Jul. 12 2024, Revealed 8:30 a.m. ET
Season 1 Winner Kelly Clarkson
The primary champion has been using a wave of success since she snagged the win. She’s launched 9 albums, headlined tons of excursions, shared the stage with well-known musicians and has blossomed into an actress, writer and TV persona with three Grammys and her personal discuss present! She’s additionally gotten married, had two youngsters and gone via a divorce!
“I really feel like I’ve clearly progressed as a human,” mentioned Kelly Clarkson, 42. “On the identical time, although, I do really feel very related and really tied to that 19-year-old that first auditioned.”
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Season 2 Winner Ruben Studdard
The 45-year-old singer has been thriving years after his win. Ruben Studdard has launched seven albums, together with his platinum-selling debut, Soulful. He’s additionally ventured into appearing, showing in a number of common reveals, together with One on One, 8 Easy Guidelines and All of Us.
In 2018, he moved on to Broadway theater in Ruben & Clay’s Christmas Present.
Season 3 Winner Fantasia Barrino
This highly effective vocalist reprised her position as Celie Johnson for the film musical adaptation of The Shade Purple, which grew to become her function movie debut. She labored on two albums and mentioned she is going to at all times be grateful to the present.
“It was the door that opened for me that allowed so many issues, good and dangerous. I needed to undergo so many issues, no person prepares you for the business,” mentioned Fantasia Barrino, 40.
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Season 4 Winner Carrie Underwood
The nation music famous person, 41, launched her ninth studio album, Denim & Rhinestones, launched her SiriusXM channel, Carrie’s Nation, and prolonged her Las Vegas residency via August. She’s married to ex-NHL participant Mike Fisher and so they share sons Isaiah, 8, and Jacob, 5.
“The place does the time go?” Carrie Underwood requested.
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Season 5 Winner Taylor Hicks
After he received the viewers over along with his excessive vitality and nice stage presence, he signed with Arista Data to launch his self-titled debut album.
Taylor Hicks, 47, was on the stage in Shenandoah in 2019 and featured within the movie Stars Fell on Alabama in 2021. He’s additionally had a long-term Las Vegas residency.
“That chance to have the ability to be on that present on the time interval has allowed me longevity — clearly, with laborious work as nicely. However I’m very blessed as nicely,” he mentioned.
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Season 6 Winner Jordin Sparks
The youngest winner within the sequence’ historical past has had hit albums and competed on The Masked Dancer and Dancing With the Stars.
Jordin Sparks, 34, has additionally been a mentor on American Idol and mirrored, “I couldn’t imagine I used to be again and it was my flip to share what I realized.”
In 2012, she made her function movie debut in Sparkle alongside Whitney Houston.
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Season 7 Winner David Prepare dinner
The 41-year-old singer launched three studio albums and 4 dwell albums with numerous bands earlier than releasing his first solo album, Analog Coronary heart. His debut single, “The Time of My Life,” made the Billboard Sizzling 100 charts and offered 1.4 million copies.
David Prepare dinner regarded again on his time at American Idol with appreciation.
“It’s nonetheless such a household,” he mentioned. “I beloved my time on the present.”
He married girlfriend Racheal Stump in 2015.
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Season 8 Winner Kris Allen
The 39-year-old singer from Arkansas got here out with the one “Stay Like We’re Dying” in 2009 and offered over 1.7 million copies!
Kris Allen launched his fifth studio album, Letting You In, in 2016, and later toured Europe with Prepare dinner.
Earlier than American Idol, Allen was a missionary working in international locations all around the globe. Since profitable the eighth season, he’s turn out to be concerned with a number of charitable organizations that promote music training. He married his highschool sweetheart, Katy, and so they have younger youngsters collectively.
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Season 9 Winner Lee DeWyze
The 38-year-old with the rough-hewn voice and laid-back attraction already had two albums out when his success on the present catapulted him to fame.
Lee DeWyze now has seven albums and does music for TV reveals like Nashville and Shameless.
“It was at all times about songwriting for me,” he mentioned. “It’s what I beloved. That’s why I did all of that within the first place. It wasn’t for fame or any of that stuff.”
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Season 10 Winner Scotty McCreery
Like Sparks, Scotty McCreery was simply 17 when he received American Idol. He launched his music “5 Extra Minutes” following his victory.
McCreery, 30, saved the momentum going and launched 5 albums, along with his newest titled Similar Truck. He married in 2018 and had his first little one, a son, and mentioned, “Turning into a father is the best factor that’s ever occurred to me and watching my spouse be a rock star as his mother has been the enjoyment of my life.”
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Season 11 Winner Phillip Phillips
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Kelly Clarkson
The singer and guitarist’s debut music, “House,” is the best-selling music in American Idol historical past, promoting over 5 million copies within the U.S.
Now 33 and a married dad-of-one, Phillip Phillips has launched 4 albums and toured with John Mayer and the Goo Goo Dolls.
He mentioned he was grateful for the present and provided recommendation for future contestants, “Know who you’re as an artist, and don’t be afraid to make that assertion on tv.”
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Season 12 Winner Candice Glover
Candice Glover, 34, is the primary winner to have auditioned thrice earlier than being solid for the dwell reveals. She’s an R&B singer now however had an extended climb to turning into a winner after Simon Cowell eradicated her in Season 9 saying she’d be nothing greater than a lounge singer after she forgot the phrases to her music.
She mentioned it was laborious to go from a “contest winner” to being taken significantly in the true world.
“It may be nerve-wracking however I wouldn’t commerce it for something,” insisted Glover.
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Season 13 Winner Caleb Johnson
“It was only a surreal, virtually form of terrifying second,” mentioned Caleb Johnson, now 33. “Then it was full shock and amazement, and I used to be like, ‘Wow, I can’t imagine I simply received American Idol.”
He launched an album titled Testify and went on to create his personal label, Massive Johnson Data. He’s now in a band known as Caleb Johnson & the Ramblin’ Saints.
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Season 14 Winner Nick Fradiani
Nick Fradiani, now 38, performs a younger Neil Diamond within the Broadway manufacturing of A Lovely Noise. Earlier than showing on American Idol, he competed in America’s Bought Expertise.
He mentioned he felt “snug, no nerves in any way” throughout the finale present in 2015, and a 12 months later, he launched an album, Hurricane.
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Season 15 Winner Trent Harmon
The 33-year-old is now a rustic singer who works as a full-time songwriter in Nashville. Trent Harmon launched the hit “You Bought ’Em All,” the title monitor for his debut album, in 2018.
“I obtained loads of advantages from doing the present from studying to sing early within the morning and at all times being able to go,” he mentioned.
In 2019, he tied the knot with longtime galpal Kathleen Sofa.
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Season 16 Winner Maddie Poppe
The 26-year-old people singer performs the guitar, piano and ukulele.
Earlier than American Idol, Maddie Poppe launched an impartial album, Songs from the Basement. Because the present, she launched an album known as Whirlwind and has gone on tour. Poppe admitted she by no means anticipated to win due to her stage fright.
“I can keep in mind instances after I’d gotten up on stage and it completely flopped,” she mentioned.
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Season 17 Winner Laine Hardy
Laine Hardy, 23, carried out his coronation music “Flame” on The View. He additionally sang on the televised 2020 Nationwide Tree Lighting Ceremony and launched his album Right here’s to Anybody.
“After I first tried out, I couldn’t have ever imagined the place I used to be headed,” he recalled. “Since then, I’ve been capable of tour throughout America, play for our troops in Asia, and make new followers in Europe.”
In 2022, he prevented jail for allegedly bugging his ex-girlfriend’s dwelling — however noticed his profession derailed by the scandal.
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Season 18 Winner Simply Sam
Samantha Diaz, a 25-year-old native of Harlem, N.Y., has revealed victory didn’t routinely result in success. Simply Sam struggled with fame and was penniless and singing in New York Metropolis subway stations for suggestions lower than two years after claiming the highest spot within the competitors.
The gifted performer is now looking for a comeback and posts singing movies from all around the metropolis, which have been shared by celebs reminiscent of Viola Davis.
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Season 19 Winner Chayce Beckham
The 27-year-old singer is making his mark on this planet of nation music. His catchy tunes embrace “Can’t Do With out Me” and “23.”
“I’m only a regular dude,” mentioned Chayce Beckham. “I traded in my 12-hour-a-day job for a 24-hour-a-day job, and that is one thing that I put all my vitality into now.”
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Season 20 Winner Noah Thompson
As a building employee residing in a small city, Noah Thompson beloved music however by no means thought he’d have a shot at American Idol. Fortunately, his greatest pal pushed him to audition, and now the 22-year-old singer is glad he did.
He launched successful single, “One Day Tonight,” that’s already landed him the No. 1 spot on iTunes. However he’s nonetheless attempting to get used to his sudden fame.
“It’s unbelievable. Like, my complete household, we’re all simply form of blown away by it. It’s life-changing,” he mentioned.
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Season 21 Winner Iam Tongi
The most recent American Idol winner is Iam Tongi — and he’s solely 19 years previous! He’s additionally the primary Pacific Islander and first non-country singer in three years to win the present.
He made the judges very emotional throughout his audition, and was a transparent winner from the beginning.
In an interview, Tongi recalled the particular second “after they known as my identify, I used to be simply very excited. It was an incredible expertise.”