Who is the most successful American Idol winner ever?

• "American Idol" premiered on June 11, 2002, and crowned its first winner that September.
• Almost every year since there has been a new "American Idol" winner to listen to.
• But how many really are successful? We've ranked them all, from Just Sam to Kelly Clarkson.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Thousands of people have tried out for "American Idol" over the past 19 years, with the hope of becoming America's next biggest pop star. But how many of the 18 winners have actually become the next American idol?

We've ranked every winner of "American Idol" based on their amount of success — how many albums or songs they've sold, chart placement, cultural impact, award nominations and wins, and how famous they are compared with other contestants on their season (we're looking at you, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert).

Here's how we think the "American Idol" winners stack up.

The low placement of Just Sam, the winner of season 18, is no fault of her own — her season was interrupted because of COVID-19, and she hasn't been able to tour or do any real press.

Just Sam, 22, is our current "American idol," but she hasn't been able to take full advantage of her reign. Her season was cut short because of COVID-19 and was then moved online, where she was crowned over video chat in May. Since then, she's signed to Hollywood Records, but we're still waiting to see what she does next.

Caleb Johnson was crowned the winner of season 13 in 2014 and has released only one solo album since.

Johnson, 29, one of the only "rock" winners of "American Idol," was beloved on the show. But since winning in 2014, he's released only one album as a solo artist, "Testify," in 2014. It peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard 200. He's failed to chart any songs on the Hot 100.

He released an album in 2019 with a new band, Caleb Johnson & the Ramblin' Saints, that seems to be more what he's into stylistically. But, like everything else, the tour and promo were cut short because of the pandemic.

In 2018, Maddie Poppe was crowned the season-16 champion.

Poppe, 23, has failed to make much of an impact on mainstream music. Her songs have charted on the adult contemporary/adult airplay charts, but not particularly high. She does, however, have a People's Choice Award under her belt for competition contestant of 2018.

Poppe also loses points because of the success of Gabby Barrett, who came in third place during season 16. Barrett has become a country-music success with her hit single "I Hope," which was nominated for single of the year at the 2020 CMA Awards and reached No. 3 on the Hot 100.

Trent Harmon won what was at the time the last season of "American Idol," season 15, in 2016.

In 2018, Harmon, 30, released his debut album, "You Got 'Em All," which peaked at No. 34 on the Top Country Albums chart. A 2017 single, "There's a Girl," reached No. 27 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and his album reached No. 2 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. It didn't reach the Billboard 200.

Overall, a perfectly respectable late-season contestant. However, Harmon loses points for beating La'Porsha Renae, who clearly deserved the win.

Laine Hardy won season 17, the second of the "rebooted" series, in 2019.

It's been just under two years since Hardy was on "American Idol," but the 20-year-old isn't wasting time. He peaked at No. 12 on a Billboard rising-artists chart and released three singles in 2020. Hardy's song "Hurricane" has been streamed over 6 million on Spotify, and he had a song reach No. 19 on the Country Song Digital Sales chart.

Nick Fradiani won the 14th season of "American Idol" in 2015 after attempts on "America's Got Talent" and a Battle of the Bands contest.

Fradiani, 35, already had a bit of fame before competing: He was part of a pop-rock band called Beach Avenue that competed on "America's Got Talent" in 2014, but the band didn't make it far. So Fradiani decided to try his luck as a solo act on "American Idol."

In August 2016, he released his sole album, "Hurricane," which peaked at No. 121 on the Billboard 200. He had only one song reach the Hot 100: his coronation song, "Beautiful Life," which peaked at No. 93.

He's since returned to Beach Avenue.

That season's runner-up, Clark Beckham, was signed by Quincy Jones Management, though they parted ways in 2020.

Lee DeWyze was the season-nine champion in 2010.

Both DeWyze, 34, and the runner-up, Crystal Bowersox, have essentially disappeared from pop culture since appearing on the show, especially compared with some of its other winners.

DeWyze had four songs chart on the Hot 100 from his first post-"Idol" album, "Live It Up," ranging from Nos. 24 to 88. "Live It Up" and his 2013 album, "Frames," made it to the Billboard 200, charting at Nos. 19 and 116. He released his sixth and seventh albums in 2016 and 2018.

DeWyze definitely had his moment, and while he continues to make music, he has faded into pop-music obscurity.

Kris Allen's season-eight win in 2009 can best be summed up by his face upon winning.

Allen's win remains as confusing in 2021 as it was in 2009, when he inexplicably lost to Adam Lambert, one of the most talented musicians to ever grace the "Idol" stage — he's touring with Queen, for crying out loud. Lambert also acts, has topped charts, has sold millions of records, and was nominated for a Grammy in 2011.

Another contestant from the season, Mickey Guyton, recently had a breakout moment and is up for her first Grammy this year. She's the first Black female solo artist to earn a Grammy nomination in a country category.

Comparatively, Allen has fallen short. The 35-year-old had seven songs make it to the Hot 100 but never broke the top 10 — at the time unheard of for "American Idol" contestants. His highest-charting album was 2009's "Kris Allen," which peaked at No. 11. He hasn't had an album chart since 2014.

Candice Glover was crowned the season-12 "American Idol" in 2013.

Unfortunately, season 13 of "American Idol" will be best known as the season with Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj's iconic beef, overshadowing the highly talented Glover.

Since the show, she's released only one album, "Music Speaks," in 2014. It peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and at No. 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Her coronation song, "I Am Beautiful," reached No. 93 on the Hot 100.

Glover, 31, remains the most famous person from her season, however, bumping her past a few competitors.

Taylor Hicks took home the season-five crown in 2006.

When Hicks won "American Idol," he was briefly one of the most famous people in the US. His season was the most successful in two ways: It has the highest ratings to date, and each of the top 10 contestants secured a record deal — nine of them with major labels.

Hicks' coronation single, "Do I Make You Proud," debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 — an impressive feat — and his 2006 album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. He also became the first "Idol" winner to secure a long-term Vegas residency before it was cool, and he starred in "Grease" on Broadway as the Teen Angel.

However, the 44-year-old hasn't charted since 2009, and he has been overshadowed by other contestants from his season — most notably Chris Daughtry and Katharine McPhee. But even other contestants like Mandisa, Kellie Pickler, Kevin Covais, and Elliott Yamin all achieved chart success.

David Cook won the battle of the Davids during season seven in 2008.

Cook bested David Archuleta to become the seventh "American Idol" champ. The 38-year-old has released four albums since "Idol," which peaked at Nos. 3, 7, 35, and 173. His self-titled 2008 album also reached No. 2 on the Top Rock Albums chart.

Though his coronation song, "The Time of My Life," didn't top the charts, he's had more hits than say, Taylor Hicks, with 15 songs charting in the Hot 100. His last song to hit any chart was 10 years ago.

Besides singing, Cook was on Broadway for two 2018 stints in "Kinky Boots."

In 2003, Ruben Studdard became the second "American Idol."

Following Kelly Clarkson would've been a tough act for anyone, but Studdard held his own. His 2003 debut album, "Soulful," reached the top of the Billboard 200, and his next five albums all reached the top 200 as well.

He had two top-10 songs, "Flying Without Wings" and "Sorry 2004," and he has been nominated for multiple major awards, including at the American Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, the Teen Choice Awards, and the Grammys.

The 42-year-old has also found success in gospel and R&B, though he hasn't had a major hit in over a decade.

In the past decade, Studdard has appeared on "The Biggest Loser" and made a 2018 Broadway debut with his runner-up, Clay Aiken.

It's Aiken, in fact, who takes points away from Studdard. Aiken is more famous than Studdard is now, but their enduring friendship is very sweet.

Phillip Phillips, who won season 11 in 2012, had the bestselling coronation song in "American Idol" history.

"Home" is "Idol's" bestselling coronation song, bumping Phillips way up this list. Phillips, 30, also opened for John Mayer on tour, is the only famous person from his season, and was nominated for various awards at the American Music Awards, the Teen Choice Awards, and the Billboard Music Awards.

Both "Home" and "Gone Gone Gone" have over 100 million streams on Spotify, and he has four songs that have reached the Hot 100.

His first two albums, "The World From the Side of the Moon," and "Behind the Light," peaked at Nos. 4 and 7, though his 2018 album, "Collateral," reached only No. 141. We'll see whether Phillips can make a comeback.

The season-10 winner, Scotty McCreery, edges out Phillips.

McCreery, 27, has enjoyed success since his win in 2011, including three No. 1 country albums (and one No. 2) and a certified platinum debut album (that also hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200). He's the only country-music artist to chart a song without a record label.

He's had multiple award nominations, including at the American Country Music Awards, the CMTs, the Teen Choice Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, and the BMI Country Awards, as well as multiple hit singles. "Five More Minutes," "See You Tonight," and "This Is It" all reached the top 10 in the country charts.

McCreery's season does have famous alumni (Lauren Alaina and Haley Reinhart), but neither has clearly surpassed McCreery, so he's earned his place in the top five.

In 2004, Fantasia Barrino became the third "American Idol," so it's fitting that we ranked her at No. 3.

The singer, who goes by Fantasia professionally, has had quite a career. Her first single debuted at No. 1, and her debut album was certified platinum. Her next seven albums all made it to the Billboard 200, and she's seen much success on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts, with a No. 2 in 2019 on the Adult R&B chart.

Fantasia, 36, was also inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, starred in "The Color Purple" and "After Midnight" on Broadway, was ranked 32nd on VH1's list of the 100 greatest women in music, performed at Aretha Franklin's funeral, and starred in her own Lifetime movie.

Fantasia has a Grammy win from 12 nominations.

The only thing working against Fantasia? That Jennifer Hudson, a future Oscar winner, was on her season; Hudson is easily one of the most famous "Idol" contestants of all time.

Carrie Underwood, the season-four winner, has transcended "American Idol" to become one of the most successful country artists of all time.

What is there to say about Underwood, 37, that hasn't already been said? She is the female artist with the most No. 1s on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, and she has seven Grammy wins (including best new artist), 11 Billboard Music Awards wins, 15 American Music Awards wins, a Guinness world record, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and more.

Billboard named her the top female country artist of the 2000s and the 2010s. Underwood has sold over 4.3 million concert tickets and was named one of Time's most influential people in 2014.

In total, she's sold 64 million records worldwide. She has 27 No. 1 songs. It's staggering.

No one else from her 2005 season, including Bo Bice or Constantine Maroulis, came close to her amount of success. In fact, there's only one "Idol" who could best her ...

Who else could be the most successful "American Idol," but Kelly Clarkson, the season-one champ? She created an entire empire from her 2002 win.

While Underwood might have chart success in country music, Clarkson has crossover appeal. She's had three No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, is the first artist to top the pop, adult contemporary, adult pop, country, and dance charts, and has had 11 top-10 singles on the Hot 100 (with three No. 1s).

She's also recorded a modern-classic Christmas album, judges on "The Voice," has been nominated for 15 Grammys (winning three), and had one of the bestselling songs of 2002 with her coronation single, "A Moment Like This."

Clarkson, 38, has also secured a career outside music. Her delightful talk show, "The Kelly Clarkson Show," earned her a Daytime Emmy. Only an Oscar and a Tony to go, Kelly!

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