American Idol Winners: Who Won Each Season and Where Are They Now?

When American Idol first aired in 2002, host Ryan Seacrest wasn’t even sure that the show would get picked up for a second season.

“After that first season we were just crossing our fingers,” he recalled during a 2023 appearance on Good Morning America.

Of course, the popular singing competition show did get that second season — and decades later, season 22 started airing in February 2024. Over the years, the panel of famous judges has evolved from Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson to Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.

The 21 Idol winners have experienced varying levels of post-finale success. While some have taken home Grammy Awards and become household names — such as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood — others, like Samantha “Just Sam” Diaz, have found themselves almost back at square one.

All of the winners have released music since their time on the show, and many have toured, taken their talents to the big screen or Broadway and started families.

So, where are each of the American Idol winners today? Here are all the updates on the popular reality show's champions.

Kelly Clarkson, Season 1

In 2002, Clarkson became the very first winner of American Idol. Since her victory, she’s released 10 studio albums and won three Grammys from 17 nominations.

Clarkson joined The Voice as a judge in 2018 and appeared on nine seasons of the show. Her eponymous talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, debuted in September 2019 and has won several Daytime Emmy Awards.

As for her personal life, Clarkson married music manager Brandon Blackstock in 2013. They welcomed their daughter, River Rose, in June 2014 and their son, Remington Alexander, in April 2016. However, Clarkson filed for divorce in June 2020 and later moved to New York City with her kids in the fall of 2023.

The singer released her divorce-inspired album, Chemistry, on June 23, 2023. Her Las Vegas residency of the same name included songs from the album and ran from July to August that year.

Although she was the first winner, Clarkson hasn't necessarily kept up with American Idol. During a June 2023 appearance on Watch What Happens Live, host Andy Cohen challenged Clarkson to name a winner of the reality show from the last five years, and she was unable to do it.

Ruben Studdard, Season 2

Ruben Studdard, originally from Alabama, claimed the American Idol winner title over runner-up Clay Aiken in 2003. Following the competition, he released a platinum-selling album, Soulful, and earned a Grammy nomination for best male R&B vocal performance for his recording of “Superstar.”

He’s released eight studio albums in total and competed on The Biggest Loser in 2013.

Studdard was married to Surata Zuri McCants from 2008 to 2012. He is now married to Kristin Moore Studdard, with whom he shares a son, Olivier. In the spring of 2023, he and Aiken toured together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their time on the show.

Fantasia Barrino, Season 3

Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino has seven studio albums, 12 Grammy nominations and one Grammy Award for best female R&B vocal performance. The North Carolina-born singer has also appeared on Broadway and, in 2005, released a New York Times best-selling memoir, Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, which was adapted into a Lifetime movie. She starred in her own VH1 reality series, Fantasia for Real, in 2010.

Five years later, Barrino married businessman Kendall Taylor, and they share a daughter, Keziah. She also has two children, Zion Quari and Dallas Xavier, from past relationships.

Barrino also starred in The Color Purple movie musical in 2023, earning a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.

Carrie Underwood, Season 4

American Idol was just the beginning for country superstar Carrie Underwood. In 2005, she won the competition and released her debut album, Some Hearts, which featured her hits “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats.”

With eight Grammy Awards and 16 nominations, Underwood has the most wins and nominations of any winner from the show, according to the Recording Academy. She’s also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

In 2013, Underwood starred as Maria von Trapp in NBC’s The Sound of Music Live!. The performer has dabbled in fashion and writing, too, releasing her fitness clothing line CALIA by Carrie in 2015 and her New York Times best-selling book Find Your Path five years later.

Underwood married hockey player Mike Fisher in 2010, and they have two sons: Isaiah Michael and Jacob Bryan. They also added a puppy to their family in February 2023.

In May 2022, Underwood served as a guest mentor on American Idol season 20. During an interview on the show, she reflected on her own experience. “I think back and that's a decision that changed my entire life — I have no idea where I'd be,” she said. “And to see contestants get every opportunity they've ever wanted is just magical.”

Like her fellow winner Clarkson, Underwood also had a Las Vegas residency. Hers, called REFLECTION, started in December 2021 and has shows going through August 2024.

Taylor Hicks, Season 5

In 2006, Taylor Hicks became the second Idol winner from Alabama. He’s since released two studio albums and performed in Grease on Broadway.

"I was very fortunate to be on that show at that time," Hicks told PEOPLE of his season of American Idol.

After taking a few years off from music, Hicks returned with his single “Teach Me to Dance” in June 2023 and made his Grand Ole Opry debut the next day.

Outside of music, Hicks has a restaurant, Saw’s Juke Joint, in Alabama, and hosted the INSP TV series State Plate.

Jordin Sparks, Season 6

Shortly after becoming the youngest-ever winner of Idol in 2007, Jordin Sparks released her platinum self-titled album that featured her hits “No Air” with Chris Brown and “Tattoo.” The Arizona-born singer earned a Grammy nomination for best pop collaboration with vocals for the former and has since released three studio albums.

In addition to music, Sparks has also pursued acting and dance. In 2010, she starred in Broadway’s In the Heights and returned in 2019 to take the stage in Waitress. Sparks also acted alongside Whitney Houston in the film Sparkle (2012) and competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2022.

The singer dated fellow musician Jason Derulo from 2011 to 2014 and married fitness model Dana Isaiah in 2017. They welcomed their son, Dana Isaiah Thomas Jr., in May 2018.

Sparks returned to Idol in March 2023 to mentor season 21 contestants. “I remember being just a kid and coming in so bright-eyed,” she recalled to ABC 7. “And then really being like, ‘Oh I really have to do this now. It's an actual competition. Here we go!’ ”

In March 2023, Sparks told PEOPLE that she was preparing to release a new album with 17 songs. Less than a year later she said, “This new music is all about stepping into the woman I am now, stepping into my power, my confidence."

David Cook, Season 7

Texas-born David Cook famously beat David Archuleta in season 7 of American Idol. Cook found success after his win with his self-titled album and its lead single, “Light On.” He has since released two full-length albums. He married Rachael Stump in 2015, per iHeartRadio.

Speaking with PEOPLE in 2018, Cook called the Idol community a “fraternity” and “such a cool family.”

In June 2020, the singer opened up to PEOPLE about his time after winning the reality competition and how it inspired his song "Reds Turn Blue."

"A couple years after Idol, I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, and have spent the last almost decade really going through the process of navigating that and picking up new tools and processes along the way to deal with it," he said. "This song became a therapeutic process for me."

Kris Allen, Season 8

In 2009, Kris Allen unexpectedly beat Adam Lambert to claim the title of American Idol winner.

The Arkansas-born singer found success after the show with his song “No Boundaries” and his rendition of Kanye West’s “Heartless.” Since Idol, Allen has released five studio albums.

The performer shares three children with his wife, Katy O’Connell, whom he married in 2008.

Lee DeWyze, Season 9

Lee DeWyze, originally from Illinois, won American Idol in 2010.

That same year, the singer also won a Teen Choice Award for male reality/variety star. He’s since released four studio albums.

DeWyze married his wife, model and actress Jonna Walsh, in 2012.

Scotty McCreery, Season 10

Scotty McCreery experienced several career ups and downs following his 2011 American Idol win. The North Carolina-born singer opened for Brad Paisley and The Band Perry in 2012, and his debut studio album, Clear as Day, was certified platinum. In 2016, he was dropped from his record label, but he released his first No. 1 hit, “Five More Minutes,” just two years later.

McCreery married Gabi Dugal in 2018, and they welcomed their son, Merrick Avery, in October 2022. “Never known a love like this,” the singer wrote in an Instagram caption announcing the birth of his son.

During a May 2023 episode of the docuseries CMT Stages, McCreery reflected on American Idol and the trials and tribulations of his career. He called being on the show a “pipe dream” for his younger self. “It was ridiculous,” he said. “My top five days of my life would be my hometown visit.”

In April 2023, McCreery posted on his Instagram Story that his fifth studio album was on the way.

In December of that year, Garth Brooks invited McCreery to join the Grand Ole Opry. "I didn’t think that dream would become a reality," he said at the time.

Phillip Phillips, Season 11

Georgia-born Phillip Phillips took home the season 11 Idol victory in 2012. His first album, The World from the Side of the Moon, was certified platinum and featured the massive hits “Home” and “Gone, Gone, Gone.” Phillips has since toured with John Mayer, the Goo Goo Dolls and Gavin DeGraw and has released three additional studio albums — Behind the Light, Collateral and Drift Back.

Phillips and his wife, Hannah Blackwell, married in 2015 and welcomed their son, Patch Shepherd, in 2019. The year that he and Blackwell tied the knot, Phillips filed a lawsuit against Idol’s then-production company 19 Entertainment alleging that they were “manipulating” him into taking unpaid work and illegally procuring appearances without consulting his agent, per The Hollywood Reporter.

The performer and 19 Entertainment reached a settlement in June 2017. Phillips later told PEOPLE that Blackwell got him through that "scary" period.

The performer released his fourth album, Drift Back, in June 2023 and told PEOPLE a few months earlier, “These songs really represent everything I've been through.” He kicked off his Drift Back tour in 2023.

Candice Glover, Season 12

Candice Glover auditioned for American Idol three times before winning in 2013.

The South Carolina-born singer released her debut album, Music Speaks, in 2014 and followed the project with several singles.

In June 2022, Glover announced on Instagram that she had graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Caleb Johnson, Season 13

North Carolina-born Caleb Johnson released his debut solo album, Testify, two months after winning season 13 of Idol in 2014.

He has since formed a group, Caleb Johnson and the Ramblin’ Saints, and they released their first album, Born from Southern Ground, in 2019.

He released his second solo project, Mountain Mojo, Vol. 1, in 2021.

Nick Fradiani, Season 14

Since his 2015 American Idol victory, Nick Fradiani has released two studio albums, Hurricane and Past My Past.

The Connecticut-born musician also made his Broadway debut in November 2022, starring as a young Neil Diamond in A Beautiful Noise.

Fradiani is in a relationship with actress Lauren Celentano, according to his Instagram.

Trent Harmon, Season 15

Trent Harmon was the last Idol winner before the show’s two-year hiatus. The Mississippi-born singer released his debut album, You Got ‘Em All, in 2018.

He and his wife, Kathleen Harmon, got married in September 2019. Roughly four years later, the couple welcomed a daughter, Dolly Jean.

Maddie Poppe, Season 16

In 2018, Maddie Poppe won season 16 of American Idol — the first season after its hiatus. The singer and multi-instrumentalist, originally from Iowa, released her debut album, Whirlwind, in 2019 and hit the road with Ingrid Michaelson that same year.

In the fall of 2023, Poppe toured with Joshua Radin. The musicians also collaborated on the song “Neverland."

Laine Hardy, Season 17

Louisiana-born singer Laine Hardy was crowned the Idol winner in 2019. After the show, he embarked on his first headlining tour. Hardy released his debut album, Here’s to Anyone, in 2021.

The following year, Hardy was arrested after allegedly placing a recording device in his ex-girlfriend’s dorm room. In a statement, the singer asked for privacy and said: “I have the utmost respect for the law and will assist in their investigation as needed moving forward.” One year later, Louisiana's The Advocate reported that Hardy would avoid jail time, avoid being formally charged and could petition the court to expunge his arrest record if he completed a pretrial diversion program for nonviolent offenders.

In June 2023, Hardy shared a photo of himself working on new music.

Samantha “Just Sam” Diaz, Season 18

Samantha “Just Sam” Diaz, who uses they/them pronouns, won American Idol during the show’s first remote finale amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the Harlem-born singer has released a few singles since then, in 2023, they shared that they had begun singing in New York subway stations again to make a living.

“I’m grateful for them. They changed my life forever,” Diaz told The Washington Post of the team behind Idol. “Even though it’s not in the way I expected," they added, referencing the difficulties of the pandemic.

The artist also appeared on TMZ Live in June 2023 to dispel any myths that Idol winners automatically become successful after the show. “I thought the same thing. I was like, ‘That’s it. Me and my grandmother will never see the same or experience the same struggles again,’ ” Diaz said, adding that the publicity surrounding their subway busking had kick-started some possible collaborations.

“Lil Durk reached out to me just to show love, I was recently on Timbaland’s Live on TikTok ... I have opportunities that my team and I are working on," they said.

Diaz shared more with The Washington Post in December 2023, “This is not the end of the story. That’s what I want people to know. I especially want younger people to know that my life changed and I didn’t know that it was going to. I just kept working ... Keep on fighting, keep on working hard, and it will pay off.”

Chayce Beckham, Season 19

California-born winner Chayce Beckham performed his original song “23” on the show and released it as a single in 2021. His debut EP, Doin’ It Right, dropped in April 2022.

In September 2023, Beckham joined Luke Bryan's annual Farm Tour and announced in February 2024 that he would hit the road with the country star again that summer.

Noah Thompson, Season 20

When Noah Thompson won season 20 of Idol, he was just 20 years old — and the father of a baby boy named Walker.

“I wanted to do this for him,” the West Virginia-born singer told Entertainment Tonight after the finale. "I ended up looking up to my dad that way, so maybe I think that's the best part of all of this whole process. I think that's what's cool about it."

In June 2023, Thompson released his debut EP, Middle of God Knows Where.

Iam Tongi, Season 21

In May 2023, Iam Tongi became the first Hawaiian to win American Idol. Speaking to PEOPLE after the finale, he said, “It's crazy, all my Polynesian people out there just ... they're always supporting, and when they come, they show out.”

Following his victory, Tongi graduated from Decatur High School and performed at the ceremony, per KITV. In May 2023, he released his single “I’ll Be Seeing You” and dedicated the tune to his late father.

The next month, Tongi announced a tour with dates in the United States and Auckland, New Zealand.