American Idol Updates

From LoveToKnow Reality-TV

American Idol updates give fans of the popular reality television show a chance to see what their favorite singer is doing today.

Kelly Clarkson

Updates on American Idol Winners

Carrie Underwood

Most of the winners from the show's first seven seasons have done pretty well for themselves, with a few winning various music awards. While some have become household names, others maintain smaller fan followings. Here are some updates on the winners from the first seven seasons of the Fox Television reality show:

Kelly Clarkson (Season 1): This 2002 winner is also the top-selling alumni from the show, with more than 15 million records sold worldwide. She has released three albums: Thankful, Breakaway and My December All three have reached platinum status or higher. Clarkson has also received four American Music Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards and two Grammy Awards.
Ruben Suddard (Season 2): This winner from the 2003 season has been nominated for several music awards, receiving a 2004 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist. He has released three albums: Soulful, I Need an Angel and The Return, the former of which reached number one on the U.S. charts. He has appeared in a variety of television shows and will tour with the musical revue Ain't Misbehavin' in late 2008 and early 2009. He also the third highest-selling alum from the show, with almost 2.5 million records sold worldwide.
Fantasia Barrino (Season 3): This 2004 winner is a true rags-to-riches story. After her win on Idol, Fantasia went on to release two albums: Free Yourself and Fantasia. However, her major claim to fame came when she portrayed herself in the Lifetime Television movie, Life is Not a Fairy Tale. She later went on to capture the lead in Broadway's The Color Purple. She has won various musical awards including three Billboard Awards, a NAACP Image Award and two ASCAP R&B/Hip-Hop Awards. She has sold about 2.2 million records worldwide.
Carrie Underwood (Season 4): This 2005 American Idol winner has soared as a country music star, garnering 13 Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards and three Grammy Awards. Her two albums Some Hearts and Carnival Ride both have received multiple platinum certifications. She is active with PETA and the Humane Society of the United States. In 2006, she performed with the USO Christmas Tour in Iraq.
Taylor Hicks (Season 5): This 2006 winner, known for his raspy, soulful voice, has had his ups and downs. His self-titled album, Taylor Hicks debuted at number two on the music charts and his single Do I Make You Proud hit number one. In August 2008, he released his second album, Early Works, and is also starring in Broadway's Grease as Teen Angel.
Jordin Sparks (Season 6): The youngest Idol winner to date, this 2007 first-place alumni has received acclaim for her first self-titled album Jordin Sparks. She has been nominated for several awards, winning one NAACP Image Award, one Teen Choice Award and two BET Awards. She has been featured in several national magazines.
David Cook (Season 7): Although the 2008 American Idol winner started his music career before appearing on the show, it was his win that made him a star. He has broken several Billboard chart records including having 11 songs debuting on the Top 100 at one time. He released his first album, David Cook and has received a 2008 Teen Choice Award for Best Reality/Variety Star.

More American Idol Updates

Chris Daughtry

Just because you don't win American Idol, doesn't mean that you can't be a star! There are several Idol alum who have gone on to great success:

Clay Aiken (Season 2 runner-up): To date, Aiken is the most successful male and runner-up contestant from American Idol. He has released four albums - Measure of a Man, Merry Christmas with Love, A Thousand Different Ways and On My Way Here - and has received several music awards including one American Music Award and three Billboard Music Awards. He also appeared in Broadway's Monty Python's Spamalot.
Jennifer Hudson (Season 3 seventh place): The only Idol winner to win an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, Hudson has received acclaim for not only her singing, but her acting talents as well. In 2006 she starred alongside Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles and Eddie Murphy in the award-winning motion picture Dreamgirls, in which she won for Best Supporting Actress. She has also appeared in Sex and the City: The Movie and The Secret Life of Bees. In 2008, she released her self-titled album which was very well-received.
Chris Daughtry (Season 5 fourth place): His highly publicized elimination from American Idol in 2006 didn't slow this rocker down. His debut album, Chris Daughtry, sold more than one million copies in five weeks, making it the fastest-selling rock album in history. It reached number one within nine weeks. He has received three American Music Awards and six Billboard Music Awards. He is the fourth most successful Idol contestant ever in terms of record sales. His fans knew from the beginning during his audition that he would succeed.