Kellie Pickler finished sixth. Then 4 albums reached the Billboard 200

1. Mandisa — 6 Billboard 200 entries

American Idol season 5 · 9th place. Top 9 – Country music; eliminated on April 5, 2006.

Billboard 200 entries: True Beauty; It's Christmas; Freedom; What If We Were Real; Overcomer; Out of the Dark.

Mandisa sang Any Man of Mine in that round.

On Any Man of Mine: mjsbigblog reported that Randy enjoyed the final four bars of Mandisa’s performance.

• Follow Mandisa’s career

2. Jennifer Hudson — 5 Billboard 200 entries

American Idol season 3 · 7th place. Top 7 – Barry Manilow; eliminated on April 21, 2004.

Billboard 200 entries: Jennifer Hudson; I Remember Me; JHUD; Respect (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack); The Gift of Love.

Jennifer Hudson sang Weekend in New England in that round.

• Follow Jennifer Hudson’s career

2. Melanie Martinez — 5 Billboard 200 entries

The Voice season 3 · Eliminated in the Top 6. Week 5: Top 6; eliminated on December 4, 2012.

Billboard 200 entries: Cry Baby; K-12; After School; Portals; Hades.

Melanie Martinez sang The Show and Crazy in that round.

On Crazy: TVLine reported that Adam felt Melanie’s performance rose above technical flaws.

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2. Morgan Wallen — 5 Billboard 200 entries

The Voice season 6 · Eliminated in the Playoffs. Playoffs; eliminated on April 14, 2014.

Billboard 200 entries: Stand Alone; If I Know Me; Dangerous: The Double Album; One Thing at a Time; I'm the Problem.

Morgan Wallen sang Stay in that round.

On Stay: TVLine reported that Blake felt Morgan had improved substantially.

Coach choice: Adam Levine chose which singers advanced from his own team.

• Follow Morgan Wallen’s career

5. Kellie Pickler — 4 Billboard 200 entries

American Idol season 5 · 6th place. Top 6 – Love songs; eliminated on April 26, 2006.

Billboard 200 entries: Small Town Girl; Kellie Pickler; 100 Proof; The Woman I Am.

Kellie Pickler sang Unchained Melody in that round.

On Unchained Melody: mjsbigblog reported that Simon found Kellie’s singing monotonous and emotionally empty.

• Follow Kellie Pickler’s career

6. Colton Dixon — 3 Billboard 200 entries

American Idol season 11 · 7th place. Top 7 – Music from now & then; eliminated on April 19, 2012.

Billboard 200 entries: A Messenger; Anchor; Identity.

Colton Dixon sang Bad Romance and September in that round.

On September: mjsbigblog reported that Randy Jackson wanted Colton to choose a song further outside his usual style.

• Follow Colton Dixon’s career

7. Beatrice Miller — 2 Billboard 200 entries

The X Factor season 2 · Final showdown exit. Week 4; eliminated on November 22, 2012.

Billboard 200 entries: Young Blood; Not an Apology.

Beatrice Miller sang Chasing Cars and White Flag in that round.

On Chasing Cars: mjsbigblog reported that Simon Cowell preferred Beatrice's performance to the previous week's.

• Follow Beatrice Miller’s career

7. Bucky Covington — 2 Billboard 200 entries

American Idol season 5 · 8th place. Top 8 – Queen; eliminated on April 12, 2006.

Billboard 200 entries: Bucky Covington; Good Guys.

Bucky Covington sang Fat Bottomed Girls in that round.

On Fat Bottomed Girls: mjsbigblog reported that Simon felt the song exceeded Bucky’s abilities.

• Follow Bucky Covington’s career

7. Constantine Maroulis — 2 Billboard 200 entries

American Idol season 4 · 6th place. Top 6 – Music from the 21st century; eliminated on April 27, 2005.

Billboard 200 entries: Pray for the Soul of Betty (with Pray for the Soul of Betty); Constantine.

Constantine Maroulis sang How You Remind Me in that round.

• Follow Constantine Maroulis’s career

7. Fletcher — 2 Billboard 200 entries

The X Factor season 1 · 9th place, as part of Lakoda Rayne. Week 5; eliminated on November 23, 2011.

Billboard 200 entries: Girl of My Dreams; In Search of the Antidote.

Lakoda Rayne sang You Belong with Me in that round.

On You Belong with Me: mjsbigblog reported that Simon Cowell rated Lakoda Rayne’s performance their best yet.

• Follow Fletcher’s career

Recording careers after an early exit

Pickler’s love-song week brought a severe review from Simon Cowell. Melanie Martinez’s final round drew praise from Adam Levine. Careers continued after those results.

Wallen’s playoff exit was a coach choice. The other 9 result labels did not name a decision-maker, so they could not supply a count of public-vote exits against judges’ choices.