American Idol season five winner Taylor Hicks will be returning to television this fall to host a new food and travel show on the INSP Television Network.
Called State Plate, the program will celebrate unique culinary traditions of all 50 states, digging into the “distinctive foods of a particular state,” said Doug Butts, SVP of Programming at INSP, in a statement released on April 7.
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Hicks, who is a partner in the Birmingham, Ala. eatery Saw’s Juke Joint, will bring his expertise to the program as he digs into the stories behind each state’s “emblematic foods.” In each episode, Hicks will travel to farms, ranches, markets and festivals in each state, assembling a menu of food associated with the area, be it crab cakes in Maryland, Georgia peaches or Idaho potatoes.
“State Plate has tested very well, and audiences agree that this series complements and enhances INSP’s family-oriented schedule,” Butts added. “We are thrilled that viewers will be taking this journey with such a beloved personality as Taylor Hicks.”
Also on Hicks’ plate: a return to American Idol for the series’ final episode on April 7, airing at 8 p.m. A week later, Hicks kicks off a tour at the Cox Capital Theatre in Macon, Ga. Dates are listed on his official website.