Carrie Underwood (2005)
The 40-year-old country star was the fourth season winner of American Idol in 2005 and has moved on to have a very successful career selling more than 66 million albums worldwide and has 28 No. 1 singles to her name.
Additionally, she has won eight Grammy Awards and is happily married to Mike Fisher, who is the father of her sons Isaiah Michael, born in 2015, and Jacob Bryan, born in 2019.
Success: Carrie Underwood was the fourth season winner of American Idol in 2005 and has moved on to have a very successful career selling more than 66 million albums worldwide and has 28 No. 1 singles to her name (seen in 2023)
Kelly Clarkson (2002)
Kelly Clarkson was crowned the first winner of American Idol back in 2002 and has since earned a whopping $45 million through her singing career, work as a full-time coach on The Voice, and acting gigs in films like From Justin to Kelly, That 80’s Show and Trolls World Tour.
Impressive: Kelly Clarkson was crowned the first winner of American Idol back in 2002 and has since earned a whopping $45 million over the past two decades; pictured in 2023
Jordin Sparks (2007)
After winning the sixth season, at just 17-years-old, the singer released her self-titled debut studio album, which ‘sold over two million copies worldwide.’
Two of her biggest hits, Tattoo and No Air were featured on the record. No Air, which ‘is currently the third highest-selling single by any American Idol contestant’ earned Sparks her first Grammy Award nomination.
She is the only American Idol contestant to have her first five singles reach the top 20 in the United States on the Billboard 200 chart.
The Phoenix native, 33, has been married to Dana Isaiah since 2017.
Star power: After winning the sixth season, at just 17-years-old, the singer released her self-titled debut studio album, which ‘sold over two million copies worldwide’ (seen in 2022)
Caleb Johnson (2014)
Despite failing to make it past the audition process in 2011 or 2012, he ended up winning the season 13 title in 2014.
In 2015, however, he split from Interscope Records due to poor album sales. That same year, he told Billboard that he wants to to ‘get a deal with a new label that’s actually going to support’ him.
‘I want to find the right home and the right team of people that are going to get behind my music and really do something. What’s the point of doing it if the [label] isn’t going to do anything?’ he asked.
In 2016, he managed to crowd-fund his second album. Despite his best efforts, he has not managed to attain the level of success that Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson have.
Not a household name yet: Despite failing to make it past the audition process in 2011 or 2012, he ended up winning the season 13 title in 2014 (seen in 2016)
Nick Fradiani (2015)
Following his win, he signed with Big Machine Records, but left after two years.
‘It just wasn’t the right fit,’ he told Billboard, at the time. ‘I couldn’t be more happy. It needed to happen, and I was hoping for it.’
In 2017, he stated that he ‘not obsessing over record sales anymore.’
‘It’s just getting the music to as many people, and hoping that the music turns them into a fan,’ the performer said in an interview with Digital Journal.
Still looking for his big break: Following his win, Nick Fradiani signed with Big Machine Records, but left after two years (seen in 2017)
Taylor Hicks
The 46-year-old winner of the fifth season of American Idol in May 2006 beat out Katharine McPhee for the top prize.
After reaching the peak of his musical career, he pivoted to a career in hosting. The restaurateur is, now, best known for hosting the show State Plate on INSP.
Career pivot: Taylor Hicks beat out Katharine McPhee for the top prize back in 2006, but has since gone on to host the show State Plate on INSP; pictured in 2006
Ruben Studdard
The Grammy Award nominee, 44, sold more than a million copies in pre-orders alone of his first album, Soulful, back in 2003.
Despite the inital success, he was ultimately dropped from his label in 2007.
He went on to appear on the reality show, The Biggest Loser, where he lost 119 pounds.
Wow: The Grammy Award nominee, 44, sold more than a million copies in pre-orders alone of his first album, Soulful, back in 2003 (pictured in 2003)