You’re going to Hollywood!paved the way for reality competition shows to help everyday people achieve their dreams of music stardom.
The series premiered in 2002 on Fox with a star-studded judging panel consisting of ,and‘s freshman season introduced , who would become the show’s first breakout star.
The in September 2019 on where they admitted they weren’t certain the show’s premise could work — until Clarkson walked through the door.
“I actually, genuinely do not believe we would be sitting here today if you hadn’t entered the show that year,” Cowell said. “The whole premise of the show was, we had to find a star who was gonna sell records. We found some great people that whole year, but when you delivered that moment on that first live show, and you sang that winning song at the end …”
Jackson added, “We looked at each other at the end of the finale and said, ‘Wow, this thing is really gonna work.’ I think that was the moment that we knew.”
soon that produced winners such as , andThe competition series also turned contestants who didn’t win — including , and — into household names.
However, the road to stardom wasn’t always an easy one for the contestants. Underwood told in 2015 that and that she wasn’t certain her music career could succeed.
“I always kept in my head, ‘If nothing else ever comes of this, I got to do the coolest thing ever and I won ‘American Idol,'” Underwood said. “I was like, ‘Okay, I will just have fun with this and save up as much money as I can and finish school and get a real job.’ Because I am always a practical thinker and would never allow myself to think it would turn out okay all the time.”
Underwood ended up winning season 4 and later received the most Grammy Awards of any winner.
The original series ended in 2016 but on ABC. The revamped show included a brand new set of judges with , andhelming the show. American Idol set another milestone when it , Just Sam, on season 18 in May 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Scroll through the gallery below to see where the winners are today.
Lucy Nicholson/AP/Shutterstock; Jason Merritt/Radarpics/Shutterstock
After winning the inaugural title, the Texas native signed a record deal with RCA Records and released her debut album, Thankful, in 2003. Later that year, Clarkson costarred in the movie with season 1 runner-up, She went on to release eight studio albums and has won three Grammys, including for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2006 and 2013. She published the children’s book, , in 2016.
Clarkson became a coach on season 14 of in 2018. One year later, she became the host of her own talk show, The songstress married talent manager Brandon Blackstock in 2013, and confirmed that she in June 2020. The couple are the parents of daughter River Rose and son Remington.
Studdard — who was dubbed ’s “velvet teddy bear” — beat out season 2 runner-up in 2003. Studdard released his first album,, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and received a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. The Alabama native released a gospel album in 2004 before switching back to R&B in 2006 with his album, However, his label, J Records, dropped him in 2007. He released his latest album, — a tribute to the late Luther Vandross — in 2018.
Studdard made his return to reality TV when he competed on season 15 of as the show’s first-ever celebrity contestant. He married Zuri McCants in 2008, but the pair divorced in 2012.
The North Carolina native released her Grammy-nominated debut album, , in 2004 after she won season 3. She later earned 12 Grammy nominations and one Grammy win for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2011. Barrino has recorded a total of seven studio albums including her 2019 album, .
The singer took on Broadway when she starred in the musicals in 2007 and n 2013. Barrino also opened up about her personal life in her memoir, , which was turned into a Lifetime movie in 2006. In 2010, Barrino starred in her VH1 reality series, , for two seasons. Later that year, she suffered from an aspirin overdose which she later admitted was a suicide attempt.
Barrino married businessman Kendall Taylor in 2015. In May 2021, the pair welcomed their first child together, daughter Keziah. Barrino is also the mother of daughter Zion and son Dallas from previous relationships
Underwood scored the winning title on season 4 in 2005 before she released her debut album, , which included the singles “Jesus Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats.” The Tennessee native recorded six studio albums, which awarded her seven Grammys — the most of any winner. She also set the 2010 Guinness World Record for most country No. 1 songs for a female artist in the U.S. The “Drinking Alone” singer made her acting debut as Maria von Trapp in NBC’s in 2013.
In November 2017, Underwood fell on the steps outside of her house in Nashville, Tennessee, which resulted in a broken wrist and 40 stitches to her face.
Underwood married hockey player Mike Fisher in 2010. The couple share son Isaiah.
Hicks beat out runner-up on season 5 in 2006 with the help of his loyal fanbase, Soul Patrol. He released his self-titled debut album later that year. After poor record sales, Hicks was dropped from his record label in 2008, which caused him to form his own label, Modern Whomp. The Alabama native recorded three studio albums and released his latest single, “Six Strings and Diamond Rings,” in 2017. Hicks starred on Broadway in in 2008 before joining the national tour in 2009.
He landed a Las Vegas residency in 2012 — a first for an winner. Hicks is co-owner of Saw’s Juke Joint in Birmingham, Alabama, and host of INSP’s food and travel series,
Sparks released her self-titled first album in 2007 after winning season 6 that year. The album included the hit singles “Tattoo” and “No Air,” which featured Sparks has released three studio albums and earned one Grammy nomination.
The Arizona native starred in the 2010 Broadway musical and the 2012 movie alongside the late In 2016, Sparks appeared in a pilot for the reality series — which chronicled her journey to open a bakery — on the Food Network. The episode was not picked up for a full series.
Sparks had a high-profile relationship with from 2011 to 2014. She returned to the music scene later that year with the mixtape, Sparks married fitness model Dana Isaiah in 2017 and welcomed their son, Dana Isaiah Thomas Jr., in May 2018.
After winning season 7 in 2008, the rocker released his self-titled album — which included the single “Time of My Life” — in November 2008.
Cook left his label in 2012 and began releasing music independently and with his band Midwest Kings. In 2018, he starred in the Broadway musical and also released his EP titled later that year.
The Texas native married Rachael Stump in 2015.
Allen beat out fan-favorite on season 8 in 2009. Months later, he released his self-titled album, which included the single “Live Like We’re Dying.” Allen’s most recent studio release was in 2015.
The Arkansas native was in a car accident in 2013, which left him with a shattered wrist that needed three surgeries over the following years. His accident forced him to re-learn playing the guitar.
Allen married his high school sweetheart, Katy O’Connell, in 2008. The duo are the parents of sons Marlo and Oliver and daughter Rose.
The Illinois native won season 9 in 2010. Shortly after, he signed to RCA Records and released his debut album, DeWyze has released six studio albums, which have included songs that have been featured on TV shows such as and His latest album,, was released in 2016 and debuted in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Folk Music Chart.
DeWyze married actress Jonna Walsh in 2012.
McCreery was the season 10 winner in 2011 making him the youngest male to receive the title at age 17. He released his platinum debut album, later that year.
The country singer released three studio albums including his 2018 album, , and has toured with , The Band Perry and Rascal Flatts. McCreery authored his memoir, , in 2016.
The North Carolina crooner married Gabi Dugal in 2018. The couple announced that they were expecting their first child, a boy, in June 2022.
Phillips won season 11 in 2012. On the season finale, he performed his song “Home," which became Idol's best-selling coronation song. The song appeared on his debut album,, which hit No. 2 on the Billboard charts. He released his sophomore album,, in 2014.
The Georgia native was in a legal battle over his contract with ’s production company 19 Entertainment in 2015, which prevented him from releasing new music. The lawsuit was settled in 2017.
Phillips released his album in 2018 — his first studio album since 2014.
He married Hannah Blackwell in 2015.
