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American Idol Winners List: Seasons 1 to 22

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American Idol Winners List
24 Oct, 2024

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Since its first season aired (2002), American Idol has been a springboard for many of today’s music artists. In all its seasons, the show has crowned a diverse group of talented singers, each bringing their unique style and voice to the stage. From pop sensations to country stars, the winners have gone on to release chart-topping albums and win prestigious awards.

This comprehensive guide highlights the American Idol Winners List, exploring their journey and achievements, from Season 1’s Kelly Clarkson to the most recent champion.

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List of American Idol Winners

1: Kelly Clarkson: Season 1 (2002)

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Kelly Clarkson wowed the judges and audience with her powerful performances, including her coronation song, “A Moment Like This.” She emerged as the winner, surpassing runner-up Justin Guarini. Her consistency and unique voice throughout American Idol Season 1 secured her win, earning her widespread praise and fan support. After her victory, she signed with RCA Records, releasing chart-topping songs.

2: Ruben Studdard: Season 2 (2003)

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The final two contestants in American Idol Season 2 were Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, with Studdard winning the title. His smooth vocals and stage presence during American Idol Season 2 helped him stand out, earning him a narrow victory over Aiken by just 134,000 votes out of 24 million cast. Studdard was awarded a recording contract and released his coronation song, “Flying Without Wings,” which was number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

3: Fantasia Barrino: Season 3 (2004)

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Fantasia Barrino and Diana DeGarmo were the finalists of American Idol Season 3, with Fantasia Barrino declared as the winner. Her soulful rendition of “I Believe” captivated both the judges and the audience, showcasing her vocal talent and emotional depth.

Fantasia’s unique voice, stage presence, and emotional connection with the audience helped her secure victory with a narrow margin of 2% in the vote count. With 65 million votes cast, Fantasia won a record deal and released her debut single, “I Believe,” which became the first-ever debut to secure the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100.

4: Carrie Underwood: Season 4 (2005)

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In American Idol Season 4, Carrie Underwood defeated Bo Bice. Her powerful vocals impressed the judges and fans, and she sang “Inside Your Heaven” as her coronation song. Carrie’s versatility, strong stage presence, and undeniable talent made her a favorite. With over 500 million votes throughout the season, Carrie won the competition and earned a record deal.

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5: Taylor Hicks: Season 5 (2006)

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Season 5 of American Idol had Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee as the top competitors. In his audition, Taylor performed “A Change Is Gonna Come” and captivated the audience with his unique soul style. He sang “Do I Make You Proud” in his final performance. His soulful voice, energetic performances, and strong fan base led to his victory.

6: Jordin Sparks: Season 6 (2007)

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Season 6 of American Idol featured Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis as the top two finalists. Jordin Sparks made a mark with “This is My Now” as her winning song, showcasing her powerful vocals and stage presence. Her strong vocal range, stage confidence, and fan appeal helped her secure the win. Winning at the age of 17, he became the youngest winner, receiving over 74 million votes and earning a recording contract with her victory.

7: David Cook: Season 7 (2008)

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In American Idol Season 7, David Cook and David Archuleta were the finalists, but David Cook took the spot as a winner. He sang “The Time of My Life,” impressing the judges with his unique rock style and creative renditions throughout the competition.

8: Kris Allen: Season 8 (2009)

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In American Idol Season 8, Kris Allen was the winner, defeating Adam Lambert. Kris Allen, impressed with his rendition of “No Boundaries”. His ability to connect emotionally with audiences played a key role in his success. Allen won the competition at age 23 with nearly 100 million votes. He earned a recording contract as his prize. His versatility and heartfelt performances, particularly his acoustic style, resonated deeply with fans, leading to his victory over the widely favored Adam Lambert.

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9: Lee DeWyze: Season 9 (2010)

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Lee DeWyze, a 23-year-old from Mount Prospect, Illinois, won the American Idol Season 9 by singing “Beautiful Day” in the finale. DeWyze’s heartfelt performances resonate with voters, allowing him to outperform runner-up Crystal Bowersox. Season 9 garnered significant viewer engagement, and DeWyze won a recording contract as his prize. He has since released multiple albums, including his debut, Live It Up, in 2010.

10: Scotty McCreery: Season 10 (2011)

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In the tenth season of American Idol, Scotty McCreery, a 17-year-old country singer from North Carolina, won the competition, defeating Lauren Alaina. McCreery auditioned with Josh Turner’s “Your Man,” and his winning song was “I Love You This Big.” Garnering over 122 million votes in the finale, Scotty’s deep, traditional country voice set him apart throughout the season. His consistency, humility, and strong connection to his genre resonated with the fan base, contributing significantly to his win.

11: Phillip Phillips: Season 11 (2012)

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The eleventh season of American Idol’s finale set a record with 132 million votes cast. On May 23, 2012, Phillip Phillips was crowned the winner, defeating Jessica Sanchez, the runner-up. Phillip Phillips, then 21 years old, auditioned in North Charleston by singing “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder and “Thriller” by Michael Jackson on guitar. His winning song, “Home,” became a massive hit, achieving quadruple platinum status.

12: Candice Glover: Season 12 (2013)

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Candice Glover won American Idol Season 12, defeating runner-up Kree Harrison, marking the first female winner since Season 6. Glover auditioned thrice and sang “Syrup & Honey” in Charlotte. During the finale, she delivered an emotional performance of her winning song, “I Am Beautiful,” which became a significant part of her musical identity. Following her victory, Glover released her debut album, Music Speaks, available for pre-order immediately after the finale.

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13: Caleb Johnson: Season 13 (2014)

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Caleb Johnson was crowned the American Idol Season 13 winner, with Jena Irene as the runner-up. Johnson, then 23 years old, auditioned with his original song “Into the Void.” He previously tried in the tenth and eleventh seasons but failed. Ultimately, Season 13 brought him success. His winning song, “As Long as You Love Me,” highlighted his rock style. The season finale featured exciting performances, including a memorable duet between Johnson and the band KISS.

14: Nick Fradiani: Season 14 (2015)

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On May 13, 2015, Nick Fradiani, then 29, was announced the prizewinner of American Idol Season 14, with Clark Beckham as the runner-up. In his audition, he performed on “In Your Eyes.” He had previously participated in America’s Got Talent with his band, Beach Avenue.

Fradiani’s winning song, “Beautiful Life,” showcased his emotional vocal delivery, moving the audience to tears, including his family and friends.

15: Trent Harmon: Season 15 (2016)

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The fifteenth season of American Idol, known as American Idol: The Farewell Season. This season marked the end of the show’s run on Fox, despite ABC announcing plans to revive the series in May 2017. Trent Harmon was declared the winner, with La’Porsha Renae as the runner-up. Harmon, then 25 years old, auditioned with “Unaware” by Allen Stone and performed his winning song, “Falling,” during the finale.

After his win, Harmon expressed his gratitude to the audience: “I know that I have a God-given ability, but I didn’t want to take it for granted.” He then delivered a heartfelt performance of “Falling,” co-written by judge Keith Urban.

16: Maddie Poppe: Season 16 (2018)

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Maddie Poppe clinched the title of American Idol Season 16, with Caleb Lee Hutchinson as the runner-up and Gabby Barrett finishing third. Maddie, aged 20, shocked the judges during her audition with “The Rainbow Connection.” She performed this song alongside Kermit the Frog in the finale, making it memorable. She also shared a touching performance of a medley with her boyfriend, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, who was the runner-up. Maddie’s heartfelt performances resonated with viewers, leading her to victory.

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17: Laine Hardy: Season 17 (2019)

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Laine Hardy won the season, defeating Alejandro Aranda, the runner-up. At just 18 years old, Laine initially didn’t intend to audition but was encouraged by the judges after he accompanied a friend to the tryouts.

Laine sang “Flame ” in the finale,” showcasing his unique style and talent. His emotional victory left him overwhelmed, and he expressed that it was still sinking in. Laine became the third contestant to win after previously competing, following Candice Glover and Caleb Johnson.

18: Just Sam (Samantha Diaz): Season 18 (2020)

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Just Sam auditioned for American Idol Season 18 and went on to win the competition, receiving the most votes. She was crowned the winner on May 17, 2020, defeating runner-up Arthur Gunn. Her victory was especially notable, as it occurred during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the show to adapt its production methods. While most contestants performed from their homes, Just Sam chose to stay in a rented apartment in Los Angeles for her performances. The finale was also the first in the show’s history to be conducted remotely. Sam performed “Rise Up” in the finale, showcasing her talent despite the challenging circumstances.

19: Chayce Beckham: Season 19 (2021)

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Chayce Beckham won American Idol Season 19, a season that adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic with virtual auditions and socially distanced performances. Willie Spence finished as the runner-up, with Grace Kinstler taking third place. At 24 years old, Chayce, a forklift driver from Apple Valley, California, won with his original song “23,” which was already climbing the iTunes country charts. His final performances included “Blackbird” by The Beatles, “Fire Away” by Chris Stapleton, and “Afterglow” by Ed Sheeran.

20: Noah Thompson: Season 20 (2022)

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Noah Thompson was crowned the American Idol Season 20 winner on ABC, beating runner-up HunterGirl and third-place finisher Leah Marlene. At 22 years old, the construction worker from Louisa, Kentucky, won over viewers with his heartfelt performances. His winning song was “One Day Tonight,” and he also impressed audiences with his renditions of “Stay,” “Landslide,” and “Stand by Me.”

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21: Iam Tongi: Season 21 (2023)

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Iam Tongi won American Idol Season 21, which concluded on May 21, 2023. The season’s finalists included Megan Danielle and Colin Stough. His winning song was “I’ll Be Seeing You,” and he delivered memorable performances of “The Sound of Silence,” “Monsters,” and “What a Wonderful World.” At 18 years old, Iam captured the audience’s hearts by sharing the emotional story of his father’s passing just months before his audition, adding a poignant layer to his journey on the show.

22: Abi Carter: Season 22 (2024)

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Abi Carter won American Idol Season 22, with Will Moseley as the runner-up and Jack Blocker finishing third. In the finale, Abi showcased her talent with an original song, “This Isn’t Over,” and a stunning rendition of Billie Eilish “What Was I Made For?” At 21, she delivered memorable performances throughout the season, including “Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road” and “Bring Me to Life.” Abi was brought to tears as she was crowned the new American Idol, marking a triumphant end to her remarkable season.

FAQs

Who won American Idol in order?

  1. Kelly Clarkson
  2. Ruben Studdard
  3. Fantasia Barrino
  4. Carrie Underwood
  5. Taylor Hicks
  6. Jordin Sparks
  7. David Cook
  8. Kris Allen
  9. Lee DeWyze
  10. Scotty McCreery
  11. Phillip Phillips
  12. Candice Glover
  13. Caleb Johnson
  14. Nick Fradiani
  15. Trent Harmon
  16. Maddie Poppe
  17. Laine Hardy
  18. Just Sam (Samantha Diaz)
  19. Chayce Beckham
  20. Noah Thompson
  21. Iam Tongi
  22. Abi Carter

Who is the most successful American Idol winner ever?

Carrie Underwood is the most successful American Idol winner ever.

Who was the first winner of American Idol?

Kelly Clarkson was the first winner of American Idol.

Who was the youngest winner of American Idol?

Jordin Sparks was the youngest winner of American Idol.

How many seasons of American Idol have there been, and how many winners?

To date, American Idol has had 22 seasons and 22 winners, with Abi Carter being the latest winner of Season 22.

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