michaels has sold 25 million records and scored an amazing 15 chartbusting Top 40 singles including "Talk Dirty to Me," "Something to Believe In," "Nothing But a Good Time" and the timeless #1 smash "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," which he is currently in the studio re-recording with Miley Cyrus and producer John Shanks for her upcoming album.
In the new millennium, Poison's music has been featured in such big screen flicks as "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "Grandma's Boy" and "Deuce Bigelow-European Gigolo." They continue to be one of the industry's top-grossing concert attractions and their "20 Years of Rock" CD was a bona fide Top 20 smash.
Michaels has also produced and written material for other artists, including Stevie Nicks. He wrote and produced the song "Love's a Hard Game to Play" which appeared on Nicks' platinum album "Timespace: The Best Of Stevie Nicks." More recently Michaels could be heard providing background vocals along with Phil Vassar on the Kenny Chesney/Uncle Kracker duet single "Last Night Again."
Always creating, Michaels formed a film production company with actor Charlie Sheen. The partnership ultimately led to Michaels' writing, directing and starring in several films including "A Letter from Death Row" which he executive co-produced with Sheen.
As an actor, Michaels has made regular appearances on such hit television shows as "Yes Dear," "Martial Law," "The Chris Isaak Show" and "Don't Forget the Lyrics." He has also co-hosted "Access Hollywood" and been a judge on the wildly popular "Nashville Star" program.
Setting his musical sights beyond Poison, Michaels released his debut solo album "Songs of Life" in 2003 followed by the Americana flavored sophomore record "Freedom of Sound" in 2005 and "Rock My World" featuring the smash hit "Go That Far" in 2008.
Michaels will release his autobiography, "Roses and Thorns: The Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy to My Reality" in 2010. He also tours constantly with his solo band.
"I would play music whether I made it in the industry or not," Michaels told a journalist and it's that commitment to his art that continues to keep him at the forefront of the entertainment industry.
