Top 10 American Idol Alumni

The first American Idol winner is still the most successful. Nine top 10 pop singles in the US and worldwide album sales over 22 million tell the story.

Top pop hit singles:

• "Since U Been Gone" - #1 - 2004
• "My Life Would Suck Without You" - #1 - 2009
• "A Moment Like This" - #1 - 2002
• "Because Of You" - #2 - 2005
• "Behind These Hazel Eyes" - #3 - 2005
• "Never Again" - #5 - 2007

After finishing #4 in the fifth season of American Idol behind Taylor Hicks, Chris Daughtry's career headed for the stratosphere when he put together his own band and the album Daughtry became one of the biggest rock debuts of all time.

Top pop hit singles:

• "It's Not Over" - #3 - 2006
• "Home" - #7 - 2007
• "Over You" - #14 - 2007
• "No Surprise" - #15 - 2009
• "Feels Like Tonight" - #17 - 2008

Shortly after winning the fourth season of American Idol, Carrie Underwood quickly turned in a country music direction. She has unleashed seven #1 country singles while still managing to reach the pop top 40 ten times.

Top pop hit singles:

• "Inside Your Heaven" - #1 - 2005
• "Before He Cheats" - #8 - 2006
• "Cowboy Casanova" - #11 - 2009
• "So Small" - #17 - 2007
• "Last Name" - #19 - 2008
• "Jesus Take the Wheel" - #20 - 2005

At the age of 17, Jordin Sparks became the first teenage victor of American Idol at the end of the show's 6th season. Many fans speculated she may head in the direction of contemporary Christian music when she began recording. However, her first, self-titled solo album was firmly in the pop vein and generated three top 10 pop singles.

Top pop hit singles:

• "No Air" - #2 - 2008
• "One Step At a Time" - #5 - 2008
• "Tattoo" - #6 - 2007
• "Battlefield" - #10 - 2009
• "This Is My Now" - #15 - 2007

Arguably no other American Idol contestant has generated the kind of intensive press interest that has followed season eight's runner-up Adam Lambert. His music has done well on the charts with his first album For Your Entertainment placing #3 on the album chart.

Top pop hit singles:

• "Whataya Want From Me - #10 - 2010
• "Mad World" - #19 - 2009
• "If I Had You" - #30 - 2010
• "Time for Miracles" - #50 - 2009
• "For Your Entertainment" - #61 - 2009

In the seventh season of American Idol, David Cook became the first rock musician to win the competition. He had the most success yet at placing performances from the show on the pop charts.

Top pop hit singles:

• "The Time Of My Life" - #6 - 2008
• "Dream Big" - #17 - 2008
• "Light On" - #24 - 2008
• "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" - #24 - 2008
• "The World I Know" - #31 - 2008

David Archuleta, the boy with the huge voice, just missed being the second 17 year old American Idol by finishing second in season seven. He wasted no time in bursting out of the gate with a big pop hit single off his first, self-titled album. The following year David Archuleta released a successful Christmas album titled Christmas From the Heart.

Top pop hit singles:

• "Crush" - #12 - 2008
• "Imagine" - #35 - 2008
• "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" - #41 - 2008
• "In This Moment" - #43 - 2008

Kris Allen was the winner of season eight of American Idol, but to date he has been somewhat overshadowed by runner-up Adam Lambert. However, the single "Live Like We're Dying" was a major multi-format hit.

Top pop hit singles:

• "No Boundaries" - #11 - 2009
• "Live Like We're Dying" - #18 - 2010

After placing second in the second season of American Idol behind Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken generated one of the largest and most devoted fan bases of any contestant. This resulted in big sales for his first album, but he has not sustained the momentum. However, Aiken has headed to Broadway to become a star in the musical Monty Python's Spamalot.

Top pop hit singles:

• "This Is the Night" - #1 - 2003
• "Solitaire" - #3 - 2003
• "Invisible" - #37 - 2004

Although she has remained outside the pop mainstream, American Idol's second season third place finisher, behind Ruben Studdard, has quietly become one of the top adult contemporary artists. Kimberley Locke has hit the top 10 on the adult contemporary chart seven times.

Pop hit single:

• "8th Wonder" - #49 - 2004