Wé Ani finished third on The Voice. Then Sony found her on TikTok
Wé Ani thought Sony’s message came from a bot. The partnership brought fans inside her studio sessions with Tony Chetta.
Read the storyLife after the show
Broadway roles, songs written for other stars, new albums and the wait for a first hit.
Todd Michael Hall reached The Voice knockouts, then quit Riot V
Todd Michael Hall turned his Foreigner audition into a solo rock partnership before stepping down to focus on family and work.
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Restless Road placed 4th on The X Factor. Then Kane Brown offered a fresh start
Restless Road turned a cover video into a Kane Brown partnership, then reached a Disney project and a new label in 2026.
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Paul McDonald finished eighth on Idol, then built a festival
Paul McDonald started One Big Love with a backyard brunch. His Nashville community helped shape a new band and a 2025 album.
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Nutsa made Idol’s Top 12. Then she ended Georgia’s Eurovision wait
Nutsa took “Firefighter” to Georgia’s first Eurovision final since 2016, then recorded with Davy Nathan and brought American musicians to Batumi.
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Normani Kordei finished third on The X Factor. Then Brandy joined her debut
Normani Kordei’s six-year path to Dopamine included hit duets, her parents’ cancer treatment and vocal help from Brandy.
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Lauren Jauregui finished third on The X Factor, then built her own label
Lauren Jauregui started Attunement in 2021, released Prelude and In Between, then brought her new singles to EVEN.
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Justin Guarini was Idol’s runner-up. Then he became Lil’ Sweet
Justin Guarini improvised a soda character’s sung lines, then used the work to build a second career teaching confidence.
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Jessica Meuse finished fourth on Idol, then became a Coast Guard officer
Jessica Meuse’s Juneau posting came with plans for a home studio, a second degree and new music.
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Jeff Gutt was The X Factor’s runner-up. Then he kept his STP job secret
Jeff Gutt’s career after The X Factor included more band work, a private audition and an album still unfinished in 2026.
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James Durbin finished fourth on Idol. Then came eight bands
James Durbin built a living through tribute bands, the mostly acoustic Homeland and coastal songs while supporting his family.
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Jack Blocker finished third on Idol. Then road life became an outlaw album
Jack Blocker built Big Jefe from touring, a family saying and his marriage, then recorded its title song again.
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HunterGirl was Idol’s runner-up. Then Ella Langley cut her song
HunterGirl co-wrote “monsters” with Langley and Joybeth Taylor, then worked with Trent Willmon on her 2025–26 songs.
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Frenchie Davis made The Voice’s Top 8. Then she led a theater program
Frenchie Davis finished her Howard degree in 2014. By 2022, she led a charter school’s theater arts program while playing Sofia.
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Fletcher finished 9th on The X Factor, then recorded 5 songs outdoors
Fletcher’s 2025 album grew from tour fatigue, a close studio partnership and questions about the public life she had built.
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David Archuleta was Idol’s runner-up. Then he wrote Devout himself
David Archuleta turned his mother’s words into “Hell Together” and wrote about faith, family and coming out.
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Daniel Seavey finished ninth on Idol. Now he is a one-man band
Daniel Seavey turned audience requests into live arrangements, then took his loop pedal and instruments to Blue Note in 2026.
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Catie Turner made Idol’s Top 7. Then she made her debut without a label
Catie Turner chose every song on Blue Alchemy, her 2026 debut, after rebuilding her confidence as an independent artist.
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Casey Abrams finished sixth on Idol. Then surgery led to “Sober”
Casey Abrams said colon surgery led him to stop drinking. His 2025 single traced that change, before a return to jazz.
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Carly Rose Sonenclar was X Factor runner-up. Then she started a podcast
Carly Rose Sonenclar turned conversations with Diamond White into a podcast while writing new music.
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Blake Lewis was Idol’s runner-up. Then came a sold-out Vegas debut
Blake Lewis joined Marco Palos in Phat Cat Swinger, whose 2026 show mixed Michael Jackson and Soft Cell with big-band music.
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Billy Gilman was The Voice runner-up. Then he chose bluegrass
Billy Gilman’s bluegrass move led to a Rhonda Vincent duet, five co-written songs and a suicide prevention partnership.
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Anoop Desai made Idol’s Top 7, then played Harrison Ford’s role
Anoop Desai’s path to Working Girl ran through pop music as TOTEM, a TV genie and songs by Cyndi Lauper.
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Ally Brooke finished third on X Factor, then took a year to heal
Ally Brooke returned to recording with a trusted collaborator, a Christmas duet and new solo releases in 2026.
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Alejandro Aranda was Idol’s runner-up. Then he joined a metal band
Alejandro Aranda brought his guitar, voice and artwork to Seven Hours After Violet while continuing to make solo records.
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Aaron Kelly finished 5th on Idol. Then he sang at Gulfcoast Pride
Aaron Kelly’s path led through Nashville, independent country singles and a Sarasota festival performance in October 2026.
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Asia'h Epperson made Idol's Top 16. Now she stars in a new Christmas movie
Asia'h Epperson stars in AspireTV's A Memorable Christmas, set to premiere December 4. David Archuleta and more Idol and Voice singers bring holiday music.
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Dez Duron left Yale for The Voice. Then Broadway made him a Grammy nominee
Dez Duron got three chair turns on The Voice in 2012, then made his Broadway debut as Gil Brentley, the crooner in Maybe Happy Ending.
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Jake Thistle reached Idol's Top 14 in 2026, then released a 13-song album
Jake Thistle released A Stranger By Design in September 2026. Jordan McCullough, Keyla Richardson and more of Idol's season 24 class kept busy too.
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Angie Miller finished third on Idol. Now her nonprofit helps young women write songs
Angie Miller's Push-Up Bra LA helped 12 young women make the EP Doll Parts. Elise Testone, Clark Beckham and more singers give back too.
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Katie Kadan finished third on The Voice and sold out six shows in Italy
Katie Kadan has more Italy dates in November 2026. Josh Levi, Todrick Hall, Sofronio Vasquez and Jessica Sanchez also found audiences abroad.
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Brittney Spencer auditioned for The Voice in 2018. In 2026 she opened for Bob Dylan
Brittney Spencer opened for Bob Dylan in July 2026. Emily Ann Roberts, Jamal Roberts and more Idol and Voice singers opened for big names.
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Camile Velasco finished 9th on Idol in 2004. Now she sings reggae as Eli-Mac
Camile Velasco records as Eli-Mac. Juliet Simms, Chloe Kohanski, James Durbin and more Idol, Voice and X Factor singers release music under new names.
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JW Griffin got three chair turns on The Voice. Now he books his own shows
JW Griffin worked a bread route before The Voice in 2026. He reached the semifinals on Kelly Clarkson's team and now books his own shows.
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Alex Lambert made Idol's Top 16 in 2010. In 2026 he signed with Big Loud Texas
Alex Lambert signed with Big Loud Texas in January 2026. Blake Proehl, Pia Toscano, Bea Miller and more singing-show alumni signed new deals.
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Lily Elise reached The Voice's quarterfinals, then sang on Chappell Roan songs
Lily Elise sings background vocals on Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo records. Dani Moz, Sasha Allen and other Idol and Voice singers have too.
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Loren Allred reached The Voice's live playoffs. In 2026 she sang for Pokémon
Loren Allred sang songs for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Pokémon. Siobhan Magnus, Chris Mann, Jacob Lusk and more sing in games and anime.
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John Holiday finished fifth on The Voice. In 2026 he sang LA Opera's Akhnaten
John Holiday sang the title role in LA Opera's Akhnaten in 2026. Idol and Voice singers also sang with the Chicago, Baltimore and Minnesota orchestras.
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Dave Fenley made The Voice's Top 10. In 2026 he made his Opry debut
Dave Fenley made his Grand Ole Opry debut on June 27, 2026. DEK of Hearts, Hannah Harper and other alumni debuted in 2025 and 2026.
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Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young met in Hair. He proposed on the Idol finale
Diana DeGarmo was Idol's 2004 runner-up. Ace Young placed seventh in 2006. They met on Broadway, married in 2013 and toured as Joseph and the Narrator.
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Tony Lucca was a Mouseketeer with Christina Aguilera. Then she turned for him
Tony Lucca grew up on The Mickey Mouse Club. Other singers sang in a Navy band, worked in a men's prison or voiced Moon Girl.
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Carly Smithson went out 6th on Idol, then judged its stadium auditions
Carly Smithson judged Idol stadium auditions in 2014. Kelly Clarkson began her 11th season as a Voice coach, and others became judges and scouts.
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Colton Dixon finished 7th on Idol and released the fragrance Desert Rain
Colton Dixon released the fragrance Desert Rain. Melanie Martinez launched Portals Parfums. Others released a jewelry line or created handbags, a cowboy boot and clothing.
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Sanjaya Malakar had left show business and was a Montana pastry chef by 2022
Sanjaya Malakar was a pastry chef in Montana by 2022. Other contestants opened restaurants and bars or graduated from culinary school.
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Idol finalist Ramiele Malubay became a stroke and neurology nurse
Ramiele Malubay became a registered nurse in strokes and neurology. Other contestants worked in nursing, dentistry and research or recovered from vocal surgery.
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Chris Sligh left Idol in 10th place and co-wrote a Rascal Flatts No. 1
Chris Sligh co-wrote Rascal Flatts' No. 1 "Here Comes Goodbye". Fousheé co-wrote "Bad Habit", and others wrote songs recorded by Celine Dion and Luke Combs.
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Josh Gracin finished 4th on Idol, and the Marines kept him off the 2003 tour
Josh Gracin's Marine Corps commitment kept him off the 2003 Idol tour. Jessica Meuse became a Coast Guard officer, and others supported veterans.
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Danny Noriega went out in Idol's Top 16, then finished second on Drag Race
Danny Noriega finished second on RuPaul's Drag Race. Kellie Pickler won Dancing with the Stars, and others competed on Fear Factor and The Masked Singer.
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Melinda Doolittle, third on Idol season 6, sang at a White House dinner in 2007
Melinda Doolittle sang at a White House dinner in 2007. Clay Aiken ran twice for Congress, and other singers performed for presidents.
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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.
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Katie Stevens left Idol season 9 and starred in Faking It and The Bold Type
Katie Stevens starred in Faking It and The Bold Type. Jennifer Hudson won an Academy Award, and other contestants acted in films and series.
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Matt Rogers finished 11th on Idol, then became the Titans' stadium announcer
Matt Rogers became the Tennessee Titans' public address announcer in 2021. Other contestants turned to music after sports injuries or sang at championship games.
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Kimberly Caldwell finished 7th on Idol, then hosted P. Diddy's Starmaker
Kimberly Caldwell hosted P. Diddy's Starmaker in 2009. Matt Rogers hosted Discovery shows, and another contestant anchored news in Miami.
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Leah Lewis got no chair turn on The Voice and voiced Pixar’s Ember
Leah Lewis voiced the lead character Ember Lumen in Pixar’s Elemental. Other contestants voiced characters in animated films and television series.
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Bucky Covington ran repair shops and wrote their TV ads
Bucky Covington handled repair-shop finances and television ads. Other finalists taught singers, led church music, ran businesses and worked with charities.
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JAX waited 7 years for a Hot 100 song. Scotty McCreery’s came out on finale day
JAX finished third on Idol in 2015. Victoria's Secret came seven years later. The fastest first Hot 100 songs, the slowest, and who still waits.
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Scotty McCreery had new music on finale day. Every Idol winner did within a year
Scotty McCreery’s I Love You This Big came out on finale day in 2011. See how long other winners waited for new music.
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Chris Mann finished fourth on The Voice, then played the Phantom on tour
Chris Mann asked his team to get him a Phantom audition, won the role, and later built a Phantom concert with his own online parodies.
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Nicolle Galyon left The Voice in the battles. She co-wrote Tequila and Automatic.
Nicolle Galyon shares Grammy nominations for Miranda Lambert’s Automatic and Dan + Shay’s Tequila and became president of Songs & Daughters in 2019.
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Remember Caroline Pennell from The Voice? She went on to write songs for Demi Lovato.
Caroline Pennell has written for Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez, co-wrote a musical, and records her own songs as Carol Ades.
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Jennifer Hudson and Clay Aiken are still releasing albums, 20 years after Idol
Jennifer Hudson released The Gift of Love in 2024, 20 years after Idol. Clay Aiken’s Rewind came out in September 2026, 23 years on.
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Myles Frost got no chair turn on The Voice. Then he won a Tony as Michael Jackson.
Myles Frost won the 2022 Tony for MJ the Musical. Fantasia, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson and Adam Lambert also took singing-show fame to Broadway.
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Fousheé was cut in The Voice’s battle rounds. Later, a song she co-wrote hit No. 1.
Fousheé co-wrote Steve Lacy’s Bad Habit, a Hot 100 No. 1. Tamyra Gray co-wrote I Believe, Fantasia’s coronation single, which debuted at No. 1.
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Melanie Amaro won a $5 million record deal. Her debut album never came out.
Melanie Amaro signed with Epic after the first U.S. season, and her album Truly was shelved. Season-three runner-up Jeff Gutt later fronted Stone Temple Pilots.
Read the storyPhoto credits (64 photos)
- Wé Ani: Flagswodum · CC0 1.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Todd Michael Hall: Frank Schwichtenberg · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Restless Road: Sony Music · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Paul McDonald: mtanne · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Nutsa: Pedro J Pacheco · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Normani Kordei: Danielle Thomas · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Lauren Jauregui: Karen Cante · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Justin Guarini: Jyle Dupuis from Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Jessica Meuse: Pat and Sharon Durkin · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo source.
- Jeff Gutt: U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii · Public domain · Photo source · cropped.
- James Durbin: U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman George Goslin · Public domain · Photo source · cropped.
- Jack Blocker: Flagswodum · CC0 1.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- HunterGirl: Flagswodum · CC0 1.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Frenchie Davis: Artemisboy ( talk ) 17:47, 19 August 2010 (UTC) · Public domain · Photo source · cropped.
- Fletcher: Justin Higuchi · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- David Archuleta: Kevin Paul · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Daniel Seavey: Warner Music New Zealand · CC BY 3.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Catie Turner: POPDUST · CC BY 3.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Casey Abrams: Justin Higuchi · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Carly Rose Sonenclar: Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV from Culver City, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo source.
- Blake Lewis: Greg Hernandez · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Billy Gilman: TenPoundHammer · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Anoop Desai: Swabsnafu · CC0 1.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Ally Brooke: Natanya Hansen · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Alejandro Aranda: Flagswodum · CC0 1.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Aaron Kelly: Dr.finkelstein09 ( talk ) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo source.
- Christmas tree ornament and lights: Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine · CC0 1.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Maybe Happy Ending at the Belasco Theatre: epicgenius · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source.
- Old Queens at Rutgers University: zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Angie Miller performing at Cabot Performing Arts Center: bradfordst219 from long beach u s a · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Piazza Maggiore, Bologna: Fiorry · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Brittney Spencer: The White House · Public domain · Photo source · cropped.
- Camile Velasco: Peter Chiapperino : a concert photographer in Lexington , Kentucky · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia, at sunset: harrison keely · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source.
- Alex Lambert: Nickj23 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Lily Elise: A&D PR · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Loren Allred performing at Sopot's festival: wojciech pedzich · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles: Benoît Prieur · CC0 1.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Grand Ole Opry House entrance sign: Abbie Myers · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Diana DeGarmo: Public domain · Photo source · cropped.
- Tony Lucca singing on stage: david shamma · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Carly Smithson: Jyle Dupuis from Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Colton Dixon singing on the Hits Deep Tour: michael mcloone · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Sanjaya Malakar: TriviaKing at English Wikipedia Later versions were uploaded by Hmwith at en.wikipedia . · Public domain · Photo source · cropped.
- Ramiele Malubay: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dainec/ · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Electric guitar and cable: Nenad Stojkovic · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Josh Gracin performing with his band: shelley raffl · Public domain · Photo source · cropped.
- Danny Noriega: DVSROSS · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Melinda Doolittle: Jyle Dupuis from Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Music Square West street sign, Music Row: The Erica Chang · CC BY 3.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Katie Stevens: Toglenn · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Nissan Stadium: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Kimberly Caldwell performing at Operation Rising Star: tim hipps u s army · Public domain · Photo source · cropped.
- Leah Lewis: TAG TV · CC BY 3.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Bucky Covington: Jyle Dupuis from Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- JAX: Justin Higuchi · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Scotty McCreery: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Chris Mann singing in Berlin: usbotschaftberlin elke a jung wolff · Public domain · Photo source · cropped.
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Antony-22 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Carol Ades performing at the Fonda Theatre: justin higuchi · CC BY 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Jennifer Hudson singing at the Concert for Valor: DoD News · Public domain · Photo source · cropped.
- Myles Frost performing with a microphone: u s department of state from united states · Public domain · Photo source · cropped.
- Sheet music and guitar: lucas · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
- Melanie Amaro: Sarah Mickelson / Neon Tommy · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo source · cropped.
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