4. Clay Aiken | Ultimate American Idol Power Rankings | Comcast.net

Dashboard

Ultimate American Idol Power Rankings

4. Clay Aiken

If anyone is a testament to the wild-card rule, it's Clay. What would "Idol" be without Clay? I mean, really? The geeky camp counselor from North Carolina went through a transformation that started when he walked into the audition room and, in some ways, hasn't really ended. Hit albums and a critically acclaimed run in "Spamalot" on Broadway could still just be the start of what will likely be a long career. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

More from this Slideshow

0 of 0

95. Corey Clark If it wasn't enough that Corey was disqualified after his arrest was revealed during the show, he solidified his reputation with claims of an affair with judge Paula Abdul. He's clearly the worst "Idol" finalist in history. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Michel Boutefeu/Getty Images)
94. Kevin Covais... Dubbed "Chicken Little," Kevin was cute but overstayed his welcome by a couple of weeks. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
93. David Hernan... An over-the-top stage persona that never really registered with fans, voters sent David packing in the first week of the Season 7 finals. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (FOX/Frank Micelotta)
92. Sanjaya Mala... Don't feel too sorry for Sanjaya. He made himself a household name and still gets by on the exposure "Idol" gave him after he made it all the way to seventh place in Season 6. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (FOX/Frank Micelotta)
91. Brandon Roge... Who knows what might have happened for Brandon Rogers if he hadn't forgotten the lyrics to "You Can't Hurry Love." But he did, and became the first finalist sent home in Season 6. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
90. Julia DeMato... The Season 2 finalist showed some promise with her voice, but could never quite overcome a slightly awkward, side-to-side dancing motion that was a little distracting while she sang. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Michel Boutefeu/Getty Images)
89. Jorge Nunez Ahh, Jorge. What fun we could've had. Jorge was like no one the competition had seen, but his run was cut far too short after making it into the Top 13 in Season 8. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX)
88. Stephanie Ed... Stephanie suffered the curse of too little air time. Having not been seen through the audition rounds and eventually failing to capture viewers' collective attention, she was eliminated in 11th place in Season 6. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (FOX/Frank Micelotta)
87. Haley Scarna... It was kind of a surprise each week that Haley remained in the competition, causing several folks to speculate it was just her good looks that kept her coming back. In the end, she finished Season 6 in eighth place. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (FOX/Frank Micelotta)
86. EJay Day The first person eliminated from the first season of "American Idol," former theme park singer EJay Day kind of proved what Simon always says about theme-park singers. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX)
85. Jim Verraros The second person eliminated in the first season (on the same night), Jim was ever so slightly more memorable. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX)
84. A.J. Gil A.J. was in a little over his head and was sent home in the second week of the finals of the first season. He was one of the first to get an "I like what you're wearing tonight" from Paula, which is never a good sign. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX)
83. Melissa McGh... Melissa never managed to overcome her nerves and became the first finalist sent home in Season 5. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
82. Jasmine Murr... Unable to really find her own musical voice, young Jasmine unfortunately fell into the trap of many an "Idol" beauty queen before her, and went home early in Season 8. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX)
81. Matthew Roge... Big Matt Rogers had a booming voice that had a little operatic flair to it, but he wasn't able to hone it into a style that viewers could support. His charisma has propelled him to a pretty successful string of TV hosting jobs. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo: Discovery Channel)
80. Leah LaBelle Leah squeezed into the final 12 in Season 3 when Paula gave her a wild card, but in the first week of the finals, she fell to another wild-card singer named Jennifer Hudson. They've since taken what you might call divergent paths. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
79. Lindsey Card... The first top 12 finalist booted on Season 4, Lindsay was simply the victim of an incredibly strong group of singers. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX)
78. Ryan Starr Ryan's time on the first season of "Idol," where she finished seventh, was mostly unremarkable. But it was the string of lawsuits and contract disputes since the show that have marked her experience, including appearances on "The Surreal Life" and Fox Reality's "Gimme Me Reality Show." -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX)
77. John Stevens A 16-year-old who sang like a Rat Pack-era crooner -- actually, like a 16-year-old version of a Rat Pack-era crooner. John was fun to have around for a while, but the longer he stayed, the worse he got and the further off course he veered until he was finally voted off in sixth place in Season 3. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Shaun Heasley/Getty Images)
76. Michael Sarv... One of the nicer and more likable guys the show has ever seen, but Michael was fortunate to have a strong fan base that propelled him into the Top 10 in a competitive Season 8 group. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX)
75. Jessica Sier... Jessica was a better singer than she got a chance to show during her short run on the fourth season of "Idol." She finished in 10th place and got a chance to perform on the tour, but things fell apart not long after with drug and alcohol trouble that eventually landed her on "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew." -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
74. Amanda Overm... Few singers split the audience the way Amanda did in the seventh season of "Idol." She just missed the top 10, finishing 11th after a couple of pretty rough performances. The rocker nurse couldn't recapture the southern rock vibe that got her into the finals. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (FOX/Frank Micelotta)
73. Christina Ch... Christina showed some flashes of brilliance in "Idol's" earliest days, but came just shy of making the top five in the debut season. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX)
72. Chikezie After struggling to make a name for himself early on in Season 7, Chikezie hit it big with "She's a Woman," one of the most memorable performances of the season. Unfortunately, the momentum didn't last and he went home two weeks later. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(FOX/Frank Micelotta)
71. Nikko Smith A last-minute replacement in Season 4, when Mario Vazquez dropped out of the top 12, Nikko made quite a run. He finished in ninth place even though he wasn't originally a part of the top 12. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
70. Chris Sligh It's hard to tell where things fell apart for Chris, who finished 10th in Season 6. He was a fun, likable guy who seemed to make all the right choices until he did the upbeat "Every Little Things She Does Is Magic." That week, he ended up in the bottom group for the first time, and went home. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(FOX/Frank Micelotta)
69. Vanessa Oliv... The first finalist voted off in Season 2, Vanessa was just lost in the shuffle. She remains one of the recognizable faces of "Idol's" early seasons despite the fact that she finished 12th. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Michel Boutefeu/Getty Images)
68. Ramiele Malu... Ramiele started off Season 7 on top of the world and was an early favorite after a show-stopping performance of Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me." But it all spun out of control over the next few weeks and she went home the first time she was in the bottom group, taking ninth place. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(FOX/Frank Micelotta)
67. Lisa Tucker In the fifth season, Simon called Lisa the best 16-year-old the competition ever had. Her strong voice didn't take her beyond 10th place. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
66. Gina Glockse... Another one who got lost in the shuffle, Gina finished in ninth place after never having been in the bottom group in Season 6. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(FOX/Frank Micelotta)
65. Mikalah Gord... At just 16, Mikalah became known for trading barbs with Simon Cowell, but her singing wasn't quite enough to push her into the Top 10 of Season 4. She gets some bonus points, though, for being the most vocal contributor to the "Eye on Idol" weekly check-ins with former "Idol" finalists. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
64. Charles Grig... It's rare that an early departure is truly undeserved, but that was the case with Charles Grigsby. He finished in 11th place in the second season, but his rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed" remains locked in my memory bank. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Michel Boutefeu/Getty Images)
63. Camile Velas... After getting raked over the coals a few times by the judges, Camille made it to ninth place in the third season, despite having finished in the bottom two a couple of weeks earlier. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
62. Amy Adams Amy finished one spot behind Camille Velasco in the third season, but deserved to have those results flipped. So we'll do that here. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
61. Megan Joy Few contestants have been as interesting or sparked as much enthusiasm (for and against!) as Megan. And she won't soon be forgotten for her bird squawk when she was eliminated. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX)
60. Kristy Lee C... Kristy started with a ton of promise in Season 7, then her performances began to unravel. After two consecutive weeks in the bottom two, she resurrected her fan base with a performance of "God Bless the U.S.A.," which helped keep her around another three weeks. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
59. Phil Stacey You can't deny Phil Stacey is riding his "Idol" wave. During the show, he bounced between a few genres before deciding he was a country singer, which earned him some fans. He was eliminated in fifth or sixth place (Chris Richardson went home the same night), and went on to release a country album. This year, he signed with a Christian music label and is releasing a Christian album this year. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
58. Chris Richar... Speaking of Chris Richardson, it was never clear how much he liked or didn't like the constant comparisons to Justin Timberlake (nor was it clear whether they were justified, so to speak), but he rode his soulful vibe to the middle of the pack in one of the show's weakest seasons. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
57. Anoop Desai Anoop brought a nice twist to "Idol" in Season 8, and made it far in the competition after a few early missteps. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX)
56. Carmen Rasmu... Finishing sixth during the second season, Carmen's road wasn't particularly smooth. She went through highs and lows from the judges after eking into the finals with a wild card (Simon's choice). -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Scott Cohen/Getty images)
55. Jon Peter Le... Most "Idol" fans won't soon forget the pen salesman. After getting into the finals as a wild-card choice, things went smoothly for JPL until he was abruptly booted in eighth place -- his first time in the bottom group. He was best known for his upbeat performances that featured some interesting dance moves. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
54. Alexis Grace Alexis' abrupt ouster in Season 8 goes down as one of the biggest and earliest exits any singer as ever made on "Idol." She could have single-handedly made her season, which became very male-heavy, an entirely different game had she not been lost in the shuffle so soon. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX)
53. Anwar Robins... There was no denying Anwar's smooth vocal skills, but something in his performances failed to connect with viewers and voters after a while. There was bit of an odd look he'd give the cameras, but it didn't stop him from taking seventh place in Season 4. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
52. Bucky Coving... Few "Idol" finalists come as pure and genuine as Bucky. He was, in some ways, the yin to Kellie Pickler's yang in Season 6. A humble guy from Rockingham, N.C., Bucky has parlayed his "Idol" success into a respectable country career. His first album hit No. 1 on Billboard's Country chart (No. 4, overall), and he's working on his follow-up. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
51. R.J. Helton The best of the middle of the pack in "Idol's" first season, R.J. went about as far as he could before America got down to the business of deciding between Tamyra, Nikki, Justin and Kelly. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX)
50. Scott MacInt... An extremely inspiration story, Scott captured the hearts of many during Season 8 and brought many a sappy ballad week after week. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX)
49. Scott Savol Powerful ballads pushed Scott to fifth place in Season 4, when he also overcame news of an arrest (for which the charged were dropped) for attempted battery. Scott's move up the list confounded some fans as he placed above the likes of Nadia Turner and Anwar Robinson. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
48. Michael John... Yeah, that's right. He may have finished in eighth place, but Michael deserved to go a lot further. His departure was considered the first big shock of Season 7 as many fans projected him to finish in the top five. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
47. Nadia Turner Here is where Nadia gets at least some of the credit she deserved in the first place. Her infamous faux-hawk during Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" wasn't what sent her home (but it landed her in the bottom two and could've put her in 11th place). Nadia's powerful voice just didn't connect with enough viewers to get her beyond eighth place. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
46. Mandisa Another done-too-soon finalist, Mandisa finished ninth in Season 5. She took several hits from Simon about her weight early on, but he eventually came around and called her and her performance sexy during 1950s week when she sang "I Don't Hurt Anymore." As a Christian artist, she's been nominated for a Dove award and a Grammy. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
45. Rickey Smith Rickey's infectious smile made him a fan favorite early on in Season 2. Uptempo stuff was his real strength, and it never shined more brightly than when he showcased Earth, Wind & Fire's "Let's Groove." -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Michel Boutefeu/Getty Images)
44. Ace Young Known for keeping a hat in his back pocket and for a falsetto that made Paula go wild, Ace took seventh place in Season 5. This season, he's hosting "American Idol Extra" on Fox Reality. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
43. Lil Rounds Lil showed huge promise at the start of Season 8 with a booming voice that seemed unstoppable. But she could never seem to escape the judges' constant criticism that she wasn't taking ownership of her songs and putting her own artist's stamp on them, proving that in the post-David Cook era, it takes more that a powerful voice to win this thing. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX)
42. Paris Bennet... The granddaughter of singer Ann Nesby, Bennett was only 16 on the show but constantly fought suggestions that her style was too old-fashioned. At one point in the competition, though, Simon said she was his personal favorite from Season 5. She finished fifth. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
41. Anthony Fedo... Anthony became a fan favorite early on after it was revealed that he'd had a tracheotomy as a because of a birth defect in his windpipe. He powered through and brought his voice to "Idol," riding it to a fourth-place finish in Season 4 on the back of mostly easy-listening types of songs by the likes of Marc Anthony, Paul Young and Richard Marx. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
40. Matt Giraud One thing that can never be taken away from Matt is that he was the first "Idol" finalist ever saved by the judges. Unfortunately, he'll also be remembered more for potential than for delivering much on stage. When he was good, he was great. But when he bombed, he bombed big. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX)
39. Kimberly Cal... One of the earliest recognizable faces of "Idol," Kimberly took seventh place in Season 2. But for the past several years, she's continued to make her career around the show and TV hosting gigs, including a job as a host on the TV Guide Channel. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Robert Mora/Getty Images)
38. George Huff Full of energy and a golden smile, George Huff is one of the most likable characters in "Idol" history. At his best with the up-tempo stuff like "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" and "Take Me to the Pilot," Huff was also capable of pulling off a memorable ballad, like Phil Collins' "Against All Odds." -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
37. LaKisha Jone... Armed with a powerful voice, LaKisha took on just about every untouchable song out there, including "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing," and Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel." -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
36. Blake Lewis Remember when Blake Lewis was going to revolutionize music? "Idol" was sort of a mess in Seasons 5 and 6, and it was never more evident than when Blake took second place. His beat-boxing and occasionally unique (but often overdone) arrangements on songs kept fans at his side until the finale, but he's struggled to get a foothold in music since. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images/Fox)
35. Carly Smiths... This is not a mistake. The real error was when voters sent Carly home much too soon in Season 7, when she finished in sixth place. The odds were stacked against her early on, when stories surfaced about her previous recording contract (which many other "Idol" finalists have had), and her vocal talent and commanding performances kept her around as long as they did, despite many viewers having it out for her. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(FOX/Frank Micelotta)
34. Brooke White Brooke sneaks ahead of Carly here because she managed to stick around until fifth place in Season 7. Brooke had her ups and downs -- mostly notably forgetting her lyrics and having the band restart on her rendition of "You Must Love Me." -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(FOX/Frank Micelotta)
33. Danny Gokey An early favorite, Danny inspired many with his journey, bouncing back from losing his wife shortly before his "Idol" audition. Danny came just one week short of landing a spot in the Season 8 finale. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX)
32. Kellie Pickl... Awww... isn't she cute? Kellie got by on her charm for a little while, before proving herself to also be a pretty good singer. Finishing in sixth place in Season 4, Kellie had never landed in the bottom group until the night she went home. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
31. Jasmine Tria... She always kept a flower in her hair and had the undying support of the state of Hawaii behind her. Jasmine quietly worked her way to third place in Season 3, before falling victim to what would become a finale showdown between Diana DeGarmo and Fantasia. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
30. Nikki McKibb... Once the Top 10 began, Nikki survived landing in the bottom group every week -- except for 1960s' week when she nailed Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" -- before finally being sent home in third place during "Idol's" debut season. Some fans were upset that she stayed a week longer than Tamyra Gray. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX)
29. Syesha Merca... Another quiet third-place finisher, Syesha started well, then stumbled for a bit before regaining her footing in the competition and finishing a strong third place. There was never any doubt that the finals would be between David Cook and David Archuleta in Season 7, so her consolation prize was that she finished at the top of the group behind them. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(FOX/Frank Micelotta)
28. Constantine ... It was a pretty big shock when Constantine went home in sixth place in Season 4. He'd never been in the bottom until then -- the only other singer that season who could say the same was eventually winner Carrie Underwood. Constantine has gone on to make a career mostly on the theater stage. He's starring in a new Broadway musical, "Rock of Ages," that revives some classic rock tunes from the '80s. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
27. Trenyce Trenyce made the most of her wild-card spot in Season 3, riding it all the way to fifth place on the heels of memorable performances, such as Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" and LeAnn Rimes' "I Need You." -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Michel Boutefeu/Getty Images)
26. LaToya Londo... It was a bit of a shock when, with four singers left, LaToya landed in the bottom two with Fantasia. One of them had to go, and it was LaToya. Fantasia, of course, went on to win the whole thing -- and somewhat easily. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
25. Kimberley Lo... Kimberley had a string of solid performances and only stumbled a couple of times when she tried to speed things up on songs like "It's Raining Men." Ballads were her domain, though, and her rendition of Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" was a keeper. She finished third in Season 2. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
24. Jason Castro Love him or not, Jason Castro was nothing but a positive force throughout his "Idol" journey, finishing fourth in Season 7. He came off as not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and even made fun of himself at times for forgetting his lyrics, but he gave some of the most captivating performances, including his take on Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" and "(Somewhere) Over the Rainbow." -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(FOX/Frank Micelotta)
23. Vonzell Solo... Vonzell was a force during Season 4, but there just wasn't a spot for her in the finals as it was clearly going to come down to Bo Bice and Carrie Underwood. Vonzell gave a string of solid performances, including Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" and Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way." -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
22. Allison Irah... A young, motivated rocker girl, Allison was a survivor in Season 8, narrowly escaping elimination a few times before finishing fourth -- arguably leaving too soon. The 17-year-old will likely be seen again soon, though. We haven't heard the last of her. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX)
21. Melinda Dool... Melinda took a little flak for her constant look of surprise when the judges complimented her, but there was never any reason to think the former backup singer's reactions weren't genuine. She'd never been in the bottom group -- all the way until she was booted in third place, where she was dumped in favor of Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis. Simon Cowell would later say Melinda should have won Season 6. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
20. Josh Gracin Josh fit his "Idol" experience into his service with the U.S. Marine Corps, and really solidified his place as the first "Idol" finalist who figured out that goin' country is the right move. Josh started a little uneven, but once he gave his performances a bit of twang, he catapulted himself to a fourth-place finish in Season 2 and has made a solid career in Country since. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(AP Photo/Jim Cooper)
19. Taylor Hicks Taylor is the lowest-ranking "Idol" winner in this group. It's easy to knock the Taylor Hicks phenomenon now, but in the middle of Season 5, there was never a clear moment when Taylor should have been booted. Still, many viewers (including me) think Katharine McPhee should have taken the title that year. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
18. Kris Allen One of the most humble, authentic guys the competition has seen, Kris is like a perfect middle ground between the "aww shucks," uber-mellow Jason Castro, and the song rearranging phenom, David Cook. Kris won't blow you away on stage, but he'll turn in a solid, hreatfelt performance every time. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX)
17. Bo Bice Few "Idol" finalists have taken command of the stage the way Bo did in Season 4. Were it not for the fact that he ran up against Carrie Underwood that year, Bo would have been the "American Idol," hands down. Health issues have caused his post-"Idol" career to false start a bit, but he's back out on the road and lining up a live album for release this year. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
16. Diana DeGarm... Just 16 when Season 3 started, Diana quietly slipped into the top 6, then cranked it up a notch for a big run at the finals with performances of "Turn the Beat Around," "(No More Tears) Enough Is Enough" and "Don't Cry Out Loud." -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
15. Justin Guari... If anyone seems to define "American Idol," it's Justin Guarini. His face -- and, of course, that hair -- are among the most recognizable parts of "Idol" history. His trail-blazing journey to the first season's finals with Kelly Clarkson helped set the stage for what "Idol" has become. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Kevin Winter/Getty Images/FOX)
14. Elliott Yami... Week after week, Elliott just seemed to slip by the rest of the competition. He even fell into the bottom two twice before finally getting booted in third place in Season 5. He started to hit his stride toward the end, and shockingly beat out Chris Daughtry in the Top 4 voting. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
13. Jennifer Hud... Let's face it, Jennifer is only this high in the rankings because of her post-"Idol" success. What can I say? Flash an Oscar trophy and good things happen. The fact is she was voted off in seventh place in Season 3 and initially had trouble getting her footing in the competition. Still, her early dismissal was a bit of a shock. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
12. Katharine Mc... If anyone other than Chris Daughtry should have won Season 5, it was Katharine McPhee. She nailed it from the start and carried that momentum all the way to the finals, which is no small task on "Idol." Her career has since been up and down since the show, but Kat put her stamp on "Idol" during its most odd season. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
11. Tamyra Gray It was the shock heard 'round the world, and is still discussed in "Idol" lore. And that was before all that many people even watched the show. Justifiable outrage followed the elimination of Tamyra Gray in Season 1, who many viewers thought should have won, or at the very least challenged eventual winner Kelly Clarkson for the title. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX)
10. Ruben Studda... How could we not give some love to the "205"? The Velvet Teddy Bear won fans over early with his rendition of "Superstar" and "A Whole New World," and just kept the hits coming week after week. His run set up a showdown that he ultimately won over Clay Aiken. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
9. Adam Lambert For Adam fans, anything less than calling him the best "Idol" finalist of all time won't be good enough, but we have to keep things in perspective, folks. One step at a time. First, let's see if he wins. Then, let's see if he goes platinum or gets a Grammy nomination or won, or a Tony nomination, for that matter (Congrats, Constantine!). Adam certainly made his mark on the competition, but it remains to be seen what his legacy will be. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol' (Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX)
8. Fantasia Barr... One word: "Summertime." It was one of "Idol's" first truly showstopping performances, and it catapulted the unlikely star to the crown in Season 3. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
7. David Archule... Perhaps it's a little too soon to put Archie this high on the list, but he sent the girls wild last year with his "aw shucks" persona and has done a pretty good job of keeping himself in the spotlight since the show ended. He also made up one half of what's probably the third-best finale in show history. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(FOX/Frank Micelotta)
6. Jordin Sparks Jordin won Season 6 and has forged a solid career, so far. Jordin made "Idol" history by becoming the youngest winner of any season, and she joined Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks as the only winners to never appear in the bottom group. David Cook did it the following year. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images/Fox)
5. David Cook Speaking of David Cook, it might be too soon to tell the lasting impact of Cook's run on "Idol," but he certainly staked a flag for rockers by becoming the first to win the whole deal. Cook put a unique twist on most of his performances, including "Hello," "Billie Jean," and "Always Be My Baby." -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(FOX/Frank Micelotta)
4. Clay Aiken If anyone is a testament to the wild-card rule, it's Clay. What would "Idol" be without Clay? I mean, really? The geeky camp counselor from North Carolina went through a transformation that started when he walked into the audition room and, in some ways, hasn't really ended. Hit albums and a critically acclaimed run in "Spamalot" on Broadway could still just be the start of what will likely be a long career. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
3. Chris Daughtr... First, there was Bo. Later, there was David Cook. But in between was Chris Daughtry, who carried the rocker torch that Bo handed him and passed it along to Cook. Daughtry's legitimate success as a pop rocker after the show likely helped fueled Cook's rise to the title in Season 7. He nailed classics like "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "I Walk the Line," and even made Bryan Adams' "Have You Ever Really Ever Loved a Woman?" sound good. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
2. Carrie Underw... Before she was handing Jesus the wheel and taking Louisville Sluggers to her boyfriends' headlights, Carrie was a shy girl from Checotah, Okla. Fresh off the farm, Carrie brightened up the "Idol" audition platform and never made a wrong move as she easily sailed through every round to win the crown. -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
1. Kelly Clarkso... Long live the "Idol" Queen! The Kelly-Carrie debate will rage on for years to come, and there are certainly solid arguments in both directions. But the fundamental question is this: Would "Idol" be what it is today without Kelly's immediate success? If the winner of the first season was never taken seriously, who's to say people would have cared about "Idol" in Season 2, much less whether it would even have been around for Season 4? We'll never know for sure, but Kelly's debut album was released before Season 2 began and it debuted at No. 1, setting the course for "Idol's" domination over the next seven years, and counting... -- Victor Balta, 'Eye on Idol'(Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX) *********************************************************************************************************** Click here to comment! Am I out of my mind? Do you agree with the choices?

Advertisement - Ad Feedback

Loading...