Not all American Idol winners are equal. Some have gone on to massive fame and fortune, while others have faded into obscurity. Will the American Idol 2014 winner, either Caleb Johnson or Jena Irene Ascuitto, become a superstar like Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood? Or will they end up being names we often forget actually won the show, like Kris Allen or Lee DeWyze?
Who knows, but speaking of winners, we thought it was a good time to rank the past 12 American Idol winners. There’s a lot to consider in this list: success, talent, monetary worth, etc. If you can barely even remember them as someone who won American Idol, they probably aren’t going to rank very highly. So do not think this is a scientific list. It’s just what one writer thinks based on evidence and opinion.
American Idol Winners List: Who Won and Where Are They Now?
12. Lee DeWyze (Season 9). Poor Lee. Fans got behind him during the 9th season, but it didn’t stick after his win against Crystal Bowersox. He was dropped from his label but has since signed with a new label and released a new album. He still hasn’t found the success of other Idol winners.
11. Candice Glover (Season 12). The reigning American Idol winner’s success has little to be judged on. Her debut single completely flopped, especially compared to Phillip Phillips‘ the season before. Considering her debut album only sold sold 19,000 copies in its first week, and is one of the worst charting releases of any American Idol winner, she’s sure to hold on to this No. 11 spot for quite some time.
10. Kris Allen (Season 8). No one is still really sure how Kris won over Adam Lambert, but it happened. And we’ve barely heard from him since. He seems to be a great and talented guy, but he’s just never caught on as a popular artist. He’s still making music and still touring, however, and has recently gained a bit more attention in the national press again.
9. David Cook (Season 7). It pains me to rank David so low, but that’s how it has to be. He’s been one of my favorite winners based on his performances from the season. His debut album went platinum, but he hasn’t held onto his popularity. He’s now trying his hand in Nashville.
8. Ruben Studdard (Season 2). Ruben has had a very steady and reasonably successful career, with a recent revival thanks to his appearance on The Biggest Loser 15. However, he’s never achieved the fame and fortune of other Idol winners like Carrie or Kelly, so I’m not sure what spot suits him best on this list. I think he’s super talented, but he’s just not going to be on the top of many favorite winner’s list.
7. Taylor Hicks (Season 5). I know what you’re thinking. This guy at No. 7? Well, he might not be an A-lister, but with a Las Vegas show and an Alabama restaurant on his roster, he brought in $2.5 Million in 2013. What did you do?
6. Jordin Sparks. (Season 6). Jordin’s single “No Air” was highly successful and she starred in the movie Sparkle alongside Whitney Houston. Her success comes and goes, but overall, she stays about middle of the pack. However, if she keeps working hard, and keeps getting acting jobs as well as singing, like her recent Law and Order gig, she might finally drag herself further up the list.
5. Scotty McCreery (Season 10). The teen country crooner is still working on college, but he brought in $3 Million last year from album and concert sales. He seems to have some staying power.
4. Fantasia Barrino (Season 3). From her albums to her Broadway role in The Color Purple, Fantasia has had a solid and steady career. Despite some past financial woes, Forbes listed her at No. 8 last year with $1.5 Million. Her recent success in another Broadyway production, After Midnight, just solidifies her staying power.
3. Phillip Phillips (Season 11). The soft-spoken “white guy with a guitar” has seen some of the most success in years. His winning single “Home” has gone multi-platinum and has been used everywhere form the Olympics to movie trailers. Forbes ranked him third among American Idol alums last year with $5 Million in record and concert sales.
2. Carrie Underwood (Season 4). The top two spots get tricky. Carrie Underwood’s 2013 worth was $31 Million compared to Kelly Clarkson’s $7 Million. But Kelly is a superstar that crosses multiple genres. Carrie is all country, so that’s why she barely gets nudged out of the No. 1 spot.
1. Kelly Clarkson (Season 1). The original will always be the best. Kelly has been hugely successful and there’s no end of that in sight. She’s a global superstar and I don’t see any new American Idol winners ever coming close to her success.
Where do you think the American Idol 2014 winner will rank five years from now?
Well Lee DeWyze and David Cook are MY all time favorites!!
Scotty McCreery ,will be my favorite for ever
Me too
what about ADAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He should have won, but he didn’t! So he is not on the winners list. 🙂
Not a winner. That’s what they are discussing.
I’ve seen Kris Allen live twice in the past couple years. He is a talented musician and puts on a fabulous show. I would to see him get a break. Last I heard he was signing with Daughtery’s agent or label. Not sure. But he should not be written off. He is my favorite male winner.
David Cook is doing more than just trying his hand at Nashville, he has an album coming out soon, and the new songs are awesome, he just came off a successful tour, and he is also doing some songwriting for others too, he has a song on David Nail’s album. He is at least as successful as the 5 on the list.
I have 3 of David Cooks songs on my Ipod.I love ” The time of my life”. ” The last goodbye” and ” Fade in to me”. Talk about someone good who does not get any respect it is Davis Cook. Thank-You Braden!
We all know why Kris won over Adam. One word “gay”. Middle America was never going to let a gay guy take the crown but Adam’s talent won in the end.
absolutely 100% correct. and adam is also a member of “the tribe”. that’s double trouble, unfortunately. however, none of that matters. it’s the voice that counts and adam certainly has one!!
What is “the tribe”?
he’s jewish. small town american would NEVER vote for a gay jew. trust me on this
I have to agree 100%. That’s the only reason why he lost.
Did they ever come out on the show and say he was a gay Jew? I don’t think so, and people who are unlikely to vote for gay individuals are also less likely to realize they are gay.
The Whitney vocals-been there done that! Candice (as well as Melanie Amaro) can get the standing ovations when hitting the big notes; whereas Phillip Phillips can only use his mediocre (but distinct) voice-there’s the key! Christina falls in this same category; whereas Demi Lovato falls in both Big and distinct.
Adam the great Lambert did not win because of the homophobics and you know that! So why do you say you are not sure why Kris allen won? Adam’s career is going full blast. He has toured with Queen. Has been on Glee! What has Kris Allen done? He sings at small venues. and when do you hear him on the radio??? As I have said numerous time Kris is a nice christian youg man! But, He should never have been called the winner instead of Adam Lambert. Shouldn’t a contest be judged by the best? Not misjudged because of homophobics? I hope this is left on here because it is the truth. And for once this controversial subject can be put to rest! Watch and see how many women fans Adam Lambert has! Thank-You, Sherry K
i think adam has done better by NOT winning. he wasn’t under the thumb of the idol powers that be for the first year of his post idol career. would they have sent him on the glamnation tour?? doubtful. in the interim, he STILL sings circles around his contemporaries and is STILL a great guy
Adam is great (like Miley) but also provocative (at times) much like Miley-something I “personally” don’t like!
An old posting but didn’t know about Jena Irene then. Now Jena is the most “VERSATILLE” contestant since Kelly Clarkson-and may surpass her in the future! She is poised to be the first “Wild Card” to ever win American Idol!
Thanks for the laugh. She’s going nowhere after Idol.
I actually think Jena will be the closest contestant to match Kelly of all of them. Like Kelly, she’ll go cross-genres due to her love of ALL music, and her voice suits everything, especially once she’s got managers and a label. That girl is going to be more marketable than anyone we’ve had outside of Kelly, and she’s young, so she’ll be around a WHILE. Be prepared to make Jena your number 3 soon, and potentially #2 in 5 years.
That’s what fans were predicting for Pia Toscano, Jessica Sanchez and Haley Rinehart. it didn’t happen for them and it won’t happen for Jena.
David Cook all the way. He is my very favorite singer of all time, anywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Scotty has alot of staying power ,he is my favorite of all
My three favorites are..David Cook, Lee Dewyze, and Phillip Phillips
The only album I own from any Idol contestant is by Crystal Bowersox; but I absolutely love Adam Lambert’s voice!