10 'American Idol' Finalists Who Had Successful Careers (Even Though They Didn't Win)
American Idol has produced one of the most most famed celebrities now we have lately. But no longer all of them had to win to be successful and identify their names in Hollywood. Some of the finalists and runner-ups have become much more famous than the contestants who in truth won the singing competition.
To these days we nonetheless don’t perceive why these contestants didn’t win the contest, especially Adam Lambert and Tori Kelly. Tori gained two Grammys and Adam was the first brazenly gay artist to be nominated for one. It doesn’t make any sense why they didn’t win, but no less than their careers turned out to be a lot better than their time on Idol. Here are the entire stars who didn’t win American Idol, however was large celebrities anyway.
10 Katie Stevens
Katie auditioned for American Idol in 2009 in Boston close to her homeland, Middlebury, Connecticut. She was most effective 16-years-old on the time and he or she made it to the highest 9, however used to be eradicated that round. Although her song profession didn’t figure out, that didn’t stop her from being successful in Hollywood. According to Gossip Cop, “From 2014 till 2016, she played Karma Ashcroft at the MTV rom-com collection Faking It. And since 2017, she has been the lead actress at the Freeform comedy-drama The Bold Type.” She performs Jane Sloane, a creator at Cosmopolitan Magazine in NYC, on The Bold Type and has received more than one certain critiques from Vanity Fair, Vox, and Vulture.
9 Tori Kelly
Tori Kelly is among the maximum successful singers who got their get started on American Idol. She was on season Nine of the making a song competition and she were given to Hollywood, but didn’t make it past the highest 24. She launched the self-produced EP, Handmade Songs through Tori Kelly, in 2012 after her time on American Idol. It took her a couple of years to make it, however in 2015 she turned into a huge making a song sensation along with her debut album, Unbreakable Smile, which reached number two on the Billboard 200. She won two Grammys in 2019 as well for her 2nd album, Hiding Place.
8 Todrick Hall

Todrick made his first look on season 9 of American Idol and confirmed his skill with his own tune at his audition. He proved to everyone he was once intended to be famous in that second. He most effective reached the highest 16, but became a YouTube megastar after he was once eradicated and has had a huge profession since then. According to Gossip Cop, “Hall has released three studio albums thus far, together with a vacation document, however he shows probably the most promise on stage. From 2016 to 2017, he carried out within the Broadway musical Kinky Boots (the position was once even introduced with out an audition.) And from 2017 to 2015, he performed legal professional Billy Flynn in Chicago.”
7 David Archuleta
Every American Idol fan is aware of David Archuleta’s hit tune, “Crush.” Even though his music peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, he still didn’t win season 7. He used to be runner-up that season, but his occupation took off after that. According to Gossip Cop, “Archuleta has launched a total of nine studio albums, his most recent being 2020’s Therapy Sessions. The single 'Just Breathe' used to be dedicated to frontline staff right through the COVID-19 pandemic and money earned from YouTube views was donated to the nonprofit organization Direct Relief.”
6 Katharine McPhee
Katharine was once runner-up to Taylor Hicks on season 5 or even though she didn’t win, she was more successful than her competitor. She released her self-titled debut album in 2007 and her first single, “Over It”, reached quantity 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. Katharine was much more successful as an actress though. She’s starred within the TV shows, Ugly Betty, CSI: NY, Community, Smash, Scorpion, and the comedy film, The House Bunny. She’s additionally a Broadway superstar and played the primary persona, Jenna, in the musical, Waitress.
5 Kellie Pickler
Kellie is a big name in nation music, however wasn’t successful until after she positioned 6th on American Idol. “The North Carolina local, 34, has released 4 studio albums so far. Her debut, Small Town Girl, was certified Gold and boasts 3 singles that made it onto Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart,” in line with Gossip Cop. She co-hosted the show, Pickler & Ben, as neatly from 2017 to 2019.
4 Clay Aiken
Clay is among the original American Idol contestants and was the runner-up on season 2. That time on the display resulted in him turning into a huge celebrity. According to USA Today, “Aiken went directly to unlock various albums and appear on TV displays (Drop Dead Diva, 30 Rock) and Broadway (Spamalot). He switched gears in 2014, profitable the Democratic primary for a congressional seat in his local North Carolina prior to dropping the overall election.”
3 Chris Daughtry
Chris wasn’t even runner-up in season 5—he most effective positioned fourth—however he became essentially the most successful male contestant in the history of Idol. “In 2006, the aspiring rock big name shaped the band Daughtry. Their self-titled debut album instantly took the number 1 spot at the Billboard 200. It used to be certified Platinum a shocking six times and had four singles that made it into the top 20 on the Billboard 100,” consistent with Gossip Cop. Most just lately, he competed on the second season of The Masked Singer in 2019 and was once runner-up on that festival show too.
2 Adam Lambert

Adam was once runner-up in season 8, however he didn’t let that get in the way of constructing a successful song profession for himself. “For Your Entertainment, released in 2009, debuted at quantity 3 at the Billboard 200. ‘Whataya Want From Me,’ one in every of its hit singles, earned him a 2010 Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Lambert’s second album, Trespassing, debuted at number one at the Billboard 200, making him the first overtly homosexual artist to earn the spot,” consistent with Gossip Cop. Not only did he make history along with his albums, he additionally changed into part of the legendary band, Queen, in 2011.
1 Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer positioned 7th in season 3, however she made her title in Hollywood after she was once eliminated. She become an Oscar-winning actress on most sensible of successful a Grammy for her song. According to USA Today, “In her first movie, Dreamgirls (2006), Hudson gained a supporting-actress Oscar for a role that featured her electrifying performance of And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going. Hudson received a 2008 Grammy for highest R&B album and stars in a Broadway revival of The Color Purple that opened overdue remaining year. She appeared not too long ago in Fox's Empire and Spike Lee's Chi-Raq and might be noticed in HBO's Confirmation.”
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