For more than a decade at its early and mid-2000s peak, American Idol was the nation's watercooler. The biggest show on TV routinely roped in 20 million to 30 million viewers for its season finales, where such future superstars as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia, Jordin Sparks and Phillip Phillips were crowned season champs after months of sing-offs, shocking early exits and countless biting insults from resident mean judge Simon Cowell.
The simple but somehow mesmerizing talent show pulled us in and held us close with corny theme weeks, one-of-a-kind characters like Sanjaya, William Hung and "General" Larry "Pants on the Ground" Platt, as well as legitimately amazing breakout finalists from Adam Lambert to Katharine McPhee, Haley Reinhart, Melinda Doolittle and Joshua Ledet.
As the ABC reboot steams to its March 11 reboot with judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan as well as returning host Ryan Seacrest, Billboard looks back at some of our favorite winners, finalists and also-rans and asks "Where Are They Now?"
The Winners
Kelly Clarkson -- The onetime Burleson, Texas, choir singer and cocktail waitress recently revealed she didn't even realize she was trying out for a singing competition until her third audition. She, of course, won America's votes in 2002 and beat Justin Guarini to score an RCA Records contract and release her debut single "A Moment Like This." She's racked up a string of smash singles -- "Miss Independent," "Breakaway," "Since U Been Gone," "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" and many more -- not to mention 12 Billboard Music Awards, three Grammys and four American Music Awards. America's first Idol and still No. 1 in our hearts.
Ruben Studdard -- The "Velvet Teddybear" basically crushed it from wire-to-wire, seducing us with his bedroom R&B and melting our hearts with his take on The Carpenters' "Superstar." He's released six albums to date and, fittingly, he's about to launch his "Ruben Sings Luther" tour in support of an evening of Luther Vandross covers.
Fantasia Barrino -- Things got super real in season 3 with one of Idol's rawest performers. 'Tasia just brought down the house with her top-eight rip through "Summertime," and her real story was so fascinating she landed a Lifetime movie. Plus, she's put out six albums and starred on Broadway in The Color Purple and After Midnight.
Carrie Underwood -- Season 4's champ proved that country was king on Idol, which catapulted the onetime Checotah, Oklahoma, high school cheerleader to the fastest-selling solo female debut album in country history, plus three Grammys and more than 65 million album sales to date. Her five albums have propelled her to country superstardom, a side gig acting in TV and film, and a voice for a number of charities.
Taylor Hicks -- What can we say about the most unlikely winner in Idol history? The excitable, classic rock-loving, harmonica-blowing singer energized his "Soul Patrol" on his way to a season 5 win at age 29. While his recording career went a bit sideways after a few years, he's had huge success playing "Teen Angel" in the touring production of Grease and has made a handful of appearances on prime time shows including The New Adventures of Old Christine and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Jordin Sparks -- The teen with the million-dollar smile won season 6 at just 17 years old, becoming the youngest winner in history and launching a double-platinum debut smash with the hit "No Air," featuring Chris Brown. In addition to three hit albums, she played the lead in the 2012 remake of the Supremes story Sparkle alongside Whitney Houston. While her musical output has slowed down, Sparks has stayed in the public eye with several Broadway shows, as well as TV work in Big Time Rush and a number of charitable causes aimed at teens.
David Cook -- The second of what would later be termed WGWG (white guys with guitars), Cook took the season 7 crown thanks to muscular covers of everyone from The Who to The Beatles and Aerosmith. After landing a record-setting 11 songs debuting in the Hot 100, Cook released a double-platinum debut and a successful follow-up but parted ways with his label by 2015's Digital Vein. He recently self-released the Chromance EP and is slated to make his Broadway debut in Kinky Boots in April.
For more than a decade at its early and mid-2000s peak, American Idol was the nation's watercooler. The biggest show on TV routinely roped in 20 million to 30 million viewers for its season finales, where such future superstars as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia, Jordin Sparks and Phillip Phillips were crowned season champs after months of sing-offs, shocking early exits and countless biting insults from resident mean judge Simon Cowell.
The simple but somehow mesmerizing talent show pulled us in and held us close with corny theme weeks, one-of-a-kind characters like Sanjaya, William Hung and "General" Larry "Pants on the Ground" Platt, as well as legitimately amazing breakout finalists from Adam Lambert to Katharine McPhee, Haley Reinhart, Melinda Doolittle and Joshua Ledet.
As the ABC reboot steams to its March 11 reboot with judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan as well as returning host Ryan Seacrest, Billboard looks back at some of our favorite winners, finalists and also-rans and asks "Where Are They Now?"
The Winners
Kelly Clarkson -- The onetime Burleson, Texas, choir singer and cocktail waitress recently revealed she didn't even realize she was trying out for a singing competition until her third audition. She, of course, won America's votes in 2002 and beat Justin Guarini to score an RCA Records contract and release her debut single "A Moment Like This." She's racked up a string of smash singles -- "Miss Independent," "Breakaway," "Since U Been Gone," "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" and many more -- not to mention 12 Billboard Music Awards, three Grammys and four American Music Awards. America's first Idol and still No. 1 in our hearts.
Ruben Studdard -- The "Velvet Teddybear" basically crushed it from wire-to-wire, seducing us with his bedroom R&B and melting our hearts with his take on The Carpenters' "Superstar." He's released six albums to date and, fittingly, he's about to launch his "Ruben Sings Luther" tour in support of an evening of Luther Vandross covers.
Fantasia Barrino -- Things got super real in season 3 with one of Idol's rawest performers. 'Tasia just brought down the house with her top-eight rip through "Summertime," and her real story was so fascinating she landed a Lifetime movie. Plus, she's put out six albums and starred on Broadway in The Color Purple and After Midnight.
Carrie Underwood -- Season 4's champ proved that country was king on Idol, which catapulted the onetime Checotah, Oklahoma, high school cheerleader to the fastest-selling solo female debut album in country history, plus three Grammys and more than 65 million album sales to date. Her five albums have propelled her to country superstardom, a side gig acting in TV and film, and a voice for a number of charities.
Taylor Hicks -- What can we say about the most unlikely winner in Idol history? The excitable, classic rock-loving, harmonica-blowing singer energized his "Soul Patrol" on his way to a season 5 win at age 29. While his recording career went a bit sideways after a few years, he's had huge success playing "Teen Angel" in the touring production of Grease and has made a handful of appearances on prime time shows including The New Adventures of Old Christine and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Jordin Sparks -- The teen with the million-dollar smile won season 6 at just 17 years old, becoming the youngest winner in history and launching a double-platinum debut smash with the hit "No Air," featuring Chris Brown. In addition to three hit albums, she played the lead in the 2012 remake of the Supremes story Sparkle alongside Whitney Houston. While her musical output has slowed down, Sparks has stayed in the public eye with several Broadway shows, as well as TV work in Big Time Rush and a number of charitable causes aimed at teens.
David Cook -- The second of what would later be termed WGWG (white guys with guitars), Cook took the season 7 crown thanks to muscular covers of everyone from The Who to The Beatles and Aerosmith. After landing a record-setting 11 songs debuting in the Hot 100, Cook released a double-platinum debut and a successful follow-up but parted ways with his label by 2015's Digital Vein. He recently self-released the Chromance EP and is slated to make his Broadway debut in Kinky Boots in April.