Whoever coined the phrase “winning isn’t everything” must have been familiar with the results on “American Idol.” While the show has helped launch the megawatt careers of musicians like Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, sometimes the show’s finalists who don’t win are the ones who ultimately enjoy thriving careers in entertainment.
As we watch Season 23 of the competition unfold, learn more about seven of the most successful artists who never took home the “Idol” crown.
It’s been over a decade since Clay Aiken released a traditional studio album, yet the singer remains one of the top-selling “Idol” alums. Shortly after losing to Rueben Studdard, Aiken released his debut album “Measure of a Man” in 2003. The record earned double platinum status and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
To date, Aiken has sold over five million albums. His most recent release, the 2024 holiday album “Christmas Bells Are Ringing,” was his first album since 2012’s “Steadfast.”
Jennifer Hudson doesn’t have the title of “American Idol,” but she does have something that no other “Idol” alum does – an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards). After placing seventh in the competition’s third season, Hudson has branched out across the entertainment industry, securing the industry’s top honors, including an Academy Award for “Best Supporting Actress” in “Dreamgirls” and a Tony Award for “Best Musical” as a producer of the show “A Strange Loop.”
She’s released four solo albums — including her 2024 Christmas project “The Gift of Love” — and has received Grammy Awards for her 2008 self-titled record, and her appearance on a cast recording of “The Color Purple.”
