American Idol first premiered in 2002 with Simon Cowell, Paul Abdul and Randy Jackson. Now, 17 years later, the hit reality talent show has seen 17 seasons, a reboot and new panels of judges — but did the show create musical prodigies?
From the show's first winner, Kelly Clarkson to the most recent, Maddie Poppe, find out where they are now.
Season 1 – Kelly Clarkson
Arguably one of the most recognizable winners from the reality talent show is current The Voice judge Kelly Clarkson. It's easy to say that she continues to lead a very successful music career — winning three Grammys and releasing eight studio albums.
Season 2 – Ruben Studdard
Winner of American Idol in 2003, the now 40-year-old has received a Grammy nomination and won two Billboard Music Awards since his rise to Gospel stardom. He is currently signed with Verve Records, who also represented jazz music legends Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Stan Getz and Billie Holiday.
Studdard is currently touring and will be performing Vilar Performing Arts Center Tuesday.
Season 3 – Fantasia Barrino
Known simply by her mononym Fantasia, the Season 3 winner is still making waves in the music industry. Winning two Billboard Music Awards and receiving 11 Grammy nomination through her career, the 37-year-old doesn't look to have any plans of slowing down in the R&B world.
Season 4 – Carrie Underwood
Another easily recognizable face in the American Idol alumni is country singer Carrie Underwood. Over the course of her 15-year career, the 36-year-old has received over 300 award nominations; winning seven Grammys and 10 Billboard Music Awards.
In 2010, the country singer made Academy of Country Music Awards history when she became the first woman to win Entertainer of the Year twice.
Season 5 – Taylor Hicks
Since winning American Idol, 42-year-old Taylor Hicks' debut single "Do I Make You Proud" debuted at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2006. The singer has three studio albums, his latest one being in 2009; however, that doesn't mean his music career is over.
Hicks released his latest single "Six Strings & Diamond Rings" in 2017 and is currently starring in the musical "Shenandoah" at Serenbe Playhouse from March 13 to April 7.
Season 6 – Jordin Sparks
Becoming one of the youngest winners of American Idol in 2007, Jordin Sparks currently holds the third spot of the highest-selling single by any American Idol contestant for her collaborative single "No Air."
The 29-year-old has received numerous nominations throughout her career. Her most recent win was a 2014 songwriting BMI Pop Award for Ariana Grande's song "The Way."
Season 7 – David Cook
A week after winning American Idol in 2008, David Cook broke multiple Billboard chart records, most notably having 11 singles debut on the Hot 100. Since then, the 36-year-old has released three studio albums, most recently his 2018 album Chromance.
Cook is set to perform March 29 at the Tin Path South Songwriters Festival in Nashville.
Season 8 – Kris Allen
Following his American Idol win in 2009, Kris Allen's self-titled album debuted at No. 11 on Billboard's Top 100. Since then, his most recent album Letting You In was released in 2016; however, tragedy struck the rock singer when he got into a car accident New Year's Day in 2017.
Breaking his wrist in the head-on collision, Allen had to learn how to play the guitar all over again. The singer isn't touring at the moment, but it can be speculated that his comeback is in the works.
Season 9 – Lee DeWyze
After Lee DeWyze won American Idol in 2010, he won a Teen Choice Award for Male Reality/Variety Star. Since then, the 32-year-old has released five studio albums, most recently in 2018.
DeWyze is currently gearing up to begin month-long tour starting in April. For tour dates and locations, click here.
Season 10 – Scott McCreery
Since his American Idol win 2011, Scott McCreery has released four studio albums and peaked at No. 11 on Billboard's Top 100 for his debut single "I Love You This Big."
Most recently, McCreery converted his wedding footage to a music video for his single "This Is It" in 2018. Tickets are currently for sale for his months-long tour, starting in Detriot on March 21.
Season 11 – Phillip Phillips
Aside from winning American Idol, Phillip Phillips is arguably known for his hit singles "Home" and "Gone, Gone, Gone." His most recent studio album Collateral was released last year, however, the 28-year-old singer-songwriter has no upcoming tours or events.
Season 12 – Candice Glover
Auditioning three times before being cast, Candice Glover became American Idol 's winner in 2013. Since her victory, Glover released her only studio album Music Speaks in 2014; however, her most recent single "Break Me" debuted in 2018.
Currently, the 29-year-old is starring in a live sitcom GRITS (Girls Raised In The South), which the singer announced via Twitter.
Season 13 – Caleb Johnson
Since his victory on American Idol's 13th season, rock singer Caleb Johnson has released one studio album. More recently, the 27-year-old released his single "Born and Raised" in 2018 and his second album Born From Southern Ground is available for pre-order via iTunes.
No upcoming tour dates have been announced, but it can be speculated that a tour will follow the album's release.
Season 14 – Nick Fradiani
Since his 2015 win, Nick Fradiani released his first EP Where We Left Off in 2017, but the pop artist is arguably better known for his 2015 debut single "Beautiful Life."
The 33-year-old singer confirmed via Twitter an event in April with singer Matt Nathanson at the Paramount in New York.
Season 15 – Trent Harmon
Winning the final season of American Idol before the reboot, Trent Harmon released his debut studio album You Got 'Em All in 2018. This is no tour information on his website, but it can be speculated that the 28-year-old is just getting started.
Season 16 (Season 1 of Show's Reboot) Maddie Poppe
The most recent winner of the reality talent show franchise, Maddie Poppe released her debut single "Little Things" in February. A studio album is underway, but no release date has been confirmed.
"I've whittled it down to about 14 songs," Poppe said in a We Are Iowa report. "I still have to pick a final 10. So 10 are going to make the album. And I'm still working every day to figure out what's going to make the best combination here."
The 21-year-old also made recent headlines regarding her adorable relationship with American Idol runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson. Both musicians are focused on creating music for their fans, which seem to be inspired by their romantic relationship.
"There's a line in the song, 'There's a million little things that keep reminding me of you,'" Maddie said to E! Online regarding her single "Little Things." "And it's really true to my life story because I'm out here in Los Angeles a lot and this time last year, I was with Caleb everyday out here."
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Hannah Preston works remotely from the Los Angeles area. She studied Journalism & New Media at California Baptist University and interned ... Read more
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