Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood top Idol finalists’ album sales. The next two lost.

Carrie Underwood kept building a country catalog

After winning American Idol in 2005, Underwood signed a joint deal with Sony, through Arista Nashville, and 19 Recordings that lasted nearly twelve years. Underwood released her first single, Inside Your Heaven, in June 2005; it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her debut album, Some Hearts, followed in November 2005 and became the best-selling album of 2006 in the United States across all genres.

On May 10, 2008, Underwood was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Underwood co-hosted the Country Music Association Awards from 2008 through 2019, mostly with Brad Paisley. On December 5, 2013, she played Maria von Trapp in NBC’s live television production The Sound of Music Live!

Underwood’s sixth studio album, Cry Pretty, her first on Capitol Nashville, came out in September 2018 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Her ninth, Denim & Rhinestones, followed on Capitol Nashville on June 10, 2022.

Underwood headlined the Las Vegas residency Reflection at Resorts World Theatre from December 2021 to 2025; its final three shows were announced for April 9, 11 and 12, 2025. In 2025 she replaced Katy Perry as a judge on ABC’s American Idol, beside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan; in September 2026 she was confirmed for season 25, her third.

Underwood has released 9 studio albums since Idol and has 41 Hot 100 entries in her career.

Kelly Clarkson moved beyond her first recording deal

In 2002, Kelly Clarkson signed a recording contract with RCA Records, 19 Recordings and S Records right after winning season 1. Her debut album, Thankful, came out on April 15, 2003, and entered the Billboard 200 at number one. Breakaway followed in November 2004 and became the third-best-selling album of 2005 in the U.S.

Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) became Clarkson’s third number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100. In February 2015 she released Piece by Piece, her last studio album under her RCA Records contract. In 2016 she signed a long-term recording contract with Atlantic Records.

In October 2016 Clarkson published her first children’s book, River Rose and the Magical Lullaby, under a deal with HarperCollins. She announced her own record label, High Road Records, on her talk show; her single Where Have You Been came out on it in May 2025. Clarkson’s Studio Sessions residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas ran from July 2025 through August 2026, with twenty-four shows.

On July 17, 2026, Kelly Clarkson released the single "I'd Be Lyin'", reported as the expected lead single of her 11th studio album. She returned as a coach for season 30 of NBC’s The Voice, which began airing in September 2026.

Clarkson has released 10 studio albums since Idol. Atlantic’s June 2016 announcement of her worldwide deal described plans for a soul and R&B album.

The surprise: fourth place led to a lasting rock band

Chris Daughtry’s signing with 19 Entertainment and RCA Records was announced in July 2006, with plans to form his own band; it took the name Daughtry from his surname. Daughtry’s self-titled debut arrived through RCA in November 2006 and reached number one on the Billboard 200 in its ninth chart week. Daughtry released Leave This Town in July 2009. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, the band’s second album to reach that position.

In 2008, Chris Daughtry made his acting debut in an episode of the crime drama CSI: NY. On March 20, 2016, he played Judas in Fox’s live musical television special The Passion. In December 2019 he finished as runner-up on the second season of The Masked Singer, competing in a Rottweiler costume.

Daughtry and RCA parted ways after the contract was fulfilled in September 2019. Daughtry released its sixth studio album, Dearly Beloved, on September 17, 2021, through Dogtree Records, with distribution by ADA. The band’s Big Machine signing was announced on August 7, 2023, with the single Artificial.

Daughtry released Shock to the System as two EPs on Dogtree and Big Machine Rock: Part One in September 2024 and Part Two in September 2025. For its twentieth anniversary, Daughtry released There And Back Again in July 2026, a compilation of eleven re-recorded catalog songs.

Daughtry has released 6 studio albums since Idol.

Jennifer Hudson’s career crosses recording, film and Broadway

Jennifer Hudson finished seventh in season three of American Idol, which aired on Fox from January to May 2004. In November 2006 she signed a recording contract with Arista Records. She made her screen debut as Effie White in the film musical Dreamgirls in December 2006; the role won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Hudson’s self-titled debut studio album came out on Arista in September 2008 and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. Her second, I Remember Me, followed in March 2011 and also debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. Her third, JHUD, came out on RCA Records in September 2014 and peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200.

In 2015 Hudson made her Broadway debut as Shug Avery in the revival of The Color Purple; the cast album won a Grammy. On June 28, 2016, she signed a recording contract with Epic Records. In August 2021 she played Aretha Franklin in the biographical film Respect and sang its soundtrack album.

Hudson was a producer of the Broadway musical A Strange Loop, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical in June 2022. In September 2022 she began hosting the syndicated daytime talk show The Jennifer Hudson Show; its fifth season was set to premiere in September 2026. In October 2024 she released the Christmas album The Gift of Love on Interscope Records, her first studio album since 2014.