Life after the show · 3 min read ·

Vanessa Olivarez went out 12th on Idol and co-wrote a Music Row book

Vanessa Olivarez co-wrote Hidden History of Music Row. Other Idol and Voice singers wrote memoirs, a bird-watching book, a sci-fi novel and children’s books.

Street signs for Music Square South and Music Square West in Nashville.

Music Square West on Music Row, Nashville · February 12, 2012 · street view

Photo: The Erica Chang · CC BY 3.0 · Photo source.

Vanessa Olivarez was eliminated in 12th place on season 2 of American Idol and co-wrote Hidden History of Music Row, which No Depression named a Best Book of 2020. Other American Idol and The Voice contestants wrote memoirs, a science-fiction novel and children’s books.

Vanessa Olivarez worked with Elizabeth Elkins on songs and a book

In 2009, Vanessa Olivarez co-founded the country duo Granville Automatic with guitarist and songwriter Elizabeth Elkins. With Elkins, she wrote songs recorded by Billy Currington and Sugarland, and the two produced the 13-song Granville Automatic album Radio Hymns, released in November 2018. Olivarez and Elkins also worked together with Brian Allison on Hidden History of Music Row, published by The History Press with a foreword by Kix Brooks.

Keith Paluso published a book in 2026; Olivia Rox launched a novel

Keith Paluso was eliminated in the Live Playoffs on season 15 of The Voice and toured as lead singer of Blood, Sweat & Tears in 2019. His book The Bird Watching Bucket List was published in March 2026.

Olivia Rox was eliminated in 9th–10th place on season 15 of American Idol in 2016. She wrote the science-fiction novel Adventures in Time: The Accidental Tourist and launched it in December 2024.

Sanjaya Malakar, Corey Clark and Melinda Doolittle published books

Sanjaya Malakar was eliminated in seventh place on season 6 of American Idol. He received a $100,000 advance for his memoir, Dancing to the Music in My Head: Memoirs of the People’s Idol, which came out on January 20, 2009, the same day as the EP of that title.

Corey Clark was disqualified in ninth place on season 2 of American Idol. In 2005, he published They Told Me to Tell the Truth, So..., a book about his time on the show, and discussed it on ABC’s Primetime Live. Melinda Doolittle was eliminated in third place on season 6 of American Idol and released her book Beyond Me: Finding Your Way to Life’s Next Level in April 2010.

Sanjaya Malakar

Photo: TriviaKing at English Wikipedia Later versions were uploaded by Hmwith at en.wikipedia . · Public domain · Photo source.

Fantasia Barrino’s 2005 memoir became a film; Archuleta wrote two

Fantasia Barrino won season 3 of American Idol. In 2005, she published the memoir Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, which became a New York Times best seller. She played herself in the Lifetime television film based on her memoir, which debuted in August 2006.

David Archuleta, the runner-up on season 7 of American Idol, published two memoirs. Chords of Strength came out in June 2010 and became a bestseller, and Devout was published in 2026 and debuted at number 17 on the Publishers Weekly bestseller list. Season 18 The Voice winner Todd Tilghman and Brooke co-authored Every Little Win, published in 2021.

Fantasia Barrino

Photo: Kdrayf01 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source.

Colton Dixon, Jake Hoot and Wé Ani each wrote a children’s book

Colton Dixon was eliminated in seventh place on season 11 of American Idol. Inspired by his single of the same name, he wrote Build a Boat, a children’s book about two young sisters saving up for their first family dog.

Jake Hoot won season 17 of The Voice and wrote the children’s book The Great Big Blowout. Wé Ani, who finished third on season 11 of The Voice and was eliminated in 4th–5th place on season 21 of American Idol, wrote the children’s book The Little Girl with the Big Voice.

Colton Dixon

Photo: Kevin Sumual from Denver, United States of America · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source.

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