Season 1 finalist Christina Christian turned the big 3-0 on Tuesday. The Brooklyn, New York native entered the world of American Idol before anyone knew what the show was about, and she helped make it a sensation. Christina was the first of many Idol finalists to have a moment with Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine.” She is probably most remembered for being away from the studio during the live results show when she was eliminated – at that time Christina was hospitalized for stress-related illnesses.Christina has appeared on popular shows such as CSI and Burn Notice. In 2004, Christina got married, and in 2006, she had a baby boy.

Happy Birthday, Christina!

View photos of Christina and the Season 1 contestants.