All 22 'American Idol' winners ranked from least to most successful

The low placement of Just Sam, 26, the winner of season 18, is no fault of their own — their season was interrupted because of COVID-19, and they weren't able to tour or do any real press for years.

In 2023, they spoke openly with The Washington Post about how winning a reality show didn't automatically equate to success. After leaving Hollywood Records after two years with no released music, Sam was spotted busking on the New York City subway.

Abi Carter is our reigning "American Idol," winning in 2024.

Since then, the 22-year-old has released her debut album, "Ghosts in the Backyard," which didn't chart. She's also yet to hit the one-million streams mark on any of her songs on Spotify, so we reserve the right to change this placement if she scores a hit soon.

In 2018, Maddie Poppe was crowned the season 16 champion.

Poppe, 27, has failed to make much of an impact on mainstream music, though a few of her songs' streaming numbers are in the multimillions on Spotify.

Her songs have charted on the adult contemporary/adult airplay charts, but not particularly high. She does, however, have a People's Choice Award under her belt for "competition contestant of 2018."

Poppe also loses points because of Gabby Barrett's success; Barrett came in third place during season 16 but has become a country music star with her hit single "I Hope," which was nominated for single of the year at the 2020 CMA Awards and reached No. 3 on the Hot 100. In 2025, Barrett will make her acting debut in "Hurry Up Tomorrow" alongside The Weeknd, Jenna Ortega, and Barry Keoghan.

Season 21 champ Iam Tongi became the first Pacific Islander to win "American Idol" in 2023.

Tongi, 20, has released multiple singles and even earned a No. 1 song on the World Digital Song Sales chart with "Why Kiki?," which is why he's at this spot, even though he hasn't done much since winning (yet).

Laine Hardy won season 17, the second of the "rebooted" series, in 2019.

Since then, he peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Emerging Artists chart and has released multiple singles.

Hardy's 2018 song "Hurricane" has been streamed over 12 million times on Spotify, and he had a song reach No. 19 on the Country Song Digital Sales chart.

Lee DeWyze was the season nine champion in 2010.

Both DeWyze, 38, and the runner-up, Crystal Bowersox, have essentially disappeared from pop culture since appearing on the show, especially compared with some of its other winners.

DeWyze had four songs chart on the Hot 100 from his first post-"Idol" album, "Live It Up," ranging from Nos. 24 to 88. "Live It Up" and his 2013 album, "Frames," made it to the Billboard 200, charting at Nos. 19 and 116. He released his seventh and eighth albums in 2018 and 2024, but both failed to chart.

DeWyze definitely had his moment, and while he continues to make music, he has faded into pop-music obscurity.

Kris Allen's season-eight win in 2009 can best be summed up by his face upon winning.

Allen's win remains as confusing in 2025 as it was in 2009, when he inexplicably lost to Adam Lambert, one of the most talented musicians to ever grace the "Idol" stage — he's touring with Queen, for crying out loud.

Lambert also acts, has topped charts, has sold millions of records, was nominated for a Grammy in 2011, and starred in the Broadway revival of "Cabaret" from September 2024 to March 2025.

Another contestant from their season, Mickey Guyton, recently had a breakout moment and has been nominated for four Grammys. She's also the first Black female solo artist to earn a Grammy nomination in a country category, according to Wide Open Country.

Comparatively, Allen has fallen short. The 39-year-old had seven songs make it to the Hot 100 but never broke the top 10 — at the time, this was unheard of for "American Idol" contestants. His highest-charting album was 2009's "Kris Allen," which peaked at No. 11. He hasn't had an album chart since 2014.

Trent Harmon won what was then the last season of "American Idol," season 15, in 2016.

In 2018, Harmon, now 34, released his debut album, "You Got 'Em All," which peaked at No. 34 on the Top Country Albums chart. A 2017 single, "There's a Girl," reached No. 27 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and has been streamed over 55 million times on Spotify. His album reached No. 2 on the Heatseekers Albums chart, but it didn't reach the Billboard 200.

Overall, he's a perfectly respectable late-season contestant. However, Harmon has lost points for beating La'Porsha Renae, who we believe deserved the win.

Noah Thompson was the season nine champion in 2022.

The 22-year-old was successful with his debut single, "One Day Tonight," which reached No. 48 on the Billboard Hot Country chart and has 40 million streams on Spotify.

However, Thompson loses some points since another contestant from his season, Cameron Whitcomb, is arguably more successful. He has two songs on Spotify with over 44 million streams and two charting singles on the US Rock charts ("Medusa" and "Hundred Mile High").

Candice Glover was crowned the 12th "American Idol" in 2013.

Unfortunately, season 12 of "American Idol" will be best known as the season with Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj's beef, overshadowing the highly talented Glover.

Since the show, she's released only one album, "Music Speaks," in 2014. It peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and at No. 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Her coronation song, "I Am Beautiful," reached No. 93 on the Hot 100.

Glover, 35, remains the most famous person from her season, however, bumping her past a few competitors.

Caleb Johnson was crowned the winner of season 13 in 2014 and has released only one solo album since.

Johnson, 33, one of the few "rock" winners of "American Idol," was beloved on the show. But since winning in 2014, he's released only one album as a solo artist, "Testify," in 2014. It peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard 200. He's failed to chart any songs on the Hot 100.

He released his second album with his band, Caleb Johnson & the Ramblin' Saints, in 2021, which seems to be more what he's into stylistically, but streaming numbers are low.

However, in 2023, Johnson joined Meat Loaf's backing band, the Neverland Express, on a multi-city tour to rave reviews, per Chicago Concert Reviews. As Adam Lambert can attest, this is a lucrative gig.

When Chayce Beckam won season 19 in 2021, he became the first-ever champ whose winner's single was written solely by the winner — and when it topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart, it became the first song since "Ours" by Taylor Swift in 2012 to be written by just the musician performing it.

It's got 289 million streams on Spotify, and also reached No. 45 on the Hot 100.

Beckham, 28, hasn't replicated that success so far, though, preventing him from being higher on this list.

Nick Fradiani won the 14th season of "American Idol" in 2015.

Fradiani, 39, already had a bit of fame before competing: He was part of a pop-rock band called Beach Avenue that competed on "America's Got Talent" in 2014, but the band didn't make it far. So Fradiani decided to try his luck as a solo act on "American Idol."

In August 2016, he released his sole album, "Hurricane," which peaked at No. 121 on the Billboard 200. He had only one song reach the Hot 100: his coronation song, "Beautiful Life," which peaked at No. 93.

He's since returned to Beach Avenue, and also made his Broadway debut in 2022 in "A Beautiful Noise," the Neil Diamond musical. He is now leading the national tour as the younger version of Diamond.

When Hicks won "American Idol" in 2006, he was briefly one of the most famous people in the US. The Wrap reported his season was the most successful in two ways: It has the highest ratings to date, and each of the top 10 contestants secured a record deal — nine of them with major labels.

Hicks' coronation single, "Do I Make You Proud," debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 — an impressive feat — and his 2006 album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. He also became the first "Idol" winner to secure a long-term Vegas residency before it was cool, per Forbes, and he starred in "Grease" on Broadway as the Teen Angel.

However, the 48-year-old hasn't charted since 2009, and he has been overshadowed by other contestants from his season, most notably Chris Daughtry and Katharine McPhee, but even other contestants like Mandisa, Kellie Pickler, Kevin Covais, and Elliott Yamin all achieved chart success.

David Cook won the battle of the Davids during season seven in 2008.

Cook bested David Archuleta to become the seventh "American Idol" champ. The 42-year-old has released three albums and three EPs since "Idol," the most recent of which failed to chart upon release in 2021. His self-titled 2008 album also reached No. 2 on the Top Rock Albums chart.

Though his coronation song, "The Time of My Life," didn't top the charts, he's had more hits than say, Taylor Hicks, with 15 songs charting in the Hot 100. His last song to hit any chart was 10 years ago.

Besides singing, Cook was on Broadway for two 2018 stints in "Kinky Boots."

Archuleta's enduring fame works against Cook's placement on this list, as many millennials are still bumping "Crush" to this day.

In 2003, Ruben Studdard became the second "American Idol."

Following Kelly Clarkson would've been a tough act for anyone, but Studdard held his own. His 2003 debut album, "Soulful," reached the top of the Billboard 200, and his next five albums all reached the top 200 as well.

He had two top-10 songs, "Flying Without Wings" and "Sorry 2004," and he has been nominated for multiple major awards, including at the American Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, the Teen Choice Awards, and the Grammys.

The 46-year-old has also found success in gospel and R&B, though he hasn't had a major hit in over a decade.

In the past decade, Studdard has appeared on "The Biggest Loser" and made his Broadway debut in 2018 with his runner-up, Clay Aiken.

It's Aiken, actually, who takes points away from Studdard. Aiken is more famous than Studdard is now, but their enduring friendship is sweet. In fact, Aiken and Studdard appeared on season 11 of "The Masked Singer" together as a pair of beets.

Phillip Phillips, who won season 11 in 2012, had the bestselling coronation song in "American Idol" history.

"Home" is "Idol's" bestselling coronation song, per Billboard, which bumps Phillips way up this list. Phillips, 34, also opened for John Mayer on tour, is the only famous person from his season, and was nominated for various awards at the American Music Awards, the Teen Choice Awards, and the Billboard Music Awards.

Both "Home" and "Gone Gone Gone" have over 100 million streams on Spotify, and he has four songs that have reached the Hot 100.

His first two albums, "The World From the Side of the Moon," and "Behind the Light," peaked at Nos. 4 and 7, though his 2023 album, "Drift Back," failed to chart. We'll see whether Phillips can make a comeback.

Season 10's winner, Scotty McCreery, barely edged out Phillip Phillips of season 11.

McCreery, 31, has enjoyed success since his win in 2011, including three No. 1 country albums (and one No. 2) and a certified platinum debut album (which also hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200). He's the only country music artist to chart a song without a record label.

He's received multiple award nominations, including at the American Country Music Awards, the CMTs, the Teen Choice Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, and the BMI Country Awards, and has had multiple hit singles. "Five More Minutes," "See You Tonight," and "This Is It" all reached the top 10 in the country charts.

In 2024, McCreery received one of the highest honors in country music when he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. That same year, Rolling Stone ranked his album "Rise & Fall" as one of the best country albums of the year.

McCreery's season does have famous alumni (Lauren Alaina and Haley Reinhart), but neither has clearly surpassed McCreery, so he's earned his place in the top five.

Jordin Sparks, who won season six in 2007, is one of the most successful "American Idol" winners.

Sparks, who was just 17 when she won, has become one of the most famous and beloved "Idol" contestants. She's sold over 1 million albums and 10.2 million singles in the US alone. "No Air," the highest-selling single of any "Idol" contestant, peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100.

The 35-year-old has had two top-10 albums, a Grammy nomination (along with multiple other noms and wins), and eight Hot 100 singles. She has starred in two Broadway musicals ("In the Heights" and "Waitress") and even cowrote Ariana Grande's breakthrough single "The Way."

While she hasn't had a smash single in a few years, she began a comeback with appearances on "The Masked Dancer" in 2021 and "Dancing with the Stars" in 2022, and released her fourth album, "No Restrictions," in 2024.

In 2004, Fantasia Barrino became the third "American Idol," so it's fitting that we ranked her at No. 3.

The singer, who goes by Fantasia professionally, has had quite a career. Her first single debuted at No. 1, and her debut album was certified platinum. Her next seven albums all made it to the Billboard 200, and she's seen much success on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts, with a No. 2 in 2019 on the Adult R&B chart.

Fantasia, 40, was also inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, starred in "The Color Purple" and "After Midnight" on Broadway, was ranked 32nd on VH1's list of the 100 greatest women in music, performed at Aretha Franklin's funeral, and starred in her own Lifetime movie.

In 2023, she made her feature film debut in the movie adaptation of the musical "The Color Purple," for which she received Golden Globes, Critics' Choice, and SAG Awards nominations.

Fantasia also has a Grammy win from 12 nominations.

The only thing working against Fantasia? That Jennifer Hudson, a future Oscar winner, was on her season; Hudson is easily one of the most famous "Idol" contestants of all time.

What is there to say about Underwood, 41, that hasn't already been said?

She is the female artist with the most No. 1s on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, and she has eight Grammy wins (including best new artist), 12 Billboard Music Awards wins, 17 American Music Awards wins, a Guinness world record, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and more.

Billboard named her the top female country artist of the 2000s and the 2010s. Underwood has sold over 4.3 million concert tickets, per Pollstar, and was named one of Time's most influential people in 2014.

In total, she's sold 85 million records worldwide, according to her website. She has 28 No. 1 country songs. It's staggering.

This year, she's returning to the "American Idol" stage as a judge, the first former winner to do so.

No one else from her 2005 season, including Bo Bice or Constantine Maroulis, came close to her amount of success. In fact, there's only one "Idol" who could best her ...

Who else could be the most successful "American Idol," but Kelly Clarkson, the first-ever champ? She created an entire empire from her 2002 win.

While Underwood might have chart success in country music, Clarkson has crossover appeal. She's had three No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, is the first artist to top the pop, adult contemporary, adult pop, country, and dance charts, and has had 11 top-10 singles on the Hot 100 (with three No. 1s).

She's also recorded a modern-classic Christmas album, judged on "The Voice," has been nominated for 17 Grammys (winning three), and had one of the bestselling songs of 2002 with her coronation single, "A Moment Like This."

Clarkson, 42, has also secured a career outside music. Her delightful talk show, "The Kelly Clarkson Show," has won eight Daytime Emmys from 11 nominations. Only an Oscar and a Tony to go, Kelly!