From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American Idol is an American talent reality television series that first aired in 2002. As of May 2024, there have been twenty-two seasons. Each season, the final round of competition features ten to fourteen singers. A total of 178 contestants have reached the finals of their season.
The show's age requirements have varied year-to-year. Of the finalists, 55 of them were under the age of 20, including three winners and five runners-up. First season -winner Kelly Clarkson currently holds the record for the highest-selling album sales worldwide, with more than 25 million copies, while fourth season -winner Carrie Underwood currently holds the record for the highest-selling album sales in the United States, with more than 13 million copies.
As of 2024, seven finalists have died: Michael Johns (d. 2014), Rickey Smith (d. 2016), Leah LaBelle (d. 2018), Nikki McKibbin (d. 2020), Willie Spence (d. 2022), C. J. Harris (d. 2023), and Mandisa (d. 2024).[ 1] In addition, two semifinalists have also died: season 7 's Joanne Borgella (d. 2014) and season 3 's Marque Lynche (d. 2015; brother of Michael Lynche ).[ 1]
Table key
†
Indicates an alumni who is now deceased
Kelly Clarkson , first season winner
Ruben Studdard , second season winner
Fantasia Barrino , third season winner
Carrie Underwood , fourth season winner
Taylor Hicks , fifth season winner
Jordin Sparks , sixth season winner
David Cook , seventh season winner
Kris Allen , eighth season winner
Lee DeWyze , ninth season winner
Scotty McCreery , tenth season winner
Phillip Phillips , eleventh season winner
Candice Glover , twelfth season winner
Caleb Johnson , thirteenth season winner
Nick Fradiani , fourteenth season winner
Trent Harmon , fifteenth season winner
Maddie Poppe , sixteenth season winner
Laine Hardy , seventeenth season winner
Iam Tongi , twenty-first season winner
Name
Age[1]
Hometown
Season
Place finish
EJay Day
20
Lawrenceville, Georgia
1
9th–10th
Jim Verraros
19
Chicago, Illinois
1
9th–10th
AJ Gil
17
San Diego, California
1
8th
Ryan Starr
19
Sunland, California
1
7th
Christina Christian
21
Brooklyn, New York
1
6th
R. J. Helton
21
Cumming, Georgia
1
5th
Tamyra Gray
23
Takoma Park, Maryland
1
4th
Nikki McKibbin †
23
Grand Prairie, Texas
1
3rd
Justin Guarini
23
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
1
Runner-up
Kelly Clarkson
20
Burleson, Texas
1
Winner
Vanessa Olivarez
22
Atlanta, Georgia
2
12th
Charles Grigsby
24
Oberlin, Ohio
2
11th
Julia DeMato
24
Brookfield, Connecticut
2
10th
Corey Clark
22
Nashville, Tennessee
2
9th
Rickey Smith †
23
Keene, Texas
2
8th
Kimberly Caldwell
21
Katy, Texas
2
7th
Carmen Rasmusen
18
Bountiful, Utah
2
6th
Trenyce
23
Memphis, Tennessee
2
5th
Josh Gracin
22
Oceanside, California
2
4th
Kimberley Locke
25
Nashville, Tennessee
2
3rd
Clay Aiken
24
Raleigh, North Carolina
2
Runner-up
Ruben Studdard
24
Birmingham, Alabama
2
Winner
Leah LaBelle †
17
Seattle, Washington
3
12th
Matthew Rogers
25
Rancho Cucamonga, California
3
11th
Amy Adams
24
Bakersfield, California
3
10th
Camile Velasco
18
Haiku, Hawaii
3
9th
Jon Peter Lewis
24
Rexburg, Idaho
3
8th
Jennifer Hudson
22
Chicago, Illinois
3
7th
John Stevens
16
East Amherst, New York
3
6th
George Huff
22
New Orleans, Louisiana
3
5th
LaToya London
25
Oakland, California
3
4th
Jasmine Trias
17
Mililani, Hawaii
3
3rd
Diana DeGarmo
16
Snellville, Georgia
3
Runner-up
Fantasia Barrino
19
High Point, North Carolina
3
Winner
Lindsey Cardinale
20
Ponchatoula, Louisiana
4
12th
Mikalah Gordon
17
Las Vegas, Nevada
4
11th
Jessica Sierra
19
Tampa Bay, Florida
4
10th
Nikko Smith [ a]
22
Town & Country, Missouri
4
9th
Nadia Turner
28
Miami, Florida
4
8th
Anwar Robinson
25
East Orange, New Jersey
4
7th
Constantine Maroulis
29
New York, New York
4
6th
Scott Savol
28
Shaker Heights, Ohio
4
5th
Anthony Fedorov
19
Trevose, Pennsylvania
4
4th
Vonzell Solomon
21
Fort Myers, Florida
4
3rd
Bo Bice
29
Helena, Alabama
4
Runner-up
Carrie Underwood
21
Checotah, Oklahoma
4
Winner
Melissa McGhee
21
Tampa, Florida
5
12th
Kevin Covais
16
Levittown, New York
5
11th
Lisa Tucker
16
Anaheim, California
5
10th
Mandisa †
29
Antioch, Tennessee
5
9th
Bucky Covington
28
Rockingham, North Carolina
5
8th
Ace Young
25
Denver, Colorado
5
7th
Kellie Pickler
19
Albemarle, North Carolina
5
6th
Paris Bennett
17
Fayetteville, Georgia
5
5th
Chris Daughtry
26
McLeansville, North Carolina
5
4th
Elliott Yamin
27
Richmond, Virginia
5
3rd
Katharine McPhee
21
Los Angeles, California
5
Runner-up
Taylor Hicks
29
Birmingham, Alabama
5
Winner
Brandon Rogers
28
North Hollywood, California
6
12th
Stephanie Edwards
19
Savannah, Georgia
6
11th
Chris Sligh
28
Greenville, South Carolina
6
10th
Gina Glocksen
22
Naperville, Illinois
6
9th
Haley Scarnato
24
San Antonio, Texas
6
8th
Sanjaya Malakar
17
Federal Way, Washington
6
7th
Chris Richardson
22
Chesapeake, Virginia
6
5th–6th
Phil Stacey
29
Jacksonville, Florida
6
5th–6th
LaKisha Jones
27
Fort Meade, Maryland
6
4th
Melinda Doolittle
29
Brentwood, Tennessee
6
3rd
Blake Lewis
25
Bothell, Washington
6
Runner-up
Jordin Sparks
17
Glendale, Arizona
6
Winner
David Hernandez
24
Glendale, Arizona
7
12th
Amanda Overmyer
23
Mulberry, Indiana
7
11th
Chikezie
22
Inglewood, California
7
10th
Ramiele Malubay
20
Miramar, Florida
7
9th
Michael Johns †
29
Buckhead, Georgia
7
8th
Kristy Lee Cook
24
Selma, Oregon
7
7th
Carly Smithson
24
San Diego, California
7
6th
Brooke White
24
Mesa, Arizona
7
5th
Jason Castro
20
Rockwall, Texas
7
4th
Syesha Mercado
21
Sarasota, Florida
7
3rd
David Archuleta
17
Murray, Utah
7
Runner-up
David Cook
25
Blue Springs, Missouri
7
Winner
Jasmine Murray
16
Starkville, Mississippi
8
12th–13th
Jorge Núñez
21
Carolina, Puerto Rico
8
12th–13th
Alexis Grace
21
Memphis, Tennessee
8
11th
Michael Sarver
27
Jasper, Texas
8
10th
Megan Joy
22
Sandy, Utah
8
9th
Scott MacIntyre
23
Scottsdale, Arizona
8
8th
Anoop Desai
21
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
8
6th–7th
Lil Rounds
23
Memphis, Tennessee
8
6th–7th
Matt Giraud
23
Kalamazoo, Michigan
8
5th
Allison Iraheta
16
Los Angeles, California
8
4th
Danny Gokey
28
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
8
3rd
Adam Lambert
27
San Diego, California
8
Runner-up
Kris Allen
23
Conway, Arkansas
8
Winner
Lacey Brown
24
Amarillo, Texas
9
12th
Paige Miles
24
Naples, Florida
9
11th
Didi Benami
23
Hollywood, California
9
10th
Andrew Garcia
24
Moreno Valley, California
9
8th–9th
Katie Stevens
17
Middlebury, Connecticut
9
8th–9th
Tim Urban
20
Duncanville, Texas
9
7th
Siobhan Magnus
19
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
9
6th
Aaron Kelly
16
Sonestown, Pennsylvania
9
5th
Mike Lynche
26
St. Petersburg, Florida
9
4th
Casey James
27
Fort Worth, Texas
9
3rd
Crystal Bowersox
23
Elliston, Ohio
9
Runner-up
Lee DeWyze
23
Mount Prospect, Illinois
9
Winner
Ashthon Jones
24
Goodlettsville, Tennessee
10
13th
Karen Rodriguez
21
New York, New York
10
12th
Naima Adedapo
26
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
10
10th–11th
Thia Megia
16
Mountain House, Alameda County, California
10
10th–11th
Pia Toscano
22
Howard Beach, New York
10
9th
Paul McDonald
26
Nashville, Tennessee
10
8th
Stefano Langone
21
Kent, Washington
10
7th
Casey Abrams
20
Idyllwild, California
10
6th
Jacob Lusk
23
Compton, California
10
5th
James Durbin
22
Santa Cruz, California
10
4th
Haley Reinhart
20
Wheeling, Illinois
10
3rd
Lauren Alaina
16
Rossville, Georgia
10
Runner-up
Scotty McCreery
17
Garner, North Carolina
10
Winner
Jeremy Rosado
19
Valrico, Florida
11
13th
Jermaine Jones
25
Pine Hill, New Jersey
11
12th
Shannon Magrane
16
Tampa, Florida
11
11th
Erika Van Pelt
26
South Kingstown, Rhode Island
11
10th
Heejun Han
22
Flushing, New York
11
9th
DeAndre Brackensick
17
San Jose, California
11
8th
Colton Dixon
20
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
11
7th
Elise Testone
28
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
11
6th
Skylar Laine
18
Brandon, Mississippi
11
5th
Hollie Cavanagh
18
McKinney, Texas
11
4th
Joshua Ledet
19
Westlake, Louisiana
11
3rd
Jessica Sanchez
16
San Diego, California
11
Runner-up
Phillip Phillips
21
Leesburg, Georgia
11
Winner
Curtis Finch, Jr.
24
St. Louis, Missouri
12
10th
Paul Jolley
23
Palmersville, Tennessee
12
9th
Devin Velez
18
Chicago, Illinois
12
8th
Burnell Taylor
19
New Orleans, Louisiana
12
7th
Lazaro Arbos
22
Naples, Florida
12
6th
Janelle Arthur
23
Oliver Springs, Tennessee
12
5th
Amber Holcomb
19
Houston, Texas
12
4th
Angie Miller
19
Beverly, Massachusetts
12
3rd
Kree Harrison
22
Woodville, Texas
12
Runner-up
Candice Glover
23
St. Helena Island, South Carolina
12
Winner
Kristen O'Connor
24
Sebastian, Florida
13
13th
Emily Piriz
18
Orlando, Florida
13
12th
Ben Briley
24
Gallatin, Tennessee
13
11th
MK Nobilette
20
San Francisco, California
13
10th
Majesty Rose
21
Goldsboro, North Carolina
13
9th
Malaya Watson
16
Southfield, Michigan
13
8th
Dexter Roberts
22
Fayette, Alabama
13
7th
C.J. Harris †
23
Jasper, Alabama
13
6th
Sam Woolf
17
Bradenton, Florida
13
5th
Jess Meuse
23
Slapout, Alabama
13
4th
Alex Preston
20
Mont Vernon, New Hampshire
13
3rd
Jena Irene
17
Farmington Hills, Michigan
13
Runner-up
Caleb Johnson
23
Asheville, North Carolina
13
Winner
Sarina-Joi Crowe
19
Columbia, Tennessee
14
12th
Adanna Duru
18
Diamond Bar, California
14
10th–11th
Maddie Walker
17
Ankeny, Iowa
14
10th–11th
Daniel Seavey
15
Portland, Oregon
14
9th
Qaasim Middleton
19
Brooklyn, New York
14
8th
Joey Cook
23
Woodbridge, Virginia
14
7th
Quentin Alexander
20
New Orleans, Louisiana
14
6th
Tyanna Jones
16
Jacksonville, Florida
14
5th
Rayvon Owen
23
Richmond, Virginia
14
4th
JAX
19
East Brunswick, New Jersey
14
3rd
Clark Beckham
22
White House, Tennessee
14
Runner-up
Nick Fradiani
29
Guilford, Connecticut
14
Winner
Gianna Isabella
15
Jackson, New Jersey
15
9th–10th
Olivia Rox
17
Agoura Hills, California
15
9th–10th
Avalon Young
21
San Diego, California
15
7th–8th
Lee Jean
16
Bluffton, South Carolina
15
7th–8th
Tristan McIntosh
15
Nashville, Tennessee
15
6th
Sonika Vaid
20
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
15
5th
MacKenzie Bourg
23
Lafayette, Louisiana
15
4th
Dalton Rapattoni
20
Dallas, Texas
15
3rd
La'Porsha Renae
22
McComb, Mississippi
15
Runner-up
Trent Harmon
26
Amory, Mississippi
15
Winner
Ada Vox
24
San Antonio, Texas
16
8th-10th
Dennis Lorenzo
26
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
16
8th-10th
Michelle Sussett
22
Miami, Florida
16
8th-10th
Catie Turner
17
Langhorne, Pennsylvania
16
6th-7th
Jurnee
18
Denver, Colorado
16
6th-7th
Cade Foehner
21
Shelbyville, Texas
16
4th-5th
Michael J. Woodard
20
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
16
4th-5th
Gabby Barrett
17
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
16
3rd
Caleb Lee Hutchinson
19
Dallas, Georgia
16
Runner-Up
Maddie Poppe
20
Clarksville, Iowa
16
Winner
Dimitrius Graham
27
Baltimore, Maryland
17
9th-10th
Uché
24
Sugarland, Texas
17
9th-10th
Alyssa Raghu
17
Orlando, Florida
17
7th-8th
Walker Burroughs
20
Birmingham, Alabama
17
7th-8th
Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon
26
Catonsville, Maryland
17
6th
Laci Kaye Booth
23
Livingston, Texas
17
4th-5th
Wade Cota
27
Phoenix, Arizona
17
4th-5th
Madison VanDenburg
17
Cohoes, New York
17
3rd
Alejandro Aranda
24
Pomona, California
17
Runner-Up
Laine Hardy
18
Livingston, Louisiana
17
Winner
Grace Leer
28
Danville, California
18
8th-11th
Jovin Webb
29
Gonzales, Louisiana
18
8th-11th
Makayla Phillips
17
Temecula, California
18
8th-11th
Sophia James
20
Long Beach, California
18
8th-11th
Julia Gargano
22
Staten Island, New York
18
6th-7th
Louis Knight
19
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
18
6th-7th
Dillon James
27
Bakersfield, California
18
3rd-5th
Francisco Martin
19
San Francisco, California
18
3rd-5th
Jonny West
23
Murrieta, California
18
3rd-5th
Arthur Gunn
22
Wichita, Kansas
18
Runner-up
Just Sam
21
Harlem, New York
18
Winner
Ava August
15
Laguna Niguel, California
19
11th-13th
Beane
23
Brighton, Massachusetts
19
11th-13th
Madison Watkins
25
Fayetteville, Arkansas
19
11th-13th
Alyssa Wray
19
Perryville, Kentucky
19
8th-10th
Cassandra Coleman
24
Columbia, Tennessee
19
8th-10th
DeShawn Goncalves
20
Cleveland, Ohio
19
8th-10th
Arthur Gunn [ b]
23
Wichita, Kansas
19
6th-7th
Hunter Metts
22
Franklin, Tennessee
19
6th-7th
Caleb Kennedy
16
Roebuck, South Carolina
19
5th
Casey Bishop
16
Estero, Florida
19
4th
Grace Kinstler
20
Lakewood, Illinois
19
3rd
Willie Spence †
21
Douglas, Georgia
19
Runner-up
Chayce Beckham
24
Apple Valley, California
19
Winner
Allegra Miles
18
Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands
20
12th-14th
Ava Maybee
20
Los Angeles, California
20
12th-14th
Dan Marshall
24
Chesapeake, Virginia
20
12th-14th
Tristen Gressett
17
Pell City, Alabama
20
11th
Emyrson Flora
16
Cleveland, Ohio
20
8th-10th
Lady K.
25
Tuskegee, Alabama
20
8th-10th
Mike Parker
27
Warrenton, Virginia
20
8th-10th
Christian Guardino
21
Patchogue, New York
20
6th-7th
Jay
23
Salisbury, Maryland
20
6th-7th
Fritz Hager
22
Tyler, Texas
20
4th-5th
Nicolina
18
Toronto , Ontario , Canada
20
4th-5th
Leah Marlene
20
Normal, Illinois
20
3rd
HunterGirl
23
Winchester, Tennessee
20
Runner-up
Noah Thompson
21
Louisa, Kentucky
20
Winner
Lucy Love
28
Holly Grove, Arkansas
21
11th-12th
Nutsa
25
Tbilisi , Europe
21
11th-12th
Marybeth Byrd
21
Armorel, Arkansas
21
9th-10th
Tyson Venegas
17
Vancouver , Canada
21
9th-10th
Haven Madison
16
Clarksville, Tennessee
21
6th-8th
Oliver Steele
25
Mount Juliet, Tennessee
21
6th-8th
Warren Peay
24
Bamberg, South Carolina
21
6th-8th
Wé Ani
23
Harlem, New York
21
4th-5th
Zachariah Smith
19
Amory, Mississippi
21
4th-5th
Colin Stough
18
Amory, Mississippi
21
3rd
Megan Danielle
20
Douglasville, Georgia
21
Runner-up
Iam Tongi
18
Kahuku, Hawaii
21
Winner
Jordan Anthony
19
Perth, Australia
22
13th-14th
Nya
28
Manhattan, New York
22
13th-14th
Roman Collins
24
Long Beach, California
22
11th-12th
Jayna Elise
22
Washington, District of Columbia
22
11th-12th
KAYKO
23
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
22
9th-10th
Mia Matthews
19
Centre, Alabama
22
9th-10th
Kaibrienne
20
Henefer, Utah
22
8th
Julia Gagnon
21
Cumberland, Maine
22
6th-7th
McKenna Faith Breinholt
25
Gilbert, Arizona
22
6th-7th
Emmy Russell
25
Nashville, Tennessee
22
4th-5th
Triston Harper
15
McIntosh, Alabama
22
4th-5th
Jack Blocker
25
Dallas, Texas
22
3rd
Will Moseley
23
Hazlehurst, Georgia
22
Runner-up
Abi Carter
21
Indio, California
22
Winner
^ Mario Vazquez initially made the Top 12 by votes, while Nikko Smith was eliminated in the semifinals. However, Vazquez withdrew from the competition, citing it was allegedly due to "personal, artistic reasons". Smith was reinstated in his place as a finalist, as having the next most votes from the Top 8 Boys (thereby inferring Travis Tucker had the least).
^ In a surprise twist introduced specifically during this season , ten assorted contestants from the previous season were invited back to compete for a chance to re-enter the competition. (Due to the fact that those twenty contestants, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic , had to broadcast from home , none of them ever sang on the Idol stage.) Season 18's runner-up Arthur Gunn won the public vote and re-entered at the Top 10, lasting two weeks.
^ Contestant's age at the time the season's final round began.
Finalists
Winners Runners-up Other alumni
Winners' singles Concert tours Related programming Related articles