American Idol Contestants Ranked by Album Sales
Among previous American Idol contestants, six of the top ten album sellers were winners of the competition: Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia Barrino, Ruben Studdard, David Cook, and Jordin Sparks. Season 5 winner, Taylor Hicks, is currently ranked No. 14. Recent winners, Kris Allen (Season 8) and Lee DeWyze (Season 9), are presently ranked No. 20 and No. 29 while last year's runner-up, Crystal Bowersox, is ranked No. 28.
Relative overachievers in the album sales rankings are Season 5 American Idol contestants, Chris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler. Daughtry, who finished fourth during Season 5, is ranked No. 3 in album sales. Pickler, the sixth place finisher that same season, is ranked No. 8 in album sales.
The rankings below include each American Idol contestant's primary genre, active period, top selling album, current record label, and certified unit sales; traditionally, one LP is a "unit."
After reading "American Idol Contestants Ranked by Albums Sales," return to this link to read the companion article, "American Idol Winners Ranked by Albums Sales."
1. American Idol Contestants Ranked by Album Sales: Carrie Underwood (Season 4: Winner)
Primary Genre: Country
Active Period: 2005-present
Top selling album: Some Hearts (RIAA 7x Platinum)
Current Record Label: Arista Nashville
Certified Unit Sales: 12.17 million
2. American Idol Contestants Ranked by Album Sales: Kelly Clarkson (Season 1: Winner)
Primary Genre: Pop rock
Active Period: 2003-present
Top selling album: Breakaway (RIAA 6x Platinum)
Current Record Label: RCA Records
Certified Unit Sales: 10.63 million
3. American Idol Contestants Ranked by Album Sales: Chris Daughtry (Season 5: 4th Place)
Primary Genre: Alternative rock
Active Period: 2006-present
Top selling album: Daughtry (RIAA 4x Platinum)
Current Record Label: RCA Records
Certified Unit Sales: 6.02 million
4. American Idol Contestants Ranked by Album Sales: Clay Aiken (Season 2: Runner-Up)
Primary Genre: Pop
Active Period: 2003-present
Top selling album: Measure of a Man (RIAA 2x Platinum)
Current Record Label: Decca
Certified Unit Sales: 4.95 million
5. American Idol Contestants Ranked by Album Sales: Fantasia Barrino (Season 3: Winner)
Primary Genre: R&B
Active Period: 2004-present
Top selling album: Free Yourself (RIAA Platinum)
Current Record Label: J Records
Certified Unit Sales: 2.68 million
6. American Idol Contestants Ranked by Album Sales: Ruben Studdard (Season 2: Winner)
Primary Genre: R&B
Active Period: 2003-present
Top selling album: Soulful (RIAA Platinum)
Current Record Label: Hickory Records
Certified Unit Sales: 2.51 million
7. American Idol Contestants Ranked by Album Sales: David Cook (Season 7: Winner)
Primary Genre: Alternative rock
Active Period: 2008-present
Top selling album: David Cook (RIAA Platinum)
Current Record Label: RCA Records
Certified Unit Sales: 1.35 million
8. American Idol Contestants Ranked by Album Sales: Kellie Pickler (Season 5: 6th Place)
Primary Genre: Country
Active Period: 2006-present
Top selling album: Small Town Girl (RIAA Gold)
Current Record Label: BNA/19 Recordings
Certified Unit Sales: 1.29 million
9. American Idol Contestants Ranked by Album Sales: Jordin Sparks (Season 6: Winner)
Primary Genre: R&B
Active Period: 2007-present
Top selling album: Jordin Sparks (RIAA Platinum)
Current Record Label: Jive
Certified Unit Sales: 1.21 million
10. American Idol Contestants Ranked by Album Sales: David Archuleta (Season 7: Runner-Up)
Primary Genre: Pop
Active Period: 2008-present
Top selling album: David Archuleta (RIAA Gold)
Current Record Label: Jive
Certified Unit Sales: 1.07 million
Sources: "American Idol Album Sales," Scribd
"Gold & Platinum: Searchable Database," RIAA
Mansfield, Brian. "IDOL CHATTER - Bonus sales numbers: Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, David Archuleta, more." USA TODAY (7 Jan. 2011).
Mansfield, Brian. "IDOL CHATTER - Crystal Bowersox's 'Farmer's Daughter' debuts with 58k sales." USA TODAY (22 Dec. 2010).
Mansfield, Brian. "IDOL CHATTER - 'Idol' album sales: Crystal Bowersox, Carrie Underwood, etc." USA TODAY (12 Jan. 2011).
Mansfield, Brian. "IDOL CHATTER - 'Idol' album sales: Fantasia sells best; Chris Sligh, Joseph Leming debut." USA TODAY (22 Sep. 2010).
Mansfield, Brian. "IDOL CHATTER - 'Idol' appearance boosts Ke$ha, Orianthi." USA TODAY (24 Mar. 2010).
Mansfield, Brian. "IDOL CHATTER - Idols maintain chart presence with guest appearances, compilations." USA TODAY (8 Dec. 2010).
Mansfield, Brian. "IDOL CHATTER - Plenty of room for new Idols on the sales charts." USA TODAY (19 Jan. 2011).
Mansfield, Brian. "IDOL CHATTER - Your Random Weekend Memo." USA TODAY (16 Jul. 2010).
Trust, Gary. "Chart Beat - Ask Billboard: 'Idol' Worship." Billboard.com (4 Dec. 2009).
Published by J.C. Grant
A writer interested in education, finance, health, history, law, music, polemics, politics, satire, sports, statistics, travel, and trivia. View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentNice article. Interesting to see someone covered this group as you have. Also interesting to note how well some of the non winners have done.
Great information on the Idols, I wish them all continued success! cheers :)
Jennifer Hudson is No. 11.
That Carrie Underwood is something...She is everywhere and excellent.
Wow, I'm surprised Jennifer Hudson wasn't up there...... :o)
The top 5 are no surprise...other than I thought Jennifer Hudson would be up there too. I am surprised that Taylor Hicks is #14 when Crystal is only at #28.
Gotta love those relative overachievers. :)