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Making the Band 3

In 2005 rapper and mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs returned with Making the Band 3, this time searching for the next female supergroup. With the help of choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson, vocal coach Doc Holiday and talent manager Johnny Wright, he set out on a multi city search, susequently finding 20 young singers. While seven girls remained, Diddy grew more and more unhappy with the level of talent throughout the season, and eventually decided not to form a band. He did however give a reprive to three contestants who he felt deserved another chance (including Aubrey O'Day, and Aundrea Fimbres) who all continued on to the following season.

Afterwards Diddy once again sent his team across the country to audition new girls for the group. Finally eighteen girls were chosen and moved into a loft in New York City. After weeks of dance and singing lessons, promotional appearances and a performance in front of 20,000 at a Backstreet Boys concert at the Nissan Pavilions eleven girls remained. The finalists were sent home for three months, told to polish up, and return for the final stretch in December 2005.

On the second season's finale on Thursday, December 8, 2005, five of the eleven were chosen: Aundrea Fimbres, Aubrey O'Day, Dawn Richards, Shannon Bex, and Wanita "D. Woods" Woodgette. With the final five members of the group in place, Making the Band tracked the development and struggles of the new band - from then on known as Danity Kane (a name, taken from a female anime superhero conceived by Dawn).

Debut: Danity Kane

Danity Kane (2006)Danity Kane's debut album, Danity Kane, was released to mixed reviews on August 22, 2006. Produced by Timbaland, Scott Storch, Jim Jonsin, Bryan Michael Cox, Rodney Jerkins, Rami, Mario Winans and Ryan Leslie, the album sold over 90,000 copies in the first day of release, and over 234,000 in the first week of release. It eventually debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, knocking veteran Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics from the top spot and out-selling hip-hop duo OutKast. So far, the album has sold more than 662,500 copies domestically.

The album's lead single "Show Stopper", produced by Jim Jonsin, was serviced to radio on August 4, 2006 and subsequently debuted at #17 on Billboard's Hot 100. So far it has reached #8 on this chart, while peaking at #12 on the official Pop 100, and #3 on the Hot Digital Songs chart. Danity Kane's second single was chosen via a fan poll going around through e-mails, MySpace, and their official web site. The slow jam "Ride For You", produced by Bryan Michael Cox is now being helmed as the official next single.

On October 12, 2006 four members of Danity Kane — minus D. Woods, who caught a later flight to Toledo — were injured in a limousine accident en route to a performance in Toledo, Ohio. They were heading to their performance at Headliners when the left side of their black Lincoln Town Car was struck by another vehicle at an intersection. The members of the group were treated and released.

Recently, it was announced that Danity Kane will commence as openers on Christina Aguilera's Back To Basics Tour in early 2007.