Top money makers from american idol

When a singer wins "American Idol," it's undoubtedly his or her biggest music moment to-date. The Ohioan released debut record "Farmer's Daughter" in , and the album debuted at No. Though quiet in the months since, Bowersox recently took to Twitter, explaining, "I tend to hush up when I'm in focused creative mode.

In , Locke created a new entertainment company, I AM Entertainment, through which she released a four-song EP in July; before that, she was the first artist to "Idol" judge Randy Jackson's dance label, DreamMerchant Described as the lovechild of "Idol" alums Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler, Alaina released her No.

Alaina, who has so far released two singles "Like My Mother Does" and "Georgia Peaches" , is currently out on the road alongside Jason Aldean on his My Kinda Party tour. His self-titled debut produced three top singles "A Different World," "It's Good to Be Us" and "I'll Walk" on the Hot Country Songs chart, and the year-old has scored three more moderate hits in the format since. Following a role in the film "The House Bunny" and guest spots on TV, the year-old currently stars and shows off her pipes plenty in the NBC musical drama "Smash," which premiered to positive reviews for McPhee and co.

The "Idol" runner-up to Taylor Hicks scaled the Pop Songs chart with "Over It" in before segueing into a more adult sound on her sophomore album in The online extension of Billboard Magazine, billboard. Terms of Use Privacy Policy About Our Ads Advertising. Love Letter to the LGBTQ Community Brendon Urie: Love Letter to the LGBTQ Community Jennifer Lopez: Love Letter to the LGBTQ Community Senator Elizabeth Warren: Love Letter to the LGBTQ Community.

Top 24 'American Idols' Of All-Time. Crystal Bowersox Album Sales: Mama Sox was described as a breath of fresh air to many during her run on "Idol" season nine, recalling the likes of Janis Joplin, Tracy Chapman and other soulful, bluesy females. Kimberley Locke Album Sales: Post-"Idol," Locke has scored three No. Lauren Alaina Album Sales: The year-old season 10 runner-up has created a commendable career since "Idol" ended.

Blake Lewis Album Sales: The sixth season runner-up scored a No. Bucky Covington Album Sales: The long-haired heartthrob of season five was more of a rocker during his stint on the show, but Bucky Covington has transitioned into a different genre altogether since his departure -- country.

Most successful 'American Idol' contestants - Business Insider

Katharine McPhee Album Sales: Though she still has a hand in music, McPhee has recently begun a transition into a whole new medium: Bo Bice Album Sales: The long-haired runner-up to Carrie Underwood has released three albums since leaving "Idol," with single "The Real Thing" a modest hit. His most recent album, "3," featured fifth season finalist Melinda Doolittle on one track. Taylor Hicks Album Sales: Perhaps the unlikeliest "Idol" winner ever, the Soul Patrol leader most recently released sophomore album, "The Distance," in Since his tenure on the show, Hicks has performed as the "Teen Angel" in the Broadway and touring productions of "Grease" and appeared on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" last April, performing Rebecca Black's "Friday" with Stephen Colbert.

Josh Gracin Album Sales: Before Carrie Underwood ran up 11 No. Gracin was dropped from his label in , and third album "Redemption" was released by indie label Average Joe's last November. Scotty McCreery Album Sales: The tenth season victor is one of the most successful "Idol" contestants in recent years, with his debut "Clear as Day" already achieving Platinum status by the RIAA -- and Scotty the first "Idol" to pull off the achievement with a debut since David Cook.

The deep-voiced teen has placed two singles on the Hot and Hot Country Songs charts "I Love You This Big" and "The Trouble With Girls" , and is currently touring alongside Brad Paisley and The Band Perry this winter. McCreery may be remembered as the winner who saved "Idol," returning the show to prominence after its two previous winners fizzled in popularity.

Not even a year in, and he's already at No. Kellie Pickler Album Sales: Taylor Swift's BFF finished sixth on "Idol" but has done just fine for herself since, thanks to country hits like "Red High Heels" and "Best Days of Your Life.

Elliott Yamin Album Sales: Not only has he aided efforts against Malaria in Angola as documented on an "Idol Gives Back" special , but Yamin has also assisted in Chile following the country's devastating earthquake.

The soul singer finished third on season five, and shortly after debuted at No.

Who's the Top-Earning American Idol Alum: Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood or Jordin Sparks? | E! News

Kris Allen Album Sales: Season eight's "Idol" champion has sold nearly , copies of his music, according to Nielsen SoundScan data, and has covered radio formats from pop to Christian with the single "Live Like We're Dying. David Archuleta Album Sales: The baby-faced Archuleta has released three full-length albums since finishing second on "Idol" season seven, with his most recent release, "The Other Side of Down," debuting in at No.

Things have been quiet for the singer of "Crush" -- a No. In December, Archuleta announced he would take a two-year sabbatical from music in order to become a missionary for the Mormon church.

Jennifer Hudson Album Sales: In , Hudson released "I Remember Me," which debuted at No.

Adam Lambert Album Sales: Glambert released the No. Ruben Studdard Album Sales: Winning "Idol" in led to even greater joy for Studdard, who met his future wife at a Wal-Mart autograph signing. The "Velvet Teddy Bear's" biggest hit, "Sorry ," came that year, but Studdard's popularity gets a boost every time he returns to perform on "Idol. David Cook Album Sales: After years of rockers getting the short end of the "Idol" stick, David Cook broke the genre's bad luck streak in by trumping another David Archuleta in the finale.

Cook's self-titled debut album followed a No. Last season, viewers were reminded of the charismatic rocker, who released "This Loud Morning" last year -- his cover of Simple Minds' "Don't You Forget About Me" was played each time a contestant was eliminated from the show. Fantasia Barrino Album Sales: Since her win, it's been a roller coaster ride for the third season victor, who scored one No.

But the soulful lady found redemption and purpose in music, claiming afterward that "music saved me. Clay Aiken Album Sales: Clay Aiken may have lost to Ruben Studdard in , but he's still the season two favorite in the minds of many longtime "Idol" fans -- and he has the sales and a No. With a stint on Broadway's "Spamalot" and five Top albums under his belt plus one reportedly on the way , Aiken has had his time to shine. His Claymates will be the first to tell you that.

Jordin Sparks Album Sales: The daughter of former NFL footballer Phillippi Sparks was just 17 when she was voted America's favorite back in , beating out beatboxer Blake Lewis. Sparks has since racked up radio hits like "Battlefield" and "No Air," a duet with Chris Brown that peaked at No. Chris Daughtry Album Sales: Chris Daughtry's fourth-place "Idol" finish in really hurt his career, didn't it? His self-titled debut album with his namesake band is still the fastest-selling debut rock record in Soundscan history, its hit singles -- from "It's Not Over" to "Home" -- downright inescapable from His band's newest record, "Break the Spell," debuted at No.

Carrie Underwood Album Sales: As the first country singer to win "American Idol," Carrie Underwood leads the show's graduates with U. Her third release, 's "Play On," showed off a more mature side to the year-old and debuted at No. In , Underwood hit No. Kelly Clarkson Album Sales: Since winning the title in , Kelly Clarkson has notched 10 Billboard Hot top 10s -- including three No. Miss Independent's reach is enormous, possessing the largest tallies of radio spins, single sales and YouTube views of any former "Idol" -- and the singer first rose to prominence before the latter two distinctions even existed on a large scale.

Her fifth album, "Stronger," debuted at No. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME PRINT COMMENTS. Magazine Customer Service Subscribe Buy this issue Billboard biz The online extension of Billboard Magazine, billboard.