Bucky Covington ran repair shops and wrote their TV ads

Covington co-owned the Tennessee shops with his brother Rocky

Covington and his brother Rocky co-owned the businesses in the nearby Tennessee towns of Gallatin and Westmoreland. The repair shops gave him work in both money and words, including handling their finances.

• Bucky Covington: career and music

Ruben Studdard taught a masterclass and Alisan Porter taught voice

Ruben Studdard taught a masterclass for the UTC Singing Mocs in March 2022 and was a professor of practice at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga by April 2023.

Dalton Rapattoni continued teaching some of his School of Rock students after American Idol. In a 2021 interview, Tessanne Chin described Voice Box, her vocal training and performance programme, and said she began teaching children in 2018. Alisan Porter began vocal coaching during the COVID period and taught voice and musical theatre dance through the online programme Groove Interactive.

• Ruben Studdard: career and music
• Dalton Rapattoni: career and music
• Tessanne Chin: career and music
• Alisan Porter: career and music

Phil Stacey became a pastor and Clay Aiken entered politics

Phil Stacey became worship arts pastor at Central Community Church in Wichita, Kansas, in 2022, leading music groups and mentoring artists. He also founded Missions Coalition, which connected churches, artists and local businesses for community service projects.

Clay Aiken co-founded the National Inclusion Project with Diane Bubel in July 2003, helping community programmes include children with disabilities. In 2014, he ran as a Democrat in North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district and lost to Renee Ellmers.

• Phil Stacey: career and music
• Clay Aiken: career and music

Taylor Hicks co-owned a venue and Kimberley Locke founded services

Taylor Hicks was a co-owner of SAW’s Juke Joint, a barbecue restaurant and music venue in Birmingham, Alabama.

Kimberley Locke founded I AM Entertainment in 2011; it developed into I AM Socialpreneur, which provided marketing services for artists, small businesses and nonprofits. She also founded The Journey To A Better You, offering individual life coaching and vocal coaching, and was executive director of Girls on the Run Middle Tennessee, where her role included marketing, fundraising and programme growth.

• Taylor Hicks: career and music
• Kimberley Locke: career and music

Carrie Underwood designed clothing and Danny Gokey worked on eyewear

Carrie Underwood was lead designer for CALIA, the fitness clothing line launched with DICK’S Sporting Goods in March 2015. In 2021, she announced that the winter collection would be her last.

Danny Gokey worked with Match Eyewear on Danny Gokey Eyewear, a collection of eyeglasses and sunglasses that became available in March 2012. He also founded Sophia’s Heart, a nonprofit that supported homeless families and ran a music and arts programme.

• Carrie Underwood: career and music
• Danny Gokey: career and music