1st Place
Kris Allen
Kris Allen born on June the 21st 1985 is an American singer-songwriter from Conway, Arkansas, and the winner of the eighth season of American Idol. Prior to Idol, he self-released a 2007 album entitled Brand New Shoes.
Allen’s Idol coronation song, “No Boundaries” and his version of “Heartless” both charted within the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. Allen’s post-Idol self-titled album was released on November 17, 2009, through Jive Records. The album debuted at #11 on the U.S. Billboard 200 shifting over 80,000 copies. The album’s lead single, “Live Like We’re Dying”, was released on September 21, 2009, and has so far peaked at #25 in the U.S.
David Cook
David Cook, born December the 20th 1982 is an American rock singer-songwriter, who rose to fame after winning the seventh season of the reality television show American Idol. Prior to Idol he released an album entitled Analog Heart, and his post-Idol self-titled album, produced by Rob Cavallo, was released on November 18, 2008 and has since been certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Cook was born in Houston, Texas, raised in Blue Springs, Missouri, and currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri. His parents are Beth Foraker and Stanley Cook. He is the middle of three brothers, the late Adam being older and Andrew younger. He is of German, Irish, and English descent.
Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks born the 22nd of December 22, 1989 is an American R&B and pop singer from Glendale, Arizona who rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. Sparks won when she was 17 years old, making her the youngest winner. She followed her American Idol victory with the release of her self-titled debut album in 2007, which has gone Platinum and has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. Sparks’ second single “No Air”, which features Chris Brown, is the song with the most paid downloads by any American Idol contestant, selling about 4 million digital copies worldwide. Due to the success of her debut album and its four top 20 singles, she has won an American Music Award in 2008 and received her first Grammy nomination in 2009.
Taylor Hicks
Taylor Hicks, born on the 7th October 1976, is an American singer who achieved fame in 2006, when he won the fifth season of American Idol. Hicks got his start as a professional musician in his late teens and performed around the Southeastern United States for well over the span of a decade, during which he also released two independent albums. Upon winning Idol, he was signed to Arista Records, under which his self-titled major label debut was released on December 12, 2006.
His energetic stage performances and influences derived from classic rock, blues, and R&B music had earned him a following of devout fans, who have been dubbed the “Soul Patrol.”
His CD, The Distance, was released March 10, 2009, with the first single, “What’s Right Is Right”, going to AC adds January 27, 2009.
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood born on the 10th of March 1983 is an American country singer and songwriter from Checotah, Oklahoma. She rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol. She has since become a multi-platinum selling recording artist, a multiple Grammy Award winner, was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, is a two-time Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Female Vocalist winner, and was the entertainer of the year. Her debut album, Some Hearts, was certified seven times platinum, is the fastest selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history. It is also the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history. Some Hearts yielded three number one hits on the country charts in the United States: “Jesus, Take the Wheel”, “Wasted”, and “Before He Cheats”, her biggest hit to date.
Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia Barrino born on the 30th of June 1984, is an American R&B/soul singer, Broadway and television actress who rose to fame as the winner of the third season of the television series American Idol in 2004. She has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards. After playing the part of Celie in the Broadway musical The Color Purple, she is cast to be in the film adaptation of the musical.
In 2004, she released her debut single, I Believe, which debuted at the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100, making Barrino the first recording artist in history to debut at the number one spot with a debut single. Subsequently, she released her debut album, Free Yourself, which went on to be certified Platinum by the RIAA and garnered Barrino four Grammy nominations in 2006.
Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard born on 12th September 1978, is an American pop, R&B, and gospel singer. He rose to fame as winner of the second season of American Idol. He received a Grammy Award nomination in December 2003 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Superstar.”
In the years following Idol, Studdard has released four studio albums, including his most recent disc, 2009’s Love Is.
In addition to appearing on various television shows he has toured with Robin Givens in the comedy-drama Heaven I Need a Hug and in 2008 accepted the role of Fats Waller in a national tour of Ain’t Misbehavin’.
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson born on the 24th of April 1982 is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress. Clarkson made her debut under RCA Records after she won the first season of the television series American Idol in 2002.
Clarkson has released four albums to date: her double-platinum debut album Thankful (2003), her multi-platinum second album Breakaway (2004) – won two Grammy Awards, My December (2007), and her latest album All I Ever Wanted (2009). Her first four albums have sold over 10.4 million copies in the United States.
Eleven of Clarkson’s singles became Top Twenty hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
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