When American Idol first premiered in 2002, it captivated the nation. As Kelly Clarkson became an overnight sensation, American Idol seemed like a surefire path to superstardom. As the show went on, it became clear that wasn't always the case, with less notable winners, like Taylor Hicks and Lee DeWyze, failing to make it big in the music industry.
Regardless of how famous the American Idol winners are today, all of the winners have one thing in common: they're still working in the music industry. And some of the American Idol winners are branching out into other areas of entertainment in surprising ways. Whether it's taking over daytime television or touring the world, here's how the first ten winners of American Idol are staying busy in 2021.
Kelly Clarkson
The first winner of American Idol, Kelly Clarkson became the blueprint for how the show can transform an average person into a superstar. It didn't take long after winning the show to become a tour de force in the music industry. Her coronation song, "A Moment Like This," is still one of the most memorable songs from American Idol. Her follow-up singles, like "Since U Been Gone," have sold millions of records worldwide.
Kelly Clarkson has remained a household name since her American Idol victory. These days, she's part of another singing competition show: The Voice. She's also the host of her own talk show, which was just renewed through 2023.
Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard earned the nickname of "The Velvet Teddy Bear" thanks to his smooth, soulful voice and warm personality. Right after his win, he released his debut album, Soulful. It topped the charts, with the single "Sorry 2004" becoming his most successful single. In total, he has released eight studio albums. His most recent release was a 2018 album of Luther Vandross covers called Ruben Sings Luther.
Outside of music, the singer appeared on a season of The Biggest Loser, shedding 119 pounds by the time the finale aired. His most recent project is a YouTube series called "Vice Styles." The panel-style show focuses on topics for the modern gentleman, from music to fashion.
Fantasia Barrino
Season 3's Fantasia Barrino dominated the competition with her powerful, soulful voice. At just 19 years old, the judges were blown away by the emotion and soulfulness in her performances. Since American Idol, the Grammy-award-winning R&B singer has performed on Broadway and released seven studio albums. Her most recent album, Sketchbook, was released independently in 2019.
This year, Fantasia welcomed a new baby into the world, a daughter named Keziah. On Instagram, Fantasia revealed that Keziah arrived "a little too early," but a recent update shows that Keziah is happy at home with her parents.
Carrie Underwood
In 2005, Carrie Underwood became American Idol's first country singer to take home the grand prize, and she set the bar high. Her debut album featured the hit single, "Jesus, Take The Wheel." It cemented her place in country music, where she's been extremely successful ever since. In fact, she's one of the American Idol contestants who has sold the most albums after the show.
This year, the singer released her eighth studio album, My Savior. The album marked her first venture into gospel music. She explained to People that this album, along with her 2020 Christmas album, were bucket list projects that she's proud to have under her belt.
Taylor Hicks
Taylor Hicks' win in Season 5 signaled the first time in American Idol history where the winner didn't leave the competition and become an instant superstar. While his debut album landed on the Billboard charts, it didn't achieve the level of success as previous winners. Of course, the American Idol grand prize always included a record deal with RCA. However, Taylor Hicks was dropped from the label just two years after his win.
Losing his record deal after American Idol didn't stop him from committing his life to music and entertainment. He released a sophomore album in 2009 called The Distance and has released several singles in the last few years. This year, he appeared in the film Stars Fell on Alabama, and he recorded two cover songs to coincide with the movie's release.
Jordin Sparks
The youngest winner of American Idol, Jordin Sparks won Season 6 at just 17 years old. She followed her win with a slew of chart-topping hits: "Tattoo," "One Step At A Time," and "No Air" featuring Chris Brown.
After taking a few years away from releasing solo music, she had a busy 2020. She released a pop EP, Sounds Like Me, and a Christmas album called Cider & Hennessy. This year, she joined a different reality TV competition: The Masked Dancer. She made it all the way to fifth place before being unmasked as the Exotic Bird.
David Cook
Season 7 of American Idol came down to a face-off between two Davids. David Cook beat out David Archuleta and won the grand prize. Shortly afterward, he broke Billboard records by debuting 11 songs on the Hot 100. However, in the midst of those career highs, the singer recently revealed to People that he was diagnosed with anxiety disorder. It's a subject that he tackles on his 2020 single, "Red Turns Blue."
Although he doesn't carry the same level of name recognition as some of the Idol winners before him, he's consistently released music in the years following his win. His most recent EP, The Looking Glass, dropped earlier this year. He'll be playing the new music on his upcoming tour across the United States.
Kris Allen
In Season 8, Kris Allen edged out Adam Lambert for the win. It was an upset victory because many considered Adam Lambert to be one of the best vocalists to ever compete on American Idol. He followed his win with a self-titled album that featured the popular single, "Live Like We're Dying." In total, he's released five studio albums since winning the show.
Now a father of three, Kris Allen is still releasing music. His most recent song came earlier this year, titled "Don't Stop Dancing." Later in 2021, he'll embark on a European tour along with Season 7 winner David Cook.
Lee DeWyze
The winner of Season 9, Lee DeWyze, made it to the end of the competition with his soulful approach to rock music. Like the other winners, he won a recording contract as part of the grand prize. Despite his success on the show, his initial release didn't perform as well as his predecessors. He was dropped from his record label after just one album.
Although Lee DeWyze didn't achieve the mainstream success as other winners, he secured a dedicated fanbase and has released four additional albums. Last year, he delighted his fans with several singles, including "Weeds" and "Horizons." He's currently gearing up for a tour across the United States called the Ghost Stories Tour.
Scotty McCreery
After 10 seasons, American Idol was a proven television hit, but the track record for producing A-list talent was hit or miss. Southern crooner Scotty McCreery became the youngest man to win the show at 17 years old. His signature deep voice earned him a unique niche in country music, where he's continued to thrive today.
Since winning the show, Scotty McCreery has released four studio albums, and a fifth album is in the works. His latest track, "You Time," gave fans a peek into what to expect. This summer, he'll be touring the United States, headlining shows, and appearing as a supporting act for Chris Young and Old Dominion.