American Idol Winners Ranked by Album Sales
On January 19, 2011, American Idol began its tenth season. The nine American Idols to date are Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Kris Allen, and Lee DeWyze. These nine American Idols have collectively sold 31.7 million albums.
The rankings below include each American Idol'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 Winners Ranked by Album Sales," return to this link to read the companion article, "American Idol Contestants Ranked by Album Sales."
1. American Idol Winners 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 Winners 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 Winners 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
4. American Idol Winners 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
5. American Idol Winners 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
6. American Idol Winners 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
7. American Idol Winners Ranked by Album Sales: Taylor Hicks (Season 5: Winner)
Primary Genre: Blues
Active Period: 2006-present
Top selling album: Taylor Hicks (RIAA Platinum)*
Current Record Label: Arista
Certified Unit Sales: 760,400*
8. American Idol Winners Ranked by Album Sales: Kris Allen (Season 8: Winner)
Primary Genre: Alternative rock
Active Period: 2009-present
Top selling album: Kris Allen
Current Record Label: Jive
Certified Unit Sales: 324,000
9. American Idol Winners Ranked by Album Sales: Lee DeWyze (Season 9: Winner)
Primary Genre: Alternative rock
Active Period: 2010-present
Top selling album: Live It Up
Current Record Label: RCA Records
Certified Unit Sales: 109,000
*Shipped over 1 million units but did not sell 1 million units.
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
- 2010's Top Selling Musical ArtistsThe Nielsen Soundscan has just released the data and sales for the top selling artists of 2010. Here are the artists and a brief look at their accomplishments that earned them their rankings.
- A Career in Fixed Assets and Capital AccountingA fixed assets, or property accountant maintains records of the company's property, plant, and equipment. This may be an accounting or clerical function, or may include financial planning and budgeting, and evaluatio...
- I'm so Over American IdolSo, are you as over American Idol as I am? I am not going to lie the show pulls in numbers, I just lost all interest in it.
- Top 10 American Idol Contestants to DateThe top 10 best American Idol contestants from the first 7 seasons of the show. The most talented, the funniest and the most bizarre.
Top 10 American Idol Money Makers and Fan FavoritesWho's doing the best of all American Idol contestants? Check out Top 10 American Idol Money Makers and Fan Favorites. American Idol Alums Who Continue to Strike Gold. Top 10 v...
- American Idol Contestants Ranked by Album Sales
- Ranking the American Idol Winners
- Is American Idol Winding Up or Winding Down?
- Ranking the American Idol Winners
- All Past American Idol Winners - Are They All Successful?
- Jim Jones to Join G-Unit?
- Top Ten Country Artists of the Decade
7 Comments
Post a CommentThese number are wrong. Kelly Clarkson has sold more than 20millions albums more than Carrie Underwood.
There's quite a gap between Kelly and Fantasia. No surprise that Carrie topped the list.
fantasia really sold 3 million as of this year
Great, Carrie Underwood is doing very well. Congrats to all of them... :o)
Carrie & Kelly at the top of the list is no surprise. I had no idea Fantasia was so strong, and am glad to see David Cook high on the list. Keep in mind the newer idols haven't had as long to sell records, but in all honesty -- I don't know who can afford to buy all this music anymore!
Awesome! But keep in mind that the record industry has a steady decline in selling albums. Even Ruben Studdard said the other day that presents Idol probably do as well as him if you compare it with the current market situation.
Interesting how well some of the Idols have done! cheers :)