These American Idols Made Their Light Shine After The Camera Lights Went Off

23. Diana DeGarmo

Diana DeGarmo appeared in the third season of American Idol, where she was a runner up. However, it was not the first time she was performing before the crowds, as she also appeared on America’s Most Talented Kids, an NBC-televised program, where she was a finalist. She may not be the only one on this list either! Since her appearance on American Idol, she has been on a lot of other stages to include plays and other films. She appeared in plays such as Oz, West Side Story, and Hairspray. She also made her debut in “The Young and the Restless,” a CBS soap opera film, where she played Angelina Veneziano, a fictional character. Currently, DeGarmo has a net worth of roughly $1.5 million.

Diana DeGarmo

22. Bo Bice

Bo Bice will be a name and figure in American Idol as he sported a unique look of long hair and groovy glasses that he wore during his performances. Bice has now reached a level of greatness in his career after he was the runner up in season four of the competitions. Since then, Bice has released his album “The Real Thing,” which appeared on the Billboard charts in the fourth position and has also achieved gold status. The singer has also ventured into other things, such as appearing as a cast on American Chopper. To date, the singer has an estimated net worth of $2 million.

Bo Bice

21.Josh Gracin

Josh Gracin, whole hails from Michigan, is a singer and former US marine who took part in season two of American Idol. Gracin ended fourth place behind Kimberley Locke (mentioned earlier). His appearance on the big stage made his name a great one on the international scene and in the music industry.

Josh Gracin

After performing a rendition of “I’m Movin’ On” by Rascal Flatts, the band found Gracin to be an impressive singer and allowed being signed onto their co-producer, Marry Williams, who brought two of their albums to major success. Since then, the singer has had a lot of successes in his career to include signing a major record deal and releasing three albums, one of which was certified gold. Gracin now has a net worth estimated at $2 million.

20.Taylor Hicks

Taylor Hicks was the winner of season five of American Idol, where he copped the prize above crowd favorite Katherine McPhee. However, with success on the show, he was yet to see it going right through after stepping from the stage. But, it was not so well for him as he only managed to debut a single album titled “Taylor Hicks,” even though it made it to the Billboards charts at number two. His record label would soon drop him. Luckily enough, the singer was able to revive after joining the Grease’s Broadway cast and become one of the first sets of Idol winners to own a Las Vegas residence. Hicks is now the host of Amazon Prime’s State Plate (a food adventure film) and has an estimated net worth of $2 million. Next: Making a name for herself on the Idol show is what the next star did during her time there…

Taylor Hicks

19. Mandisa

Mandisa, a Christian gospel singer, didn’t have the sweetest journey on the show and was placed ninth during the fifth season. However, it was not necessarily the songs she did that would make her who she is today, but her fighter spirit. Mandisa had to deal with harsh and insulting body-shaming comments (for her weight) from Simon Cowell throughout the entire competition. Today, the singer is one of the most popular gospel performers, especially of the contemporary gospel. Mandisa managed to release six studio albums and has debuted at number one on the Top Christian Album chart. She has since been deemed one of the most popular female artists of all times, as, during the 27 years of the list (Top Christian Albums), she is the first female to cop the top position. Mandisa now has a net worth of over $3 million.

Mandisa

18. Ruben Studdard

Ruben Studdard was seen as the “teddy bear” of the second season and copped the first place ahead of contestants Clay Aiken and Kimberley Locke. Shortly after leaving the stage, Studdard released two of his albums, “Soulful” – certified platinum and “I Need an Angel” – certified gold and was the top-selling album of the period. Since then, Studdard has released a total of seven studio albums, became a contestant on “The Biggest Loser,” and also appeared in films like “8 Simple Rules”, “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” and “All of Us.” The popular singer has also made another huge appearance in 2018, where he performed alongside his runner-up on American Idol, Clay Aiken. Studdard currently has an estimated net worth of $3 million.

Ruben Studdard

17. Kris Allen

Thinking back to season eight of American Idol, a lot of people would remember the household name, Adam Lambert, who was a popular figure on stage. He was seen as a great singer and performer but still not in the winning position as Kris Allen took place. Allen was a native of Arkansas, and Lambert ended up in second place. For sure, many questions lied in the results show as lots of people believed that something went wrong as they saw Lambert as the ultimate winner. But, since winning, Allen has not backed down as he has gone global and big with his music career. To date, the singer has released four studio albums and many other number-one singles. Allen’s net worth is estimated at $3.5 million.

Kris Allen

16. Kimberly Caldwell

Kimberly Caldwell was placed seventh in season two of American Idol and has gained a lot of her wealth not only through music but other areas. After leaving the show, she became a member of Fox’s Sports Network “54321” a program they aired weekly. To add to her career choices, she also hosted the single season of P. Diddy’s reality TV singing competition show, “Starmaker.” She also appeared on a few showings of “Deal or No Deal” and hosted the first season of Best Ink, an Oxygen Network’s show. To date, the singer/TV host has a net worth of over $4 million.

Kimberly Caldwell

15. Scotty McCreery

At just 17 years old, Scotty McCreery won season 10 of American Idol. He holds the title for the youngest male to ever win the title, and he portrayed a childlike charm but with a powerhouse voice. Since leaving the stage, he has not ceased on his mission to continue giving America what they need – great music. McCreery’s career has been going strong ever since as he has released four studio albums to include “Clear as Day” – that went platinum and “Christmas with Scotty McCreery” – that went gold. The singer has also hit a record high for his single “Five More Minutes,” released in 2017. It reached Billboard’s number one spot while Scotty made history as the first-ever country singer to go without a record label and still top the chart’s top position. His net worth is roughly $4 million.

Scotty McCreery

Next: The next content will be remembered in American Idol History

14. Phillip Phillips

Phillip Phillips sure has a catchy name, but it will not be the reason he will be remembered for his time on American Idol. However, his major success story will have him on the lips of many for the years to come, including his single performed on the night he won the contest (season 11). The single titled “Home” was one of the top-selling singles of all time, coming from an American Idol contestant. Today, Phillips is widely known on the music scene as he has released three studio albums as well as appeared in “Hawaii Five-0” (one episode). In 2019, Phillips made a public declaration that he and his wife were expecting their son, whom his fans are hoping will take after his daddy’s footsteps. His current net worth stands at an average of $5 million.

Phillip Phillips

13. David Cook

David Cook’s story is certainly an impressive one as it all didn’t start with him going to audition for the competition but to support his younger brother. However, it happened that his brother didn’t make it through while he did. Lucky to say, Cook, became the winner of season seven of American Idol. Also, he managed to be a break-out act from the show as within a week of winning, he broke records with appearing on Billboard’s top charts with 11 songs, making it to the Hot 100 list. Surprisingly enough, he has broken the record of Miley Cyrus, who had a total of 6 on the charts within a week the same. Cook’s estimated net worth stands at an average of $5 million.

David Cook

12. David Archuleta

David Archuleta’s career in music was nurtured long before he copped second place in season seven of American Idol. The singer also made an appearance as a contestant on Junior Vocal Champion (a reality talent show), where he was declared the winner. He took that same confidence with him to the main stage of American Idol.

David Archuleta

David’s first album copped number two on the Billboard 200 chart and since then, has had multiple success stories. After releasing his third album, the singer went to Chile, where he carried out mission/duty works and later came back to release a few more albums, totaling seven. Archuleta now has an estimated $5 million net worth.

11. Kellie Pickler

Kellie Pickler is a native of North Carolina and is a country singer who has worked hard to build a career as successful as you see now. Pickler entered American Idol during the fifth season and was placed sixth in the competition. After leaving the show, Pickler managed to release her first album “Small Town Girl” – certified gold – and also topped the charts with three of her singles. In 2013, the singer entered the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ competition where she won it and afterward co-hosted “Pickler & Ben,” a daytime TV talk show she did with comedian Ben Aaron. This show went on between 2017-2019 and was focused on beauty, human interest stories, lifestyle, and much more. Her current estimated net worth stands at $5 million.

Kellie Pickler

10. Fantasia Barrino

Fantasia Barrino has never had the perfect childhood nor years growing up. She had a pretty rough life, and as such, winning the third season of American /idol gave her a big break she needed. Fantasia released her first album shortly after winning, and in addition to going platinum, it also got her three Grammy nominations.

Fantasia Barrino

After going stronger in her career, she released another album titled “Fantasia,” which did a whole lot better than the first, especially her single, “When I See U” that topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for over two months. This album was certified gold, won Barrino another three Grammy awards. In total, Barrino got 12 Grammy nominations and won one. To date, Barrino is worth over $5 million.

9. Elliot Yamin

Elliot Yamin is known by many for his single “Wait For You” and was also placed third in the fifth season of American Idol. Yamin didn’t win the competition, but he has sure gotten a boost in his now successful music career. Interestingly enough, Simon Cowell commended the singer on numerous occasions, even noting he was the best male vocalist the show has ever seen.

Elliot Yamin

Since the competition, Yamin has released several albums that have all been successful. The self-titled artiste album was certified gold in the US and Japan and went on to top the Billboard charts. Yamin currently has a net worth of over $6 million.

8. Clay Aiken

Clay Aiken took the runner-up spot on season two of American Idol and has since made a great career for himself. After leaving the show, the singer went on to release his album “Measure of a Man,” which earned him multi-platinum status. Aiken has also released an additional six studio albums, which saw him selling over five million copies and becoming the fourth highest-selling American Idol. Clay has ventured outside of music a few times and has also had different success stories. He published a memoir in 2004 titled, “Learning to Sing” which became a New York Times Best Seller. He also ventured into the world of TV, where he appeared in numerous shows to include PBS’ “Tried & True Live” and “The Celebrity Apprentice.” Aiken also tried his luck in politics (North Carolina Congress), where he won the primary elections in 2014 but lost out on the general. His current net worth stands at $7 million.

Clay Aiken

7. Katherine McPhee

Taylor McPhee took second place behind Taylor Hicks in season five of American Idol. The star has since released a total of five studio albums since leaving the show though music is not her only earning passion. After leaving the show, McPhee ventured into an acting career, which has been a major success for her. She appeared in numerous films and TV shows such as “The House Bunny,” “Shark Night 3D”, “SCI: NY” and CBS’ “Scorpion.” She married music producer David Foster in 2018 and currently has a net worth of over $8 million.

Katherine McPhee

6. Chris Daughtry

Chris Daughtry made a name for himself on American Idol during season five but didn’t win and came fourth instead. However, he had a passion for music and didn’t let the elimination hinder his progress. After leaving the show, Daughtry managed to sign a record deal with RCA Records, where he went on to become lead singer and guitarist for a band he created – Daughtry.

Chris Daughtry

Within five weeks of his band’s first album release, they sold over one million copies, making it one of the highest fast-selling albums in the rock genre. To date, the singer and musician have done multiple collaborations with the likes of Carlos Santana, Slash, Timbaland, and Sevendust. His net worth stands at over $10 million.

5. Jordin Sparks

Many people never knew Jordin Sparks was on American Idol and that she was the youngest ever winner (17 years old) of the competition. After winning the sixth season, the singer went on to do a major collaboration with Chris Brown – “No Air” – which became the highest-grossing single of any American Idol winners.

Jordin Sparks

Sparks has released several albums, and after her second album, she was commended for being the first American Idol star to have five of their singles in the top 20 of the Billboard Top 100 chart. The singer has also done a few acting roles which have been a success for her. The star is also an entrepreneur with a few lines of her perfume. Her net worth is over $10 million.
Next: The next artiste will surprise you to find out she didn’t even win American Idol

4. Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson is a household name around the world for her music and acting career. The star never made it to the top five of the third season of American Idol and was a big disappointment to most fans. However, after leaving the show, she went on to cast for “Dreamgirls” in 2006, where she played Effie White. That role landed her an Academy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, a Golden Globe, and BAFTA Award.

Jennifer Hudson

Since then, the singer and actress have only been growing stronger and better as she won her first Grammy Award for a self-titled album she released that was certified gold. Also, she won a second Grammy Award for her role as Shug Avery in the film “The Color Purple.” Her current net worth stands at $20 million.

3. Adam Lambert

If Adam Lambert didn’t show the world anything with his successful music career, he did by showing them that you don’t need the title of a TV reality show to be a star. It was a major surprise for many when Lambert landed second behind Kris Allen in season eight of American Idol.

Adam Lambert

The same year he left the contest, Lambert released his first album, which won him a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal. He has further released three studio albums where he got a tour contract with Queen. The star’s current net worth is estimated at $20 million.

2. Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson stands as the first star to win the coveted title of American Idol as she copped the first season’s win. Since then, the star has hit a major success journey in her career as she released several albums and singles, which topped the Billboard charts countless times. She is famous for the single “Because of You.” Her amazing musical career has landed her numerous awards to include four American Music Awards, three MTV Awards, three Grammy Awards, and two Academy of Country Music Awards. The star was signed to RCA Records.

Kelly Clarkson

In addition to music, Clarkson also crossed over into writing, film, and television. Clarkson has released two children’s books under her dealership with a book publisher, HarperCollins. She also became a judge on season 14, 15 and 16 of “The Voice” and has hosted the daytime show, “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” Her net worth is an average of $28 million.

1. Carrie Underwood

After winning season four of American Idol, Carrie Underwood became a star in her rights, producing numerous albums and singles, which have garnered lots of awards and recognitions. Her appearance on the song competition gave her the push she needed to reach the level she is now.

Carrie Underwood

Her album “Some Hearts” became a best-seller in the country music genre and also the best-selling in history. Throughout her successful career, Underwood won three Grammy Awards, is considered one of the most successful country singers and has been listed as one of the world’s most influential people. Rolling Stone also ranked her as “the female vocalist of her generation.” Her current net worth stands at over $85 million.

Keep on reading to see who are the idols who didn’t make the cut, but are definitely worth mention.

Names Worth an Honorary Mention:
10. Lee DeWyze
Net Worth: $500,000

Lee Dewyze won season nine of American Idol, but it was not the starting point for his career as he had a previous music history. DeWyze had his band before the show named the “Lee DeWyze Band.”
The star also had two album releases before joining the show – “So I’m Told” and “Slumberland.” In addition to these albums, the artist also released five other studio albums post-American Idol of which a single, “Blackbird Song” was featured in an episode of “The Walking Dead.”

Lee DeWyze

9. Danny Gokey
Net Worth: $600,000

Danny Gokey was a favorite for fans on American Idol after he was placed third during his season on the show. While there, Gokey mostly performed songs from the gospel and soul genres. However, since leaving the show, he has ventured over into Country music with his first album being released – “My Best Days.” Of course, fans were a little confused about the change, but Gokey later went back to his “comfort zone,” gospel. Since then, he has released a few albums, which became number one on Billboard Gospel Charts. These albums include “Hope in Front of Me” and “Rise.” The latter was also nominated for a Grammy.

Danny Gokey

8. William Hung
Net Worth: $600,000

William Hung was an engineering student when he auditioned for the voice, and though he didn’t make it past that stage, his rendition of “She Bangs” by Ricky Martin was a viral sensation among fans. For sure, Hung made use of this opportunity to further his passion and love for music and later saw himself releasing three studio albums. He has had other huge appearances on shows like “The Fairly OddParents”, “Arrested Development” and on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno as well as the half-time show for the Golden State Warriors. These days, he does a lot of motivational speaking.

William Hung

7. Blake Lewis
Net Worth: $600,000

Blake Lewis will forever be remembered on American Idol for his beatboxing skills as well as his second place behind Jordin Sparks. In July 2019, Lewis released his fourth studio album, where the first one, “Audio Day Dream,” gave him a lot of popularity.

Blake Lewis

The first album on the US Billboard 200 chart was at number ten, and since then, the singer has produced many other singles that appeared on the charts. The star in 2019 announced another accomplishment where he noted he would be performing on CW’s The Big Stage. This is a talent show which showcases talents from other past competitions.

6. Justin Guarini
Net Worth: $700,000

Justin Guarini is a Georgia native and was runner-up to Kelly Clarkson on American Idol. After leaving the show, Justin teamed up with Clarkson as they made an appearance in the comedy music film, “From Justin to Kelly.” Since then, the singer has appeared in some shows and tv commercials.

Justin Guarini

Justin and Clarkson connected once again in September 2019 on Clarkson’s daytime show, “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” where they discussed in detail about Justin’s new book, “Audition Secrets Volume 1: Behind the Scenes Guidebook for Nailing More Auditions and Booking More Jobs.

5. Constantine Maroulis
Net Worth: $750,000

Constantine Maroulis finished only sixth place on season four of American Idol but didn’t let that deter him from pursuing a professional career in music and entertainment. He ventured into Broadway with a bang and earned for himself a few nominations to include a Drama League Award and a Tony Award.

Constantine Maroulis

Maroulis appeared in numerous films to include musical films like “Rock of Ages” (where he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical). He also made appearances on “Jekyll and Hyde” (Drama League Award nomination), “Madame Secretary” and “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.”

4. Lauren Alaina
Net Worth: $800,000

Lauren Alaina hailed from the South and was placed second behind season ten winner of American Idol, Scotty McCreery. Since leaving the show, Alaina released two studio albums, which garnered much traction and was reasonably successful. Today, she is said to be working on her new album.

Lauren Alaina

Alaina has also competed on Dancing with the Stars (28th season), where she performed numerous Argentine tango moves and judges praising her strength and courage on the show. However, Alaina noted she pretended for the entire time she was on the show to be dancing with a “whole ribs.” Surprisingly enough, the singer was dancing with broken ribs – which made her stood-out more to fans as a talented character.

3. Nick Fradiani
Net Worth: $1 Million

Nick Fradiani is a Connecticutsinger who appeared on the fourteenth season of American Idol and copped the coveted title. Also, Nick happens to be the first winner to ever emerge from the North East. The singer has been on other talent shows before to include America’s Got Talent with his band, BeachAvenue. However, they were not successful in making it through to the competing stages. Fradiani is now a cast on “A Bronx Tale” as Lorenzo, a film which is debut as a Broadway Musical. For the star, this is a big break as he is the headline star for the North American tour.

Nick Fradiani

2. Caleb Johnson
Net Worth: $1 Million

Caleb Johnson was the winner of season thirteen of American Idol and hailed from North Carolina. Three weeks after winning the title, Johnson released his first studio album, and though a lot of fans loved the idea, Johnson later admitted he wished he had taken a different approach. The artist believed the first album was somehow rushed, so he didn’t take enough time to plan properly what songs he wanted to include in the project. As such, he is hopeful his 2019 released album, “Born From Southern Ground,” will achieve greater results and better recognition.

Caleb Johnson

1. Brittany Kerr
Net Worth: $60 Million

Brittany Kerr was pretty hopeful she would make it big when she auditioned for season eleven of American Idol. However, after receiving two “yes” from three judges, she didn’t make it to the live rounds. But, even though Kerr didn’t get to appear before the big audience on the live stage, she made a name for herself and more so after marrying Jason Aldean, a legendary country singer. Her net worth of $500,000 was added to her husband, merging, to value an estimated $60 million.

Brittany Kerr