Most successful contestant(s) in each season

[Craig]

With nearly 25 years of American Idol to look over, we can see who really got successful - either directly or indirectly due to American Idol. This list includes anyone from that season, including those cut in Hollywood week (or, in an extreme case, didn't even make it that far, but there has to be clear documentation). This does NOT include those who became successful due to another show (such as The Voice), unless they became successful in the intermediate period.

 

Some of them are obvious (such as seasons 1 and 4), others are less obvious. In some seasons, there aren't any real success stories that are known.

 

Season 1 - Kelly Clarkson

(Clearly obvious. No one else from Season 1 has been highly successful)

 

Season 2 - Clay Aiken

(Either Ruben or Clay could be in this position, but I think Clay has done a bit more - a very debatable one here)

 

Season 3 - Jennifer Hudson

(While Fantasia has been a household name, Jennifer's EGOT and multi-field stardom beats even the winner)

 

Season 4 - Carrie Underwood

(Another obvious pick. She's become one of the most legendary in country, while who else has really taken off?)

 

Season 5 - (Chris) Daughtry

(This one is fairly close among several finalists, however, I feel he has been the most successful overall in the longer term)

 

Season 6 - Jordin Sparks

(The first season that no one really went into super-stardom for the long term, but she's done far more than anyone else)

 

Season 7 - Mycale "Mickey" Guyton

(The first to actually go the long route. She's been more successful than even David Cook I would argue)

 

Season 8 - Adam Lambert

(So many think he was robbed of the title, and over 15 years later, he has been far more successful)

 

Season 9 - Tori Kelly

(Season 9 had quite a few get away in Hollywood - Tasha Layton and Lauren Daigle were also such cases, yet the live shows didn't really get anyone notable today)

 

Season 10 - Jimmie Allen

(Notwithstanding his recent fall from grace (can he recover), he had far more success than any of the finalists)

 

Season 11 - Colton Dixon

(He finished in the same spot as Jennifer Hudson - and has had the most success I would argue from Season 11)

 

Season 12 - None

(Probably the weakest season of the original Fox series. No one from Season 12 has really had any success)

 

Season 13 - Queen Bulls "Queen Naija"

(I don't think she ever appeared on air in her audition or in Hollywood, but she has been highly successful - far more than any finalist)

 

Season 14 - None

(By now, the contestants were more or less on their own after the show, and no one really took off)

 

Season 15 - None

(Same issue as Season 14. At this point, it appeared the show was over so there was no promotion)

 

Season 16 - Gabby Barrett

(Although the winner was more successful than any since Season 11 at least, Gabby Barrett was far more successful still - a sudden change!)

 

Season 17 - None

(No one really took off from this season. It was clearly weaker than Season 16)

 

Season 18 - None

(This likely was due to the pandemic making promotion difficult)

 

Season 19 - Benson Boone

(While the winner has been very successful - the most successful in the ABC era - he has done even better)

 

Season 20 - HunterGirl

(Although only two years removed from the show, she's doing quite well so far in country music)

 

Season 21 - None

(So far no one from Season 21 has really taken off in the industry)

 

Season 22 - Too early to tell

Edited December 5, 2024 by Craig

[QueenKalie]

No disrespect to Hunter Girl but she hasn't really done much of anything in country music yet.

Edited December 5, 2024 by QueenKalie

[QueenKalie]

Scotty & Lauren are both bigger than Jimmie Allen is/was. Jimmie had a few duets that did well but he never really took of with his solo music. 

[AngelaKD]

1 hour ago, QueenKalie said:

No disrespect to Hunter Girl but she hasn't really done much of anything in country music yet.

Her only “success” is that she’s still with the label.

[mytake1]

16 hours ago, Craig said:

With nearly 25 years of American Idol to look over, we can see who really got successful - either directly or indirectly due to American Idol. This list includes anyone from that season, including those cut in Hollywood week (or, in an extreme case, didn't even make it that far, but there has to be clear documentation). This does NOT include those who became successful due to another show (such as The Voice), unless they became successful in the intermediate period.

 

Some of them are obvious (such as seasons 1 and 4), others are less obvious. In some seasons, there aren't any real success stories that are known.

 

Season 1 - Kelly Clarkson

(Clearly obvious. No one else from Season 1 has been highly successful)

 

Season 2 - Clay Aiken

(Either Ruben or Clay could be in this position, but I think Clay has done a bit more - a very debatable one here)

 

Season 3 - Jennifer Hudson

(While Fantasia has been a household name, Jennifer's EGOT and multi-field stardom beats even the winner)

 

Season 4 - Carrie Underwood

(Another obvious pick. She's become one of the most legendary in country, while who else has really taken off?)

 

Season 5 - (Chris) Daughtry

(This one is fairly close among several finalists, however, I feel he has been the most successful overall in the longer term)

 

Season 6 - Jordin Sparks

(The first season that no one really went into super-stardom for the long term, but she's done far more than anyone else)

 

Season 7 - Mycale "Mickey" Guyton

(The first to actually go the long route. She's been more successful than even David Cook I would argue)

 

Season 8 - Adam Lambert

(So many think he was robbed of the title, and over 15 years later, he has been far more successful)

 

Season 9 - Tori Kelly

(Season 9 had quite a few get away in Hollywood - Tasha Layton and Lauren Daigle were also such cases, yet the live shows didn't really get anyone notable today)

 

Season 10 - Jimmie Allen

(Notwithstanding his recent fall from grace (can he recover), he had far more success than any of the finalists)

 

Season 11 - Colton Dixon

(He finished in the same spot as Jennifer Hudson - and has had the most success I would argue from Season 11)

 

Season 12 - None

(Probably the weakest season of the original Fox series. No one from Season 12 has really had any success)

 

Season 13 - Queen Bulls "Queen Naija"

(I don't think she ever appeared on air in her audition or in Hollywood, but she has been highly successful - far more than any finalist)

 

Season 14 - None

(By now, the contestants were more or less on their own after the show, and no one really took off)

 

Season 15 - None

(Same issue as Season 14. At this point, it appeared the show was over so there was no promotion)

 

Season 16 - Gabby Barrett

(Although the winner was more successful than any since Season 11 at least, Gabby Barrett was far more successful still - a sudden change!)

 

Season 17 - None

(No one really took off from this season. It was clearly weaker than Season 16)

 

Season 18 - None

(This likely was due to the pandemic making promotion difficult)

 

Season 19 - Benson Boone

(While the winner has been very successful - the most successful in the ABC era - he has done even better)

 

Season 20 - HunterGirl

(Although only two years removed from the show, she's doing quite well so far in country music)

 

Season 21 - None

(So far no one from Season 21 has really taken off in the industry)

 

Season 22 - Too early to tell

I disagree about Jimmie Allen, Huntergirl. Where is Daniel Seavey, Jax from Season 14?  Where is Lauren Spencer Smith from Season 18? 

 

How is Colton Dixon more successful than Phillip Phillips?  Home is one of the biggest songs from Idol ever and he has one of the highest Monthly Listeners on Spotify. 

 

How is Maddie Poppe more successful than Candice Glover, Caleb Johnson, Nick Fradiani - whose debut albums all made the BB200 - and she did not.

 

And if the criteria is who auditioned for AI, there's Maren Morris, Chrissy Metz, Hillary Scott, Colbie Callait, Naya Rivera, Amber Riley, Bebe Rexha.

[nytsch]

Mickey Guyton and Jimmie Allen also had zero airtime so I’m not sure we can count them, even Jax and Lauren Spencer-Smith whose success was because of TikTok/online rather than AI itself at least got the exposure to begin with

[Craig]

No air time didn't matter in this list. I did mention that some are debatable...

[mytake1]

So if airtime doesn't matter, then you're leaving out of a lot people. 

 

The problem here is that there is no consistency.  So then it easily slides into a fan thing - vs facts.  

[TeamAudra]

3 hours ago, Craig said:

No air time didn't matter in this list. I did mention that some are debatable...

If they didn’t get air time, in what way is the show responsible for their success? Sure, they got some experience they didn’t previously have, which may have increased their level of confidence, but it’s probably more coincidental. 

[Craig]

I probably should have re-phrased my wording - yeah, I figured this would be a difficult list to make. But they were on American Idol and got into the experience...for all we know, there could be more stars today that at least made it to Hollywood but never disclosed anything. We may know more in the future...

 

Remember, there are, at best, a few hundred people each year that get into a position to get aired - and quite a few of them are bad and unlikely to ever be successful barring a dramatic transformation (unless the judges are completely asleep, or the producers decide to ignore them for casting purposes).

Edited December 6, 2024 by Craig

[ptebwwong]

Both Scotty & Lauren have over 10 million+ music certified by the RIAA. That's not including the rest of both of their accomplishments. Jimmie has way less success than either of them. I could argue that Jimmie isn't even 3rd that season.

 

S11 should be Phillip Phillips. He had a lot of success right after Idol and even in the last few years still manages to chart in the Top 20 on pop charts. S14 would be Daniel Seavey or Jax. Lauren Spencer Smith should be from S18. S20 should be no one. HunterGirl hasn't done much. 

 

[MalwareDie]

From Season 12, Johnny Keyser is by far the most successful since he actually had a hit single.

 

It is a joke to suggest that Colton is more successful than Phillip. Not sorry to say this.

 

Lauren Spencer Smith was also clearly the most successful from Season 18.

Edited December 6, 2024 by MalwareDie

[KelseyW]

15 years later and Lambert wasn't robbed of anything. You are DELUDED if you think he didn't get more than a fair shake promo and success after the show wise.

 

I was there. He was the only one getting raves in Rolling Stone magazine. They even had a full page ad promoting his album FYE.

 

So shut up. lol

[KelseyW]

Success after American Idol means horse crap unless you are for hating on the winners for no reason against their own for either wasting their wins or literally getting the runner up treatment.

 

I could mention several winners in that case who had fanbases but they were hated on just for WINNING the show.

 

IDK I have my favorites but no one is going to make me like them for having more awards, press, or album/single sells.

 

All of my snowflakes are independent without labels. Having a label means nothing.

Edited December 7, 2024 by KelseyW

[rockerannah]

On 12/5/2024 at 6:48 PM, QueenKalie said:

Scotty & Lauren are both bigger than Jimmie Allen is/was. Jimmie had a few duets that did well but he never really took of with his solo music. 

This!

On 12/6/2024 at 11:52 AM, mytake1 said:

I disagree about Jimmie Allen, Huntergirl. Where is Daniel Seavey, Jax from Season 14?  Where is Lauren Spencer Smith from Season 18? 

 

How is Colton Dixon more successful than Phillip Phillips?  Home is one of the biggest songs from Idol ever and he has one of the highest Monthly Listeners on Spotify. 

 

How is Maddie Poppe more successful than Candice Glover, Caleb Johnson, Nick Fradiani - whose debut albums all made the BB200 - and she did not.

 

And if the criteria is who auditioned for AI, there's Maren Morris, Chrissy Metz, Hillary Scott, Colbie Callait, Naya Rivera, Amber Riley, Bebe Rexha.

I would say that Colton and Phillip are pretty close. Colton has been very successful in the Christian rock/pop genre. 

 

 

Also no one mentioned Kellie Pickler. She's not more successful than Daughtry, but she had a pretty good run in country.

[rockerannah]

On 12/6/2024 at 6:57 PM, KelseyW said:

15 years later and Lambert wasn't robbed of anything. You are DELUDED if you think he didn't get more than a fair shake promo and success after the show wise.

 

I was there. He was the only one getting raves in Rolling Stone magazine. They even had a full page ad promoting his album FYE.

 

So shut up. lol

Rude lol

[mytake1]

4 hours ago, rockerannah said:

 

I would say that Colton and Phillip are pretty close. Colton has been very successful in the Christian rock/pop genre. 

Not according to sales, streaming, RIAA certification.  And while Colton has some success in the Christian genre, Idols Mandisa, Danny Gokey could easily challenge him.

[KelseyW]

10 hours ago, rockerannah said:

Rude lol

But not incorrect?

 

[kamil24]

Season 14 - Jax?

 

I mean she had a #35 hit on the Hot 100 and is certified Gold in US, with certifications in the UK and Canada as well. Over 2.3M monthly listeners on Spotify. A better option than "none".

[kamil24]

Oh and season 18 is easily Lauren Spencer Smith.

 

Season 10 is competitive between the actual top 3 Haley/Lauren/Scotty

[Tom_The_Man0000]

Season 20 is probably Sam Barber, who was an unaired Hollywood Week contestant. Has like 9 million monthly listeners on Spotify, 2 charted singles and an album that peaked at 58 in the Billboard 200