‘American Idol’ Winners Through the Years

Credit: Ray Mickshaw/WireImage.com (3); FOX via Getty Images

'American Idol' Winners Through the Years

A lasting impact. Since it initially aired in June 2002, American Idol has made many dreams come true for its winners. "When I was a little girl ... if you had asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I would have told you I wanted to be a famous country music singer," season 4 winner Carrie Underwood told fans during her concert at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville in September 2019. "As I got older, dreams tend to give way to practicalities, so I started going to school to get a real job. One day there was an open door, and I walked through it and my life was changed forever." Underwood is not the only past winner whose life was changed after appearing on American Idol. For Jordin Sparks, the experience was even more unique because she was a fan of the hit competition show first. “I was such a huge fan of Idol that I was more excited to audition for that than to get my driver’s license,” Sparks told AZCentral in August 2017. “That’s how a big a fan I was.” The season 6 winner admitted that being on a show like American Idol was overwhelming. Following her win, Sparks suffered from “bad anxiety and panic attacks" as a result of how quickly things changed in her life. [jwplayer 2QNWcOzr-l3ahXupL] “The down side is a lot of sacrifice and being alone — not lonely, but alone,” she reflected. “I’m a huge family person and not being able to make some things — that’s not easy. But my family has been completely understanding and they are so great and supportive. There are times when I want to go to see my nieces and [think], 'Crap, I have an interview and I can't go.' So it’s hard, but I've learned how to balance things. It took a while, but I think I’ve got the hang of it and I'm happy about it now." Season 1’s winner, Kelly Clarkson, still puts in the work every day following her success on the hit singing show. "18 years ago today was the finale of the first season of American Idol and it changed my life! I’m still hustlin 18 years later because I know I am blessed to have the opportunities and I still love my purpose!" Clarkson tweeted in September 2020 on the anniversary of her big win. For Chayce Beckham, that hustle for more was bound to happen no matter what. “I’ll record a record, put the record out, and go on tour to meet all my fans in every state that I can,” the season 19 winner told the Daily Press one month before his May 2021 win. “I’ll keep my name relevant, and I won’t stop doing what I’m doing. I think it’s a pretty simple formula, but there are so many variables to it. It just depends on your consistency and your drive, which will determine the outcome of your success.” Scroll down to see which singers have beat thousands of other contenders to win a recording contract on American Idol: [podcast_block]

Credit: Ray Mickshaw/WireImage.com (3); FOX via Getty Images

'American Idol' Winners Through the Years

A lasting impact. Since it initially aired in June 2002, American Idol has made many dreams come true for its winners. "When I was a little girl ... if you had asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I would have told you I wanted to be a famous country music singer," season 4 winner Carrie Underwood told fans during her concert at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville in September 2019. "As I got older, dreams tend to give way to practicalities, so I started going to school to get a real job. One day there was an open door, and I walked through it and my life was changed forever." Underwood is not the only past winner whose life was changed after appearing on American Idol. For Jordin Sparks, the experience was even more unique because she was a fan of the hit competition show first. “I was such a huge fan of Idol that I was more excited to audition for that than to get my driver’s license,” Sparks told AZCentral in August 2017. “That’s how a big a fan I was.” The season 6 winner admitted that being on a show like American Idol was overwhelming. Following her win, Sparks suffered from “bad anxiety and panic attacks" as a result of how quickly things changed in her life. [jwplayer 2QNWcOzr-l3ahXupL] “The down side is a lot of sacrifice and being alone — not lonely, but alone,” she reflected. “I’m a huge family person and not being able to make some things — that’s not easy. But my family has been completely understanding and they are so great and supportive. There are times when I want to go to see my nieces and [think], 'Crap, I have an interview and I can't go.' So it’s hard, but I've learned how to balance things. It took a while, but I think I’ve got the hang of it and I'm happy about it now." Season 1’s winner, Kelly Clarkson, still puts in the work every day following her success on the hit singing show. "18 years ago today was the finale of the first season of American Idol and it changed my life! I’m still hustlin 18 years later because I know I am blessed to have the opportunities and I still love my purpose!" Clarkson tweeted in September 2020 on the anniversary of her big win. For Chayce Beckham, that hustle for more was bound to happen no matter what. “I’ll record a record, put the record out, and go on tour to meet all my fans in every state that I can,” the season 19 winner told the Daily Press one month before his May 2021 win. “I’ll keep my name relevant, and I won’t stop doing what I’m doing. I think it’s a pretty simple formula, but there are so many variables to it. It just depends on your consistency and your drive, which will determine the outcome of your success.” Scroll down to see which singers have beat thousands of other contenders to win a recording contract on American Idol: [podcast_block]

Credit: Ray Mickshaw/WireImage.com

Kelly Clarkson

Season: 1

Runner-up: Justin Guarini

Standout Performances: Aretha Franklin's "Natural Woman," Betty Hutton's "Stuff Like That There," Celine Dion's "I Surrender"

Debut Single: "A Moment Like This"

Credit: FOX

Ruben Studdard

Season: 2

Runner-up: Clay Aiken

Standout Performances: Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon in the Sky," Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett's "Superstar," Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle's "A Whole New World"

Debut Single: "Flying Without Wings"

Credit: FOX

Fantasia Barrino

Season: 3

Runner-up: Diana DeGarmo

Standout Performances: Brenda Lee's "Always on My Mind," Abbie Mitchell's "Summertime," Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools"

Debut Single: "I Believe"

Credit: Ray Mickshaw/WireImage.com

Carrie Underwood

Season: 4

Runner-up: Bo Bice

Standout Performances: Martina McBride's "Independence Day," Elvis Presley's "Trouble," Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' "If You Don't Know Me by Now"

Debut Single: "Inside Your Heaven"

Credit: Ray Mickshaw/WireImage.com

Taylor Hicks

Season: 5

Runner-up: Katharine McPhee

Standout Performances: Ray LaMontagne's "Trouble," John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads," Elvis Presley's "In the Ghetto"

Debut Single: "Do I Make You Proud"

Credit: FOX

Jordin Sparks

Season: 6

Runner-up: Blake Lewis

Standout Performances: Ben E. King's "I (Who Have Nothing)," Martina McBride's "A Broken Wing," Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody"

Debut Single: "This Is My Now"

Credit: M Becker/American Idol 2008/Getty Images for Fox

David Cook

Season: 7

Runner-up: David Archuleta

Standout Performances: The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby," Dolly Parton's "Little Sparrow," Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"

Debut Single: "The Time of My Life"

Credit: R Mickshaw/American Idol 2009/Getty Images for Fox

Kris Allen

Season: 8

Runner-up: Adam Lambert

Standout Performances: Bob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love," Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine," Kanye West's "Heartless"

Debut Single: "No Boundaries"

Credit: Frank Micelotta / FOX

Lee DeWyze

Season: 9

Runner-up: Crystal Bowersox

Standout Performances: Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man," Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose's "Treat Her Like a Lady"

Debut Single: "Beautiful Day"

Credit: Frank Micelotta / FOX

Scotty McCreery

Season: 10

Runner-up: Lauren Alaina

Standout Performances: Thompson Square's "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not," Montgomery Gentry's "Gone," Josh Turner's "Long Black Train"

Debut Single: "I Love You This Big"

Credit: Michael Becker / FOX

Phillip Phillips

Season: 11

Runner-up: Jessica Sanchez

Standout Performances: Queen's "The Stone," Usher's "U Got It Bad," Bob Seger's "We've Got Tonight"

Debut Single: "Home"

Credit: FOX via Getty

Candice Glover

Season: 12

Runner-up: Kree Harrison

Standout Performances: Emeli Sande's "Next To Me," Adele's "Chasing Pavements," Duffy's "Syrup & Honey"

Debut Single: "I Am Beautiful"

Credit: FOX via Getty Images

Caleb Johnson

Season: 13

Runner-up: Jena Irene

Standout Performances: Aerosmith’s “Dream On,” Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed"

Debut Single: “As Long As You Love Me"

Credit: Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Nick Fradiani

Season: 14

Runner-up: Clark Beckham

Standout Performances: Matchbox Twenty’s “Bright Lights” and Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”

Debut Single: “Beautiful Life”

Credit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Trent Harmon

Season: 15

Runner-up: La'Porsha Renae

Standout Performances: Sia’s “Chandelier,” Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man”

Debut Single: “Falling”

Credit: Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

Maddie Poppe

Season: 16

Runner-up: Caleb Lee Hutchinson

Standout Performances: Colbie Caillat’s “Bubbly,” The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows”

Debut Single: “Going Going Gone”

Credit: Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

Laine Hardy

Season: 17

Runner-up: Alejandro Aranda

Standout Performances: Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home to Me,” Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode”

Debut Single: “Flame”

Credit: ABC

Just Sam

Season: 18

Runner-up: Arthur Gunn

Standout Performances: Andra Day’s “Rise Up,” Bill Withers’ “Grandma’s Hands”

Debut Single: “Rise Up”

Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless

Chayce Beckham

Season: 19

Runner-up: Willie Spence

Standout Performances: Chris Stapleton’s “You Should Probably Leave,” Kolton Moore & The Clever Few’s “What Brings Life Also Kills"

Debut Single: “23”