Former American Idol winner Ruben Studdard has lost nearly 100 pounds as he prepares for his upcoming stage role.

The heavyweight star admits he needed to get in shape to play Fats Domino in the upcoming U.S. tour of musical Ain’t Misbehavin’.

He says, "I am working out now. I’ve started jogging last week, really just trying to build up my endurance because we’re doing about eight shows a week.

"I have lost almost 100 pounds. A year and a half ago I weighed about 450 pounds, now I weigh 365. I still have a long way to go, I need to gear back up again."