American Idol: A Look Back

It's hard to believe there have been seven winners of American Idol. With American Idol: Season 8 kicking off I thought it would be fun to see how the previous winners have fared with fame and fortune. There have really only been two or three contestants each season who have taken their place among the famous.

American Idol: Season 1 was the exception, only delivering one star. Kelly Clarkson came on strong during the Top 10 week with awesome renditions of "Natural Woman" and "Respect". Kelly never looked back. American Idol actually stunted Kelly's rise by casting her opposite Justin Guarini (2nd place AI: Season 1) in a bad movie (From Justin to Kelly). Kelly Clarkson has recorded 3 albums (Thankful - 2003, Breakaway - 2004, My December - 2007), and is currently working on the release of her 4th album All I Ever Wanted. Her latest single, "My Life Would Suck Without You", soared to #1 on the Hot 100. Kelly has won 2 Grammy's, 3 MTV Video Awards, 6 Teen Choice Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, and 4 American Music Awards.
IMDB: Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson Biography

Wasting no time executive producer Nigel Lythgoe gave us American Idol: Season 2. It came down to Rueben Studdard and Clay Aiken. Clay Aiken has undoubtedly done more with his fame. American Idol turned this special education teacher's assistant's life around. From touring to Broadway to speaking out about his sexuality, Clay Aiken is the star from American Idol: Season 2. His signature single is "Invisible". Clay has won 1 American Music Award, 3 Billboard Awards, 1 American Christian Music Award and several awards for his charity work.
IMDB: Clay Aiken
Clay Aiken in Spamalot

Rueben Studdard actually won the season, and has had a modicum of fame. He too has gone the way of Broadway, playing Fats Waller in Ain't Misbehavin'. Rueben Studdard has released 3 albums: Soulful, I Need An Angel, and The Return. He is working on the release of his 4th, Love Is. He won an Image Award in 2004.
Ruben Studdard - "Ain't Misbehavin'" 2009 Cast Recording
Croshall Entertainment Group

Then came what looked like it might be the end of American Idol. The third season was not good. Though the ratings were still high, no one stood out except Fantasia Barrino. Great for Fantasia, bad for the show. Every week she belted out a her song in a way showed she was in charge. The problem was the song style. Fantasia doesn't sing pop songs. Rightfully so, Fantasia Barrino won AI: Season 2 with little competition. She has gone on to success on Broadway, and has authored a book "Life is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story". Fantasia Barrino won an Image Award in 2007.
IMDB: Fantasia Barrino

The real diamond hidden in the rough of AI: Season 3 was Jennifer Hudson. She appeared so young and inexperienced she was somehow over looked and finished 7th. That's when it all started for Hudson. She landed a role in the 2006 movie Dream Girls and won and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2007. Jennifer Hudson's other awards include: 1 Austin Film Critics Award, 1 BAFTA Award, 1 BET Award, 1 Critics Choice Award, 1 Golden Globe Award, 1 Image Award, 1 Screen Actors Guild Award, and a host of other acting awards.
IMDB: Jennifer Hudson

Season 4 changed everything. Carrie Underwood burned up the American Idol stage with a country voice even Simon Cowell could not scowl at. Opposite Carrie was Bo Bice, the hard rocker with hair half way down his back. Bo could command the stage every week. Carrie Underwood made grown men want to watch American Idol. They voted for her too, as she won in relatively easy manner. She won a Teen Choice Award in 2005. In 2006 Carrie Underwood won: 2 CMT Country Music Awards, 2 CMA Awards, and 4 Academy of Country Music Awards. In 2007 she won: 2 Grammy's, 3 CMT Awards, and 2 CMA Awards. In 2008, Carrie won: 1 Grammy, 1 CMA Award, and 1 Academy of County Music Award.
IMDB: Carrie Underwood

The expectations were high for American Idol: Season 5. This was the first season the stars came out of the middle of the contestant pack. Taylor Hicks won the season, but has not had recording success. He has a great voice, but again was too old for the tween crowd. Taylor had 2 albums out prior to American Idol: In Your Time, and Under the Radar. Since he has recorded: Taylor Hicks and The Distance (due out this year).
IMDB: Taylor Hicks

Chris Daughtry was the front runner in Season 5 until a bad song choice on the AI stage caused him to finish 4th. He since has a successful band together, Daughtry. Chris played Machiavelli Taylor on 1 episode of CSI: NY and plays himself in the upcoming movie Bleed Into One. He and band Daughtry have won: 2 American Music Award, 1 People's Choice Award, 1 Billboard Music Award, and 1 World Music Award.
IMDB: Chris Daughtry

The real surprise of American Idol: Season 5 is Kellie Pickler (6th place). Though she was cute on the show, she has matured into a prominent country singer. Kellie is fun to watch on any TV show, she is genuinely cute. She is also a hit at the Grand Ole Opry. She has released two albums: Small Town Girl and Kellie Pickler. Her awards include: 3 CMT Country Music Awards, 2 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Awards.
IMDB: Kellie Pickler
CMT Country Music Awards

American Idol: Season 6 brought the most eclectic group of singers. Jordin Sparks out sang 'beat boy' Blake Lewis for the title. Jordin was only 17 when she won, the youngest Idol ever. She had a hit with "No Air" and was nominated for a Teen Choice Award in 2007. Jordin released her first album, Jordan Sparks (went Platinum), and is working on her 2nd. Her awards include: 1 NAACP Image Award, 2 BET Awards, 1 Teen Choice Award, 1 American Music Award and 1 People's Choice Award.
IMDB:Jordin Sparks
Gold & Platinum Data

By last season, the American Idol producers pulled out all the stops and fed us some real talent. The final came down to David Cook and David Archuleta. David Cook won the end vote and took over as reigning American Idol. He had an album out in 2006 called Analog Heart. Now he has the self titled post-Idol release that hit the Billboard charts at #3. David Cook has won 1 Teen Choice Award.
TV Yahoo: David Cook
Teen Choice Awards

David Archuleta was no loser after or before American Idol fame. He has already had recording success with his version of John Lennon's "Imagine", and his single "Crush". David Archuleta won Junior Singer onStar Search at the age of 12. David Archuleta has won 2 Teen Choice Awards.
David Archuleta Album Release - Meridian Magazine
IMDB: David Archuleta

It was fun looking back at the previous winners of American Idol. Especially seeing the underdogs come out of the pack and achieve success. Those Idol hopefuls we no longer hear from may not have been ready for the fame. This is a slingshot into the center spotlight for as long as you can stand it.