Devoted to show business and the entertainment industry

Kelly Clarkson

a

Kelly Clarkson

Kelly being the first Idol winner has a head start over all the other Idol winners and participants. Not only did she win the first American Idol but was came in second in the World Idol competition. Along with that exposure to the world overall, it has caused her to be a cultural phenomenon elsewhere as her songs have been top 10 hits in a number of countries.

Her latest album Breakaway, has reached the top 20 of the Billboard 200 and has been nominated for a grammy, along with the single "Since U Been Gone."

She has just finished a tour in New Zealand and Australia and will begin an 11-city tour in the early part of next year.

Clay Aiken

His first album debuted at no. 1 and his first single went platinum and also debuted at no. 1. His other album, a Christmas album last year, debuted at no. 4.

He has one of the most obsessive fan clubs out there called the Claymates, and this adds to the tremendous success that he's enjoyed. That are totally devoted to him. He is now on his fourth solo tour, leads the Bubel/Aiken Foundation and is the Unicef ambassador.

Ruben Studdard

Ruben, of course, beat out Clay Aiken in season 2 of the Idol, and his first album actually outsold Kelly Clarkson's first offering.

His second album went to the top of the gospel charts.

 
Carrie Underwood

Carrie has made a huge mark on the American country music industry in a short time. Since winning season 4 of American Idol she has released 5 singles and one album.

Her debut album Some Hearts, topped off at no. 2 on the US chart and was no. 1 for 15 weeks on the US country charts. It also came in at no. 1 on the UK country chart.

Billboard has awarded her with the Top-selling Hot 100 Song of the Year for "Inside your Heaven", Country Single Sales Artist of the Year in 2005 and Top-selling Country Single of the Year for "Inside Your Heaven/Independence Day."

Mikalah Gordon

Even without singing she is garnering a career for herself. She has become a guest correspondent on the Tyra Banks Show, normally hosting the segment called Obsessed with Celebrities.

She also has been picked to be a host on the upcoming new reality series American Idol Extra.

Fran Drescher liked her so much that she chose her to appear on the season premiere of her show Living with Fran in 2005.
 
There are a lot others we could talk about, but I am impressed with the fact that not only do the winners do great, but those that don't finish in first or sometimes even much lower have been carving out their own personal successes from the exposure and fan base that developed during their time on the show.