Idol’s biggest stars take a bow
A look at the contestants who helped make the singing competition a hit with viewers
It might be hard to remember now, but American Idol had quite an impact.
Though the Fox show has dropped off the grid in recent years, it created music stars while sparking an endless era of reality competition singing shows. As the series ends after 14 years April 7, we look at the artists who made the most impact.
1 KELLY CLARKSON Winner, Season 1
Clarkson, 33, recently returned to Idol in its final season with an emotional performance of her latest single, Piece by Piece. She had the same effect when she belted out her first single, A Moment Like This, on the finale in 2002. Album sales: 21.5 million
Popular songs: Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You), Since U Been Gone, My Life Would Suck Without You
2 CARRIE UNDERWOOD Winner, Season 4
The Oklahoma native, now 33, blew the judges away in 2004 with her rendition of Bonnie Raitt’s I Can’t Make You Love Me. Her first album, Some Hearts, went seven-times platinum. Album sales: 18 million
Popular songs: Before He Cheats, Jesus, Take the Wheel, Blown Away
3 ADAM LAMBERT Second place, Season 8
His performance of Mad World drew a rare standing ovation from Simon Cowell. The Freddie Mercury comparisons started early, and by 2011, he was performing with Queen. Lambert, 34, earned about $10 million US in 2015, landing the No. 1 spot on Forbes list of the five highest-paid American Idols. Album sales: Seven million
Popular songs: Whataya Want from Me, Ghost Town, If I Had You
4 CHRIS DAUGHTRY Fourth place, Season 5
After he was voted off, Daughtry, 36, started an eponymous band whose music became a mainstay on Top 40 radio. His self-titled debut album was a smash, spawning five hit songs. Album sales: Eight million Popular songs: It’s Not Over, Home, Over You
5 FANTASIA BARRINO Winner, Season 3
Barrino’s haunting, powerful rendition of Summertime in 2004 is often cited as the best performance in Idol history. Her coronation song, “I Believe,” flew to the top of the charts after the finale. Album sales: 3.1 million Popular songs: I Believe, When I See U, Free Yourself
6 MANDISA Ninth place, Season 5
Still touring regularly, she has been nominated for four Grammys and won best contemporary Christian music album in 2014 for her record Overcomer. Album sales: 1.5 million Popular songs: Stronger, Overcomer, My Deliverer
7 PHILLIP PHILLIPS Winner, Season 11
Would you believe the top-selling song from any contestant in Idol history is Home, the innocuous pop song that sold five million copies and was everywhere after Phillips, 25, debuted it in 2012? Album sales: 2.5 million
Popular songs: Home, Gone, Gone,
Gone, Raging Fire
8 JOSH GRACIN Fourth place, Season 2
Gracin’s first single, the inspirational I Want to Live, was a Top 5 hit and helped propel his self-titled debut record up the charts. Album sales: About a million Popular songs: Nothin’ to Lose, Stay With Me (Brass Bed), We Weren’t Crazy
9 JENNIFER HUDSON Seventh place, Season 3
Hudson is known as Idol’s most triumphant story, as she went from seventhplace finisher to Oscar winner very quickly. Her first album resulted in three Grammy nominations. Album sales: 1.8 million
Popular songs: Spotlight, If This Isn’t Love, Where You At
10 JORDIN SPARKS Winner, Season 6
At 17, Sparks had a slew of pop hits right out of the gate with her self-titled debut album and followup Battlefield. Album sales: 2.6 million
Popular songs: No Air, Tattoo, Battlefield
11 CLAY AIKEN Second place, Season 2
Aiken’s first album, Measure of a Man, was a monster hit, selling three million copies. Album sales: Six million Popular songs: Invisible, This is the
Night, The Way