Where Are They Now: American Idol Stars
Call it what you will -- the downfall of pop music or its savior -- there's no denying that 'American Idol' is a fickle god-maker. Some winners have found great success (hello, Kelly!), some have been dumped by their labels (so sorry, Ruben and Taylor), while some also-rans have gone on to bigger and better things. We check in on 30 'AI' alums and fill you in on which ones are in trouble with the law, which are still giving it their best shot ... and which have fallen off the radar.
-- By Kimberly Potts
Katharine McPhee
Then: Setting off "McPheever," the aspiring singer and actress sealed her spot in the season 4 finale with a memorable barefoot performance of 'Black Horse and the Cherry Tree' and a rendition of 'Over the Rainbow' that Simon called the best of the season. She was runner-up to winner Taylor Hicks. You won this time, Soul Patrol.
Fox
Katharine McPhee
Now: She sold 400,000 copies of her debut album and became engaged to boyfriend Nick Cokas in 2007. McPhee has also used her post-'Idol' spotlight to reveal a pre-'AI' battle with bulimia, and in 2008 will begin recording her second album and star as a sorority girl in the big-screen comedy 'The House Bunny.' McPheever is still burning.
Peter Kramer, Getty Images
Sanjaya Malakar
Then: A seemingly shy teen when he first landed a spot amongst the top 12 finalists on season 6, Sanjaya and his ever-changing hair, and even more off-key vocals, became a pop culture obsession. He finished the season in seventh place, after some (deservedly) harsh critiques from the judges and many, many TV critics and bloggers.
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Sanjaya Malakar
Now: He's attended the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, been interviewed by David Letterman, and even collaborated on a comedy bit with Will Ferrell. What he hasn't done yet is record an album, though it's rumored that he and sister Shyamali, who didn't pass the audition stage that season, will begin working on one in 2008. Somewhere, an adolescent weeps.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Fantasia Barrino
Then: The 19-year-old was a standout contestant from the beginning, but it was her performance of 'Summertime,' from 'Porgy and Bess,' that blew fans away, prompted Simon Cowell to declare she was the best 'Idol' contestant from any season and sealed her season 2 championship against Diana DeGarmo.
Fox
Fantasia Barrino
Now: She's been nominated for six Grammys, has sold more than 2.5 million albums and was the subject of a Lifetime movie biopic which touched on the 'AI' controversy surrounding her single-mom status. She recently wrapped her starring role in the Oprah-produced Broadway musical version of 'The Color Purple.'
James Devaney, WireImage.com
Clay Aiken
Then: Simon asserted that the freckle-faced, bespectacled Aiken wasn't pop-star material, but his performance of 'Always and Forever' got him a pass at the auditions. He was cut in the semifinals, but Claymates voted him to the top 12 as a wildcard pick, and his nice-guy persona (and the rabid following of the Claymates) propelled him to the No. 2 spot behind Studdard.
Fox
Clay Aiken
Now: He's the most successful male 'AI' alum, thanks to his platinum-selling debut CD, 'Measure of a Man.' The subject of an '06 tabloid scandal when a man claimed to have had sex with him, Southern Baptist Aiken skated around the "is he gay" question, recently won $300,000 for charity on 'Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?' and joins the cast of 'Spamalot' on Broadway in '08.
Bryan Bedder, Getty Images
Jessica Sierra
Then: A nanny and 'Star Search' contestant before she auditioned for 'Idol,' Sierra finished in 10th place during season four, after Simon Cowell had deemed her one of the strongest female contestants. And by "strongest," we don't think he meant "most likely to go crazy" -- if he did, he'd have called that one.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Wow!!! Miley Cyrus's sex tape here:
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To Kelly and William: It's simple - Moderation, moderation, moderation. Just watch what you eat. Having been a fat @#$, I know that eating just about anything in moderation is okay. It comes down to knowing when to stop. It is much easier to eat just a small portion of something than to try and lose the weight from overindulging. I know what it's like to try and lose weight. I lost 47 pounds in 6 weeks using the Rapidthin diet at www.rapidthin.com. Good luck to all. Use what works for you.
Chk out the F**K American Idol Song on you tube
F**K AMerican Idol... The Song
F**K American Idol... The Song
F**K American Idol... The Song
F**K American Idol ...The Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Yb9q8wZgW8
Only ONE way to loose weight. Burn more calories than you consume. Nothing else will do it. Eat less, exercise more. In time you will need to eat more to maintain weight as ones metabolism will ramp up with exercise.
HIS 15 MINUTES ARE WORN OUT, ENOUGH OF THESE MINDLESS STORIES. LOW IQ NATION
Almost 5 years, and I still can't believe that William Hung released that horrible thrown together album that was Inspiration. It sounded rushed, he sounded way off key on every song and he even ruined classics like the Village People and the Eagles. It got slammed by critics left and right. I'd be embarrassed to hear it now. I still don't understand why he's still performing, when he should work on those vocals and sing better. But those are my remembrances on how very BAD that album sounded!
he was never a good singer to begin with people just thought it was funny how he sounded so no one really liked him for his voice...i feel bad saying that but its true just like at commercial auditions the best singer in the world could walk in right after some foreign accent person and the foreign accent will win every time
Clay Aiken also looks like he's been eating a tad much lately too!!!
aww, come on!!! who really cares how much weight
no talent William Hung has gained. This is news .!!NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wish the U.S. was more like North Korea. We would then be a great, powerful nation.