The Idols

Kelly Clarkson (2002)
She won the first American Idol contest, in 2002. Her first single came out in late September of that year.

Kelly graduated from Burleson High School, Burleson, Texas. Originally, she wanted to be a marine biologist, but changed her mind when she saw the movie Jaws. She featured as an extra on the show Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.

Her debut album, Thankful went double platinum. Avril Lavigne co-wrote her new single Breakaway which is on the soundtrack for Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement.


Ruben Studdard (2003)
Ruben Studdard was the 2003 American Idol Winner! Soon after, he got a record deal with J records. He was also recognized by the 2004, 46th Annual Grammy Awards held on February 8, 2004 at the Los Angeles Staples Center.

He was nominated for Best Male R&B vocal performance for Superstar, but lost to Luther Vandross for Dance With My Father.


Fantasia Barrino (2004)
Third Season American Idol Winner, Fantasia Barrino is from North Carolina. She released her first single from her first album Truth Is in February 2005.

Her cousins are R&B singers K-Ci (Cedric Hailey) and JoJo (Joel Hailey) who formed the singing group Jodeci along with the DeGrate brothers in 1990. Fantasia has a daughter named Zion.


Carrie Underwood (2005)
This season four American Idol winner graduated from Northeastern State University with a degree in mass communication.

Carrie started singing in church at the age of three. Amazingly, she has no formal training in voice or singing. Her favorite singer is Martina McBride; favorite movies are Horror; and favorite food is Pizza.


Taylor Hicks (2006)
Taylor Hicks is an American soul singer, songwriter, and musician. Hicks was an independent artist for the span of a decade before rising to prominence as the winner of the fifth season of American Idol.

Upon winning the competition, he was signed by Arista Records, under which his major-label debut, called Taylor Hicks was released on December 12, 2006. His energetic stage performances and influences derived from classic soul, blues, and R&B music have earned him a following of devout fans


Jordin Sparks (2007)
Sparks was born in Phoenix, Arizona. She lived briefly in the town of Ridgewood, NJ on Orchard Place, and attended Orchard school. Sparks attended Sandra Day O'Connor High School until 2006, then she was homeschooled to better concentrate on her singing.

At an age when most teens are looking forward to a carefree summer break, Jordin Sparks at 17, graced the stage as the youngest American Idol winner and spent the summer months crafting her eponymous debut album. Honing all the confidence, class and breathtaking range of emotion that put her at the epicenter of the entertainment world for most of 2007, Jordin is pouring everything into her upcoming album.