American Idol

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Two top five Jazz Albums debuts

Much of Abrams’ post-Idol career has been linked with his fellow season 10 alum Haley Reinhart. The pair recorded a cover of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” that peaked at No. 3 on the Holiday Digital Song Sales chart in 2011; they co-produced Reinhart’s AC-hit version of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in 2015; and they’ve both collaborated with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox since 2015, with Abrams and his upright bass taking center stage in jazzy covers of Fountains of Wayne’s “Stacey’s Mom” (11 million views) and the very fitting take on Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass,” which also features Reinhart and has more than 105 million views on YouTube. On the solo front, Abrams’ latest album, 2019’s Jazz, peaked at No. 2 on the Jazz Albums chart — one of his two top five debuts on the chart. – KATIE ATKINSON

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Landing two Adult Pop Airplay hits

In a vote of confidence for Idol’s move from Fox to ABC the season that Poppe won, she was voted the Competition Contestant of 2018 at that year’s People’s Choice Awards. Her 2019 debut studio album Whirlwind launched the single “Made You Miss,” which spent 16 weeks on Billboard’s Adult Pop Airplay chart, peaking at No. 21. A second single from the project, “Not Losing You,” spent 17 weeks on the chart and peaked at No. 26.  – GIL KAUFMAN

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Top 20 Country Airplay hit “There’s a Girl”

Harmon released a self-titled EP in 2016 that included the upbeat love song “There’s a Girl” (co-written by Harmon), which climbed to No. 18 on the Country Airplay chart. His full-length 2018 debut You Got ’Em All – whose track list included “Girl,” as well as his Keith Urban-co-written Idol coronation song “Falling” and the Country Airplay top 40 title track – was released via Big Machine Records and debuted at No. 2 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. – K.A.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Topping the Rock Digital Song Sales chart with his original track “I’ll Be Seeing You”

Along with Mick Fleetwood, Ziggy Marley and Sarah McLachlan, the native Hawaiian participated in the #MauiStrong livestream event to raise money following the August 2023 Maui wildfires. Since winning Idol, he’s delivered a studio duet with James Blunt of “Monsters” (the song he initially auditioned for the show with) and released an EP of Christmas music. – JOE LYNCH

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Joining the cast of Days of Our Lives

Since tying for 10th place on Idol as a 16-year-old back in 2011, Megia has turned her attention to acting, most notably as the character Haley Chen in the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives. The Filipino-American performer starred in 88 episodes of the long-running daytime series from 2018 to 2020. – K.A.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Voicing the title character in the Netflix film Arlo the Alligator Boy and TV series I Heart Arlo

After seeing Woodard’s Idol audition, director Ryan Crego cast the Philadelphia performer as the voice of the title character in the 2021 Netflix animated musical Arlo the Alligator Boy – alongside fellow voice actors Jennifer Coolidge, Mary Lambert and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea – and in a follow-up TV series on the streamer called I Heart Arlo. Also in 2021, Woodard became the third-ever signee to Idol judge Katy Perry’s Unsub Records, releasing his debut EP MJW1 via the Capitol Records imprint in January. – K.A.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Hosting South Korean music talk show After School Club

Heejun enlisted Pusha T for a verse on his dubstep-inspired debut single “Bring the Love Back” in 2013. That same year, the Korean-born, American-raised singer competed on the third season of the South Korean reality contest K-pop Star, reaching the top six. After a string of new music (including “Q&A” with Tiffany from Girls’ Generation) and acting roles (2015’s Seoul Searching), Heejun replaced Jae of Day6 as the co-host of the South Korean music talk show After School Club in 2018 alongside Seungmin of Stray Kids and then Kim Woosung of The Rose, staying on as an emcee until 2021. – K.A.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: No. 1 Dance Clubs Songs and Dance/Mix Show Airplay hit “Heartbreak on Vinyl”

Known as the first Idol beatboxing contestant, Lewis signed to Arista and then Tommy Boy to release four studio albums between 2007 and 2020. His first, A.D.D. (Audio Day Dream), peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. In 2009, Lewis performed for first lady Michelle Obama at the Congressional Club’s luncheon in her honor, singing three songs — including what might have been the first beatbox interpretation of “America the Beautiful.” Lewis has two Billboard No. 1s to his credit: His 2010 single “Heartbreak on Vinyl,” an ode to vanishing brick-and-mortar record stores, topped the Hot Dance Club Songs and Dance/Mix Show Airplay charts. – FRED BRONSON

Greatest post-Idol Achievement: Her song “Stronger Together,” written for Hillary Clinton, was spotlighted at the 2016 Democratic National Convention

In 2013, the Cali-bred vocal powerhouse reached No. 26 on the Billboard 200 with her debut studio album Me, You & the Music, which she paired with a two-episode stint on Glee that allowed her to flex her acting chops as the character Frida Romero. In the years since, she’s shifted her musical output to focus on impactful topics, including recording the unifying song “Stronger Together” for the 2016 Democratic National Convention and targeting xenophobia and racism with 2021’s “Us.” She kept the music with a message coming on 2022’s “Baddie,” a self-penned song about women’s empowerment. – KYLE DENIS

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Making her Billboard chart debut with “God Must Hate Me”

Turner earned praise from the judges when she auditioned with her original song “21st Century Machine,” which foreshadowed a career of brilliant and prolific songwriting for the pop performer. She’s released 20 singles since her Idol run, including 2023’s “God Must Hate Me,” which landed on the LyricFind U.S. chart at No. 20, marking her Billboard chart debut. In 2019, she opened for Meghan Trainor in Atlantic City, and in 2020, she signed to Atlantic Records, for whom she’s released three EPs. – F.B.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Top five Adult Pop Airplay hit “Live Like We’re Dying”

Allen introduced his 2009 self-titled debut album with the lead single “Live Like We’re Dying,” which was written by The Script and recorded as a bonus track for the Irish rock band’s 2008 album before soaring to new heights with Allen, peaking at No. 3 on the Adult Pop Airplay chart and hitting the top 20 of the Hot 100 (No. 18). The Arkansas native has since released four more studio albums and collaborated on songs with Train singer Pat Monahan and Toby Gad (John Legend, Fergie). The former mission worker has also dedicated his time to a pair of charity organizations that promote music education for children: Music Empowers Foundation and Little Kids Rock. – G.K.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Starring in Tyler Perry’s Madea on the Run film

In 2004, London was signed to Concord Records’ Peak imprint and released her debut album Love & Life the next year, which debuted at No. 27 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. London went on to star as Nettie and Shug Avery in separate productions of the stage musical The Color Purple, winning an Ovation Award for featured actress in a musical in 2012 for her role as Avery. Her stage work also includes the musical adaptation of The Bodyguard film, and she starred in both the 2017 film version and national tour of Tyler Perry’s Madea on the Run. – F.B.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Hitting No. 3 on the Hot 100 with his debut single

When the dust settled on season 7’s Battle of the Davids, Cook emerged victorious. With his debut single “The Time of My Life,” Cook secured a No. 3 debut on the Hot 100, while consistently placing other singles in the top 40 of the chart for the next year. Even after he parted ways with RCA in 2012, Cook kept his career going, whether it was through his independently released rock songs or a starring role in the hit Broadway musical Kinky Boots in 2018. – STEPHEN DAW

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Top 20 Adult Contemporary cover of “Can’t Help Falling in Love”

Reinhart’s 2012 debut album Listen Up! landed at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the Adult Pop Airplay hit “Free” (No. 26), leading to her gig as the first Idol alum to play Lollapalooza that same year. In 2015, she began recording and touring with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, performing jazzy covers for their popular YouTube channel. Her cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” is the group’s most-watched video ever (currently at 120 million-plus views), and she sings on their four most popular videos of all time. Her second album, Better, was released in 2016 and includes a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” that went viral after its inclusion in a touching commercial for Extra Gum, peaking at No. 17 on the Adult Contemporary chart. – K.A.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: No. 1 Hot Christian Songs and Christian AC Airplay hit “Build a Boat”

Dixon has scored three No. 1 albums on the Top Christian Albums chart, all of which also impacted the Billboard 200. The singer-songwriter has toured with TobyMac and Third Day and has twice won the GMA Dove Award for best rock/contemporary album of the year (for A Messenger and Anchor in 2013 and 2015, respectively). In 2022, his single “Build a Boat” spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart and 10 weeks atop Christian AC Airplay. – J.Lynch

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Top 40 Pop Airplay hit “8th World Wonder”

Thanks to her deal with Nashville-based Curb Records, Locke made Idol history as the first finalist to be signed to a major record label other than RCA, the company that had an agreement to release music by all the show’s winners. Her debut single “8th World Wonder” was a top 10 Adult Contemporary hit and top 40 Pop Airplay hit, and it peaked at No. 49 on the Hot 100. Locke was queen of the Adult Contemporary chart for three Decembers in a row when she had No. 1 hits with her Christmas covers of “Up on the Housetop” (2005), “Frosty the Snowman” (2006) and “Jingle Bells” (2007). Her television work incudes guest-hosting The View and competing on a celebrity edition of Don’t Forget the Lyrics!, as well as Family Feud and Celebrity Fit Club. In 2011, Locke founded her own company, I AM Entertainment. – F.B.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: DeGarmo was one of the first Idol alumni to star on Broadway, with roles in Hairspray and Hair

DeGarmo’s first post-Idol single “Dreams” peaked at No. 14 on the Hot 100. She has continued to record, releasing the vinyl double-LP Gemini in 2019, which includes many of her own compositions. In addition to her work on Broadway in Hairspray and Hair, as well as an off-Broadway production of The Toxic Avenger, DeGarmo has appeared in productions of West Side Story, starring as Maria, and Brooklyn: The Musical in the title role. After her wedding to fellow Idol alum Ace Young (see No. 33) on June 1, 2013, she starred as the Narrator in a national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, with Young in the title role. Her other stage work includes a Hollywood production of Back to Bacharach and David, and she had a story arc as a singer on the daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless. – F.B.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Co-writing Daughtry’s top five Hot 100 hit “It’s Not Over”

During the 2006 summer Idol tour, Young wrote a song with fellow contestant Chris Daughtry that would become Daughtry’s breakout hit “It’s Not Over,” which earned Grammy nominations for best rock song and best rock performance and peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100. Young made his Broadway debut in Grease in 2008 and then starred in Hair in 2010, where he met and fell in love with his co-star Diana DeGarmo (see No. 34). In one of the most memorable moments of any Idol season finale, Young arranged to surprise DeGarmo on the 2012 live broadcast by dropping to one knee and proposing marriage. The couple have been married since 2013 and have frequently worked together, including on a national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, where Young took the title role to DeGarmo’s Narrator. – F.B.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Self-titled debut hitting No. 1 on Top Country Albums

Covington’s 2007 self-titled debut flew straight to No. 1 on Top Country Albums, selling 61,000 copies and scoring the best opening week for a debut album by a man on the chart since Billy Ray Cyrus’ Some Gave All in 1992. The project spun off three top 20 hits on the Hot Country Songs chart – “A Different World” (No. 6), “I’ll Walk” (No. 10) and “It’s Good to Be Us” (No. 11), all of which also landed on the Hot 100 – and included a pair of deep cuts co-written by future country superstar Chris Stapleton. – K.A.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Joining Blood, Sweat & Tears as their lead singer

Bice’s debut album entered the Billboard 200 at No. 4, one of the highest new entries for an Idol alum’s album at that time. In 2006, the Huntsville, Ala., native was one of the “friends” (alongside Hank Williams Jr. and Three Doors Down) on the TV special Decades Rock Live: Lynyrd Skynyrd & Friends. Two years later, Bice joined Todd Rundgren, Denny Laine, Lou Gramm and Christopher Cross on a tour celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Beatles album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. After memorably performing Blood, Sweat & Tears’ song “Spinning Wheel” on Idol, Bice took over lead vocal duties for the ’60s rock band in 2013, performing with the group through 2018.– F.B.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Top five Pop Airplay hit “Wait for You”

Yamin went the indie route after his top three Idol finish, releasing his self-titled debut through Nashville’s Hickory Records in March 2007 and debuting atop the Independent Albums chart and at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. The project’s breakout single “Wait for You” climbed as high as No. 13 on the Hot 100, thanks in part to its steady popularity at radio. The song peaked at No. 4 on Pop Airplay and landed at No. 15 on the 2007 year-end Adult Contemporary chart. – K.A.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Kicking off his career with three top 5 Hot Country Songs hits, including the No. 1 “Nothin’ to Lose”

Gracin was on active military duty while on Idol and completed his service after his season. Following his discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps, he released a string of 24 singles, right up to his new 2024 song “Blame It on a Girl,” plus three studio albums (the first two went top five on Top Country Albums). He kicked off his career with three top five hits on the Hot Country Songs chart, including the 2005 No. 1 “Nothin’ to Lose.” Gracin has also toured consistently, with dates scheduled this year. – F.B.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Recurring role in the FX comedy/horror series What We Do in the Shadows

After finding online acclaim for eight EPs of R&B-leaning pop music under the pseudonym TOTEM between 2015 and 2017 – playing Lollapalooza under the alias and penning an essay for Billboard about then-President Trump’s immigration ban – Desai switched gears to acting, guest-starring on the Paul Giamatti-starring HBO series Billions (2020) and two episodes of Natasha Lyonne’s Netflix show Russian Doll (2022). He currently has a recurring role as The Djinn on the FX comedy/horror series What We Do in the Shadows and made his film debut last year alongside Michael Cera in The Adults. – K.A.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Originating the role of Carlos in the Broadway musical Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Guarini made his Broadway debut in 2010, starring in the musical adaptation of Pedro Almodóvar’s film Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, alongside Patti Lupone and Laura Benanti. Once he was embraced by the Broadway community, Guarini continued to star on the Great White Way, including replacing one of the leads in the Green Day musical American Idiot in 2011, as the title role in a contemporary production of Romeo and Juliet in 2013, and a run as Fiyero in Wicked in 2014. Guarini has been most visible starring in the role of Lil’ Sweet in a series of commercials for Dr. Pepper. He’s also had many hosting duties, including backstage at the 2016 Tony Awards for BroadwayHD.com as well as Idol Wrap and Idol Tonight for the TV Guide Network. He is the author of Audition Secrets, a guide to nailing casting calls. – F.B.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Top 10 albums in three different genres on the Billboard charts

Since his time on Idol, Gokey has landed top 10 projects on Top Christian Albums (including three No. 1s), Top Country Albums and even Latin Pop Albums (2016’s La Esperanza Frente A Mi) – and don’t forget Top Holiday Albums too, with 2015’s Christmas Is Here landing at No. 1. The three-time Grammy nominee and two-time GMA Dove Award winner’s soulful drawl has helped him grow into one of Idol’s brightest stars, and his most recent LP, 2021’s Jesus People, saw yet another expansion of Gokey’s sound, as he dabbled in classical music and dance-pop. – K.D.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Co-writing Fantasia’s Hot 100-topping Idol coronation song

Gray has been acting regularly since the show, landing a recurring role on season 3 of the Emmy-winning David E. Kelley series Boston Public in 2003; as a singer in the 2008 Anne Hathaway-starring indie film Rachel Getting Married; and with three stints on Broadway, including as a replacement for Mimi in Rent (2007) and Papa Ge in the Tony-winning revival of Once on This Island (2018). She also had a pair of high-profile songwriting gigs connected to Idol: co-writing Fantasia’s powerhouse Hot 100-topping season 3 coronation song “I Believe” as well as the Kelly Clarkson duet “You Thought Wrong” from her fellow season 1 alum’s debut album Thankful. – K.A.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Two top 20 songs on Alternative Digital Song Sales chart under the moniker scarypoolparty

Since his Idol days, Aranda has been recording under the name scarypoolparty, often creating music that’s a far cry from typical Idol fare. He’s branched out into everything from vibey R&B to industrial metal, landing two top 20 hits on the Alternative Digital Song Sales chart in 2019: “Tonight” (No. 6) and “Cholo Love” (No. 16). The Twin Shadow mentee has performed at festivals from Lollapalooza to Austin City Limits, toured as support for X Ambassadors and collaborated with deathcore outfit Left to Suffer. – J.Lynch

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Recording three releases with Maverick City Music

After releasing the EP Bloom in 2016 and the non-album single “Plunge” the following year, Rose joined Maverick City Music for a few releases, starting with the 2019 EP Maverick City Vol. 2. Rose returned for the 2020 albums Maverick City, Vol. 3: Part 1 and Maverick City Christmas, both of which made the top five on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart. The former was a fixture on that chart for nearly 200 weeks and won a Billboard Music Award for Top Gospel Album. – PAUL GREIN

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Two Billboard 200 top 10 albums with boy band Why Don’t We

One year after his time on Idol, Daniel Seavey formed the American boy band Why Don’t We alongside Jack Avery, Corbyn Besson, Zach Heron and Jonah Marais. The group released its Billboard 200 top 10 debut album 8 Letters in 2018. Why Don’t We earned its first Hot 100 top 40 hit with “Fallin’ (Adrenaline)” from the band’s 2021 sophomore album The Good Times and the Bad Ones, which became their highest-charting project after debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. After the group announced it was going on hiatus in 2022, Seavey embarked on his first solo headlining tour, titled Introducing Daniel Seavey, in January 2023 and dropped his debut solo EP Dancing in the Dark last year.  – HERAN MAMO

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Winning the Grammy for best contemporary Christian music album

In 2014, Mandisa became the first woman to win the Grammy for best contemporary Christian music album, triumphing for 2013’s Top Christian Albums No. 1 Overcomer. The project’s title track – whose music video featured inspirational footage of Robin Roberts, Gabby Giffords and more – hit No. 1 on both the Hot Christian Songs and Christian Airplay charts. Since her time on Idol, the singer – who died in April at age 47 – placed all six of her studio albums on the Billboard 200, starting with 2007’s True Beauty. A cherished member of the Christian music family, Mandisa’s gorgeous voice will live on through her music and fans. – K.D.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: His Billboard 200-topping debut album Soulful and its Hot 100 top 10 lead single “Sorry 2004”

Studdard scored right out of the gate with his Hot 100 No. 2 cover of Westlife’s “Flying Without Wings” followed by a No. 1 debut album (Soulful) and a Grammy nomination for his recording of “Superstar,” first made famous by The Carpenters. Soulful lead single “Sorry 2004” was a Hot 100 top 10 hit, peaking at No. 9 in, you guessed it, 2004. His follow-up gospel album I Need an Angel debuted at No. 1 on the Top Gospel Albums chart in ’04 as well. The enduring friendship between Studdard and his Idol runner-up Clay Aiken (whom he edged out by fewer than 134,000 votes out of 24 million) is also inspiring, including a series of joint tours and the 2018 Broadway holiday musical Ruben & Clay’s Christmas Show, as well as their recent adorable appearance on The Masked Singer in a dual costume as The Beets. – G.K.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Debuting on the Hot 100 seven years after her time on the show

Pop-rock singer/songwriter Jax took her time garnering an audience, growing her fanbase through viral videos on TikTok (where she boasts more than 14 million followers) in which she updated lyrics of songs like Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8r Boi” and Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.” Jax hit a cultural nerve with the release of her bombastic single “Victoria’s Secret” in 2022. Taking the underwear brand to task for the creation of unrealistic body standards, Jax’s song blew up overnight, earning her a top 40 spot on the Hot 100, with her song peaking at No. 35 and making her a name to watch. – S.D.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: A top 10 country hit that she co-wrote with Taylor Swift

Pickler has released four albums, all of which made the top five on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. The first two, Small Town Girl and Kellie Pickler, reached No. 1. Pickler teamed with Taylor Swift to write “Best Days of Your Life,” which reached the top 10 on Hot Country Songs in 2009. Pickler also served as the opening act on Swift’s Fearless Tour in 2009-10. In 2013, Pickler won season 16 of Dancing With the Stars. From 2017 to 2019, she and comedian Ben Aaron co-hosted the daytime TV talk show Pickler & Ben. – P.G.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: “Crush” peaking at No. 2 on the Hot 100 and topping Digital Song Sales

It’s been 16 years since Archuleta stole America’s hearts as the sweet, teenage runner-up of season 7. Since then, he’s continued to win music lovers over with enduring hits like 2008’s “Crush” – which peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100 and topped the Digital Song Sales chart – and “A Little Too Not Over You.” While the star, who grew up as a devout Mormon, briefly put his career on pause to complete a mission trip to Chile, he has since returned to music and came out as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community in 2021. Currently, Archuleta is fresh off the release of a new song “Hell Together” and working on a memoir to tell his story on his own terms. – RANIA ANIFTOS

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Landing his first Country Airplay No. 1 with the self-penned “23”

Beckham hit the ground running after winning season 19 in 2021, immediately making waves on the Country Airplay chart with his Lindsay Ell duet “Can’t Do Without Me.” He’s now a veteran on the chart, with his 2024 solo-written hit “23” marking his first leader on the tally, and marking his Hot 100 debut with a No. 45 peak. He followed up on the stream of success with his debut album, Bad for Me, which was released via 19 Recordings/Wheelhouse Records/BMG in April 2024 – when Billboard also named him our Country Rookie of the Month. – R.A.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Starring on five seasons of Freeform’s The Bold Type

Following her exit from season 9, Stevens starred in two musicals – Bare: A Pop Opera and Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical – but found her biggest successes on television. She starred as Karma Ashcroft on MTV’s romantic comedy series Faking It, which won breakout show at the 2014 Teen Choice Awards. One year after the show ended, Stevens scored the lead role as Jane Sloan on Freeform’s comedy drama series The Bold Type about three women who work at the fictional global women’s magazine Scarlet in NYC. The Bold Type, which was on air for five seasons, won Choice Summer TV Show at the TCAs from 2017-2019, while Stevens earned individual nominations for Choice Summer TV Star at the Teen Choice Awards and best television actress at the Imagen Awards in 2018. – H.M.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Only Idol alum to be Tony-nominated for both acting and producing

The hirsute Greek-American stallion of season 4 put his rock bona fides and flair for drama (plus that BFA in musical theater from the Boston Conservatory) to work in various theater productions both on and off-Broadway, playing roles ranging from Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar to Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde in Jekyll/Hyde. He scored Broadway’s biggest accolade, Tony nominations, both on and offstage: for his acting in Rock of Ages – also making a cameo in the 2012 film remake as a record exec – and as a producer on the Deaf West revival of Spring Awakening. – REBECCA MILZOFF

Greatest post-Idol achievement: “Home” topped the Adult Contemporary chart for 12 weeks in 2013

From the beginning of season 11, Phillip Phillips was the guy next door, staying true to himself in a T-shirt, jeans and a guitar no matter the circumstances (OG Idol fans remember when he refused Tommy Hilfiger’s makeover during an episode). That authenticity stretched beyond his win, as he made fans feel right at “Home” with his debut track – which spent 12 weeks atop the Adult Contemporary chart in 2013 and was a top 10 Hot 100 hit too, peaking at No. 6 – as well as follow-up hits including “Gone Gone Gone.” Phillips dropped his latest album, Drift Back, in 2023 and continues to tour. – R.A.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Simultaneously topping five Billboard charts with the Kane Brown duet “What Ifs”

While she got off to a hot start with the top 20 Hot 100 debut of her Idol coronation song “Like My Mother Does,” Alaina wouldn’t find her way back to the chart until 2017 with “Road Less Traveled,” which heralded her mainstream breakthrough following years of toiling in the country scene. But it was the seismic success of her Kane Brown duet “What Ifs” — which ranked as the sixth-biggest Hot Country Songs hit of the 2010s – that made her a bona fide star. More smash collaborations with fellow country stars HARDY (“One Beer”) and Dustin Lynch (“Thinking ’Bout You”) followed, as did scores of massive tour looks, including opening stints on treks with Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton and Pentatonix. In 2022, Alaina was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, the kind of 10-year full-circle moment every girl dreams of. – K.D.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Running for Congress as the Democratic candidate in his home state of North Carolina

Clay Aiken became so ubiquitous in pop culture in the years following his 2003 Idol run that it’s easy to forget that he didn’t actually win the show’s second season – instead finishing as runner-up to Ruben Studdard (see No. 20). Still, it was his ballad debut single “This Is the Night” that won the post-show battle on the charts, debuting atop the Hot 100, while his No. 4-peaking “The Way”/”Solitaire” double-A-side fared the best of any of that season’s post-Idol singles and his “Invisible” became an indelibly creepy pop-rock radio banger. His first five albums would all reach the Billboard 200’s top 10, led by his 2003 debut Measure of a Man, which topped the listing and was certified two-times platinum by the RIAA. But his greatest post-Idol achievement is one nothing to do with music or even entertainment: A career-long activist, Aiken got into politics in the 2010s and was even selected as the Democratic candidate for North Carolina’s second congressional district in 2014 – though he again lost in the finals, as Republican incumbent Renee Elmers was ultimately re-elected.  – ANDREW UNTERBERGER

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Starring in NBC’s cult-classic musical series Smash

The season 5 runner-up has had assorted TV, movie and Broadway roles (including as a replacement in the Sara Bareilles-penned Waitress musical), a big branding deal (Neutrogena), and a pair of Christmas albums that both hit Billboard’s Top Holiday Albums chart. But her most lasting win came in 2011, when she won the role of Karen Cartwright in NBC’s musical drama Smash. While it was on air for just two seasons, the show and McPhee’s starring performance as the lead ingenue have become cult classics. In a very meta moment, more than a decade after it wrapped on NBC, Smash is set to become a Broadway musical. In 2019, McPhee married legendary producer David Foster, with whom she has a young son (who may well be a drum prodigy). – R.M.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: The 27-week No. 1 country hit “I Hope”

Barrett’s debut single “I Hope” logged 27 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, while a remix featuring Charlie Puth reached No. 3 on the Hot 100. Her follow-up, “The Good Ones,” also topped Hot Country Songs and cracked the top 20 of the Hot 100. Barrett has won three Billboard Music Awards, two American Music Awards, two ACM Awards and two CMT Music Awards. She is set to make her acting debut in an upcoming film written and directed by Trey Edward Shults, which will also feature The Weeknd, Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan. In another Idol love story, Barrett married fellow season 16 finalist Cade Foehner in 2019. – P.G.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Kicking off her career with five top 20 Hot 100 hits

After triumphing in season 6 of Idol, Sparks became an immediate rhythmic-pop mainstay in the late 2000s, hitting the top 20 of the Hot 100 with her coronation song “This is My Now” as well as her next four releases: “Tattoo,” her Chris Brown duet “No Air” (a career-high No. 3), “One Step at a Time” and “Battlefield.” Sparks has continued a prolific recording career in the years since and has gone on to star in feature film and Broadway productions, and that opening run of hits continues to accrue millions of streams and radio spins more than a decade later. – JASON LIPSHUTZ

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Five Country Airplay No. 1 hits

The season 10 champ was the second-youngest winner at the time of his crowning, at just 17 years old – though he already possessed the baritone and demeanor of a much-more-seasoned vet. Perhaps that’s why it’s seemed like Scotty McCreery has only grown into his stardom in the 13 years since, as he shook off a spotty start to his post-Idol career by going independent in 2017, leaving Mercury Nashville and immediately landing his first Country Airplay No. 1 with the ballad “Five More Minutes,” inspired by the death of his grandfather. McCreery scored his fifth consecutive Country Airplay No. 1 in 2022 with “Damn Strait,” a tribute to his hero George Strait, whose “Check Yes or No” he delivered a memorable performance of – by the country icon’s own request – during his winning Idol run. McCreery’s status as one of country radio’s most reliable hitmakers has lasted him through 2024, as he scored a No. 2 Country Airplay hit just this May with the heartbreaker “Cab in a Solo.” – A.U.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: His self-titled debut was the then-fastest-selling debut rock album in SoundScan history

With his band Daughtry, the season 5 standout found immediate and sustained success on the Hot 100 and Billboard rock charts, including a self-titled 2006 debut album that sold more than 6 million copies and spent two weeks atop the Billboard 200. The project’s lead single, “It’s Not Over,” peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100 and topped both the Pop Airplay and Adult Pop Airplay charts, while earning a Grammy nomination for best rock song and best rock performance by a duo or group with vocals (two of four nods earned for the album). Daughtry was the first of two No. 1 albums in a row for the grunge-inspired hard rock act, followed by a pair of top 10 debuts and now the 2023 single “Artificial,” which ran up to No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in February.– G.K.

Greatest post-Idol Achievement: Her Golden Globe-nominated starring role in The Color Purple

In 2004, Fantasia’s voice rallied the nation thanks to its idiosyncratic grit and incomparable emotion. Twenty years later, that voice drove the film adaptation of The Color Purple musical – which she also starred in on Broadway from 2007-08 – to the top of the domestic box office and into the awards conversation. Whether she’s cementing herself in the R&B history books with timeless cuts like “When I See U” and “Free Yourself” or earning Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for her portrayal of Celie in The Color Purple, Fantasia is simply captivating. Each time life throws her an obstacle, she seems to bounce back 10 times stronger. After all, who else could star in their own biopic, which was based on their own New York Times best-selling memoir that only covered the first third of her music career? After being named one of Time magazine’s most influential people of 2024 and with a new gospel album on the horizon to follow up yet another career peak, Fantasia is drawing up the post-Idol longevity blueprint right before our eyes. – K.D.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Touring as the lead vocalist of Queen

He may have finished second on Idol, but there’s no doubt that in the years since his debut on the show, Lambert has become nothing short of a capital-W winner. In the decade-and-a-half since he stunned the Idol audience with his glam-rock vocal stylings, Lambert has scored a top 10 hit on the Hot 100 with “Whataya Want From Me” and three top five debuts on the Billboard 200, with Trespassing‘s No. 1 start making him the first openly gay man to top the chart. That’s not even to mention how the singer became the touring frontman of Queen + Adam Lambert, embarking on multiple globe-spanning treks with Sir Brian May and Roger Taylor. Whether in his solo career, his collaborations, or his advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, Lambert has made it abundantly clear that he’s a superstar from day one. – S.D.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: The only Idol alum to win the EGOT

Hudson established herself as a versatile powerhouse after rising to fame during season 3 and leaving in a shocking seventh-place finish. After signing with Arista/J Records and RCA two years after that Idol exit, Hudson released her Billboard 200 No. 2 eponymous debut album in 2008, leading to her first Grammy win, for best R&B album. J-Hud made her film debut as Effie White in the 2006 musical drama Dreamgirls and won an Oscar for best supporting actress. She expanded her acting résumé with roles in The Secret Life of Bees and the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect, with the late Queen of Soul personally selecting Hudson to portray her. Hudson released two more Billboard 200 top 10 albums, with I Remember Me (2011) and JHUD (2014), and she won her second Grammy in 2017 for best musical theater album with The Color Purple, two years after she made her Broadway debut in the musical. In 2022, she collected a Tony Award for producing the Broadway musical A Strange Loop — making her the only Idol alum to win the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony). – H.M.

Greatest post-Idol achievement: Becoming the best-selling artist ever to come from Idol

You have to hand it to Simon Cowell. Way back when Underwood appeared on Idol in 2005, he confidently told the vocal powerhouse: “Not only will you win this show, you will sell more records than any other previous Idol winner.” Nearly 20 years later, one of the most vocally gifted singers Idol has produced remains its top record seller, with 85 million albums sold worldwide, according to her label Capitol Records Nashville. Her coronation single, “Inside Your Heaven,” debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 and her popularity has never waned. Her 2007 Hot 100 top 10 “Before He Cheats” spent more than a year on the chart. But it’s on the country charts where she has truly left her mark: Eight of her nine studio albums have debuted at No. 1 on Top Country Albums and she’s taken 18 singles to the top of the country charts. She also leads all Idol alumni with the most Grammy wins at eight and is the only woman to win the ACM Award for entertainer of the year three times. – MELINDA NEWMAN

Greatest post-Idol achievement: A tie for her three No. 1 Hot 100 hits & her 19-time Daytime Emmy-winning talk show

Two decades after becoming a star, the original Idol champ’s list of accomplishments continues to grow year after year, as Clarkson has hosted a TV talk show (which has earned 19 Daytime Emmys along the way, with eight new nominations pending) for five seasons, spent multiple seasons as a coach on The Voice, toured the world before scoring a Las Vegas residency, won three Grammys from 17 nominations, and released one of the most successful new holiday hits of the 21st century (“Underneath the Tree”). Yet when we think of Clarkson’s career since becoming an Idol star all those years ago, we can’t help but think of the hits first and foremost — the heartfelt joy of “A Moment Like This,” the fluttering hope of “Breakaway,” the unshakeable command of “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” and, of course, the pop perfection of “Since U Been Gone.” With three Hot 100 chart-toppers (more than any other Idol alum) and 11 top 10 hits, Clarkson has become one of the most reliable hitmakers of a pop generation — the crown jewel in a sparkling career that is still going strong today. – J.Lipshutz