Head-to-head stories

Two careers, or two shows, side by side, measure by measure.

Carrie Underwood leads 8 to 3 on Grammys and in certified album units. Kelly Clarkson has four Daytime Emmys as a talk-show host.

Head to head · 11 min read

Elliott Yamin’s Idol season leads on cast depth. Compare the best American Idol, Voice and X Factor seasons through separate career measures.

Fifth Harmony finished third on The X Factor in 2012, then went on to 8 Hot 100 entries. Winner Tate Stevens has none.

Underdogs · 2 min read

Adam Lambert finished second in 2009 and went gold with For Your Entertainment. About one in five Idol finalists from 2002 to 2010 did too.

Kris Allen won Idol in 2009, left RCA and started his own label. Adam Lambert became Queen’s singer and played the Emcee on Broadway.

Underdogs · 5 min read

Fantasia won American Idol in 2004 and later played Celie on Broadway and on film. Seventh-place Jennifer Hudson completed an EGOT in 2022.

Underdogs · 5 min read

Taylor Hicks won Idol in 2006 and played Teen Angel in Grease on Broadway. By 2014, fourth-place Chris Daughtry had outsold him nine to one.

Underdogs · 5 min read

Photo credits (7 photos)

Carrie Underwood: Keith Hinkle at https://www.flickr.com/photos/burningkarma/ · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
Elliott Yamin performing on stage: josh cox u s marine corps · Public domain · Photo source · cropped.
Fifth Harmony: orangesporanges · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
Adam Lambert: Christopher O'Quin, U.S. Marine Corps · Public domain · Photo source · cropped.
Adam Lambert performing with Queen: marcen27 from glasgow uk · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source.
Fantasia Barrino: Kdrayf01 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source.
Taylor Hicks: Master Sgt. Vanessa Valdez · Public domain · Photo source · cropped.