With American Idol finishing up its twelfth season, one may ask the following question: “Where do all of these people disappear to? While some contestants win and fall off the face of the earth, others are actually successful. But where are they now? How does their success compare to each other’s?
Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson is working on her sixth studio album, debuting her first single “People Like Us” on American Idol on April 11, 2013. She plans to make her first Christmas album with Greg Kurstin this year, for the Idol star is still working hard and still being noticed. She is one of few that has kept up, despite the possibility of fading away as a result of being the winner in 2002.
Ruben Studdard was the winner in Season 2. His latest work was released in 2012, an album titled Letters from Birmingham. This was Studdard’s fifth album, and unfortunately, it got terrible reviews. Not much has happened for him since then. Oh well, Ruben. Keep trying!
Fantasia Barrino, season 3 winner, goes by the name of “Fantasia.” On April 19, she released a single, titled “Without Me” which will feature Kelly Rowland and Missy Elliott. Seeing as though these women are big names in the hip hop/R&B industry, Fantasia will hopefully fall back into popularity with their help.
Carrie Underwood, the country singer who won against Bo Bice, is the season 4 American Idol winner. She is a multi-platinum artist, a winner of six Grammy awards, and has received several other honors since her Idol victory in 2005. When someone says her name, no one laughs and says, “Oh isn’t she from American Idol?”, for she has made a name for herself. The show has been a kick start for her career, not a platform to prevent her from falling. Underwood announced on May 7, 2013 that she will perform the opening theme song for NBC Sunday Night Football, replacing Faith Hill.
Taylor Hicks. He is the gray haired fellow that somehow beat Katharine McPhee on the fifth season of American Idol. His latest work was in 2009— an album called The Distance. Although he is an Idol, Taylor is most widely known for his appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s “Friday” skit, where he assisted in the parody performance mocking Rebecca Black. He is definitely not the most famous Idol to have stepped on the stage, but he is not the least either.
Jordin Sparks has definitely achieved a lot since her win in 2007. From her first hit single, “Tattoo,” to her latest single, “Is This Love,” the star has gained her success “one step at a time.” Touring with the Jonas Brothers, acquiring her own clothing line and fragrance, showing off her acting skills, and even appearing on Broadway, Jordin Sparks has accomplished what every American Idol winner should. She can sing, her songs are catchy, and she is drop-dead gorgeous—what else is there for her to master?
David Cook- Okay, so David Cook won against David Archuleta in season 7. This caused controversy among the teen girls who were rooting for the 17 year old sweetheart, but others were happy with Cook. Recently, he released a new single, “Laying Me Low,” through XIX Recordings. As for albums, David released an album in 2008 entitled David Cook that later went platinum. He released another album in 2011, and is currently working on self releasing an album named The Last Song I’ll Write for You. As for success, he has been subpar.
Kris Allen- The season 8 winner who was up against the openly gay contestant, Adam Lambert, has been doing well since his win. He has released popular singles, which include Kanye West’s cover of “Heartless,” “Live Like We’re Dying,” and “The Vision of Love.” His latest release was in December 2012, and it was dedicated to those affected by Sandy Hook Elementary School. Kris has been nominated for awards, but has yet to win one, while Lambert has won a favorable amount of awards since the finale of American Idol: Season 8.
Lee Dewyze- Sorry Lee Dewyze fans, but who exactly is Lee Dewyze? He can obviously sing, seeing as he was the winner of Season 9 American Idol, but he hopped back into the crowd when walking off the stage of confetti. He has released four albums, which is something to be proud of, but when people start hearing them on the radio and seeing him on the charts, that is something to be more proud of. Lee Dewyze. No matter how many times one says his name, it still has the ability to fade away.
Scotty McCreery— or the cute country singer that is 19, but sounds like he’s 26. As lonely as the country music world may seem, Scotty still has made a name for himself. Hits like “I Love You This Big” and “The Trouble With Girls” are constant replays on any iPod. He has won Artist of the Year, Best New Artist, and USA Breakthrough Video Of The Year, all from country associations. Scotty McCreery appeals to not just teenage girls because of his looks, but all ages because of his voice.
Phillip Phillips is the singer of “Home” and “Gone, Gone, Gone,” singles that have been very successful. But, his name confuses people. Why did his parents decide to name him Phillip if their last name is Phillips? That is just cruel. As for success, his debut album was released in November 2012 called The World From The Side Of The Moon. By the World Music Awards, he has been nominated for World’s Best Song and World’s Best Male Artist. The results are TBA. He is on the radio, and it certainly will not be a surprise if he grows from here on out.
Candice Glover, as of May 16th, 2013, is the winner of Season 12 American Idol. Now, no one can blame Candice if she fails to have success, considering “American Idol” has lost mostly all of its fame and a majority of the show’s large following. Her first album is supposedly entitled Music Speaks, and it will be released in late 2013. Good luck, Candice!
