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Carrie Underwood Named Top-Earning ‘American Idol’ Alumni

Carrie UnderwoodCarrie Underwood has been named the top-earning American Idol alumni.

The country music star and 2005 winner topped Forbes magazine's annual list thanks to her staggering $31 million income over the last year, with a sell-out tour, albums and beauty deals under her belt.

Kelly Clarkson, the first ever Idol winner, came in second place with $7 million with the earnings of two albums and concerts, each scoring her quarter of a million dollars. The third spot on the list is a surprise tie between season 8 winner Adam Lambert, who landed a guest role on Glee, and 2012 winner Phillip Phillips, with $5 million each. The lesser-known Phillips' winner's single "Home" fared better than any in the show's history, shifting over 4 million copies.

Chris Daughtry was third with $4 million thanks to performing over 80 shows with his eponymous rock band. Baby-faced country singer Scott McCreery ranked sixth with earnings of $3 million, while season 5 winner Taylor Hicks - who is the only Idol alumni with a Las Vegas-residency - came seventh. Broadway star Fantasia Barrino, Dancing with the Stars contestant Kellie Pickler, Smash singer-and-actress Katharine McPhee and Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson rounded out the top 10.


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VIDEO: Past American Idol Winners Featured in New Promos


The upcoming season of may feature a few new judges, but the show's promos are highlighting old faces.

Can't remember where the series has been over the past nine years? The two clips posted will take you on a nice trip down memory lane.

Want to know which singer will join , Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Kris Allen and Lee DeWyze in the Winner's Circle? Make sure to watch when the program returns in January.

Click to continue reading VIDEO: Past American Idol Winners Featured in New Promos

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American Idol 8: Top 5 Results

The eighth season of is winding down, which means the competition is heating up. “I have your results!” Ryan Seacrest promised at the top of the hour, touting 47 million votes and an evening filled with drama.

“Everybody was good,” said of the preceding performance round, which occurred the night before the results show.

The same could not be said of the terrible Ford music video, which was again marked by bad choreography and poor cinematography. The Top 5 then performed a medley of “I Don’t Mean a Thing” and “I Got Rhythm.” I still didn’t get to hear “Swingin’ on a Star.” The Top 5 group performance was, in a word, awful. It was boring, the song choices were bad and the choreography was decidedly lackluster after last week’s highly entertaining performance.

The Idol contestant clip of the week showed the Top 5 in the kitchen, who attempted to make birthday cakes for celebrants Allison Iraheta and Danny Gokey. A horrendous mess ensued. then gave Gokey a gift - a bill from Best Bets Maid Service, LLC. They charged $6,000 for the disaster in the kitchen. “You mean American Idol doesn’t take care of that?” Danny quipped.

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Former Idols News: Taylor Hicks, Justin Guarini, Ace Young

Taylor Hicks

Now that is underway, it’s time to catch up on some of our former contestants:

Taylor Hicks: The Season 5 winner is just over a month away from waking up the Soul Patrol. On March 10, Modern Whomp Records, Hicks’ own label, will offer up The Distance. The CD will drop just six weeks after “What is Right,” the album’s first digital release, is made available. Taylor Hicks, the 32-year-old’s last major-label offering, sold 703,000 after debuting in 2006.

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In the Mold: What Does it Take to Win American Idol?

Season Seven Top 12

Kelly Clarkson. Fantasia Barrino. Taylor Hicks. Carrie Underwood. Ruben Studdard. Jordin Sparks. Put them together and it’s hard to find one common element - other than the fact that they can all sing. But here’s the thing - many of the contestants on can carry a tune. Winning the show takes a whole lot more than sensational singing. What does it take to win American Idol?

The hot button issue for this year’s crew of competitors is sexual orientation. The Internet community is alive with comments, videos, and hooplah regarding the sexual preference (real or imagined) of Season Seven’s best and brightest singing talents. As far as fans know, a homosexual has never won American Idol. Some say that one will never win on the show.

Click to continue reading In the Mold: What Does it Take to Win American Idol?


American Idol: Twelve Top Performances?

American Idol's Top 12

It’s been hyped for weeks, anticipated since last year’s Idol was crowned, and advertised until TV watchers can hardly stand the promos. Tuesday night it finally arrived - the performances from ‘s Top 12. Was it worth two hours of programming?

The night kicked off with the big debut of a big new stage, where in an odd setup the band is suspended and the judges are shoved behind some of the crowd. Host Ryan Seacrest showed off the new lights and interiors as fans screamed, then dropped the bomb that this performance night would be melodic with songs from the famed Lennon-McCartney songbook. My breath caught, and immediately I was excited. Surely one of the Idols would be bold, brave, brash…surely, one of them would sing something from the darker, more politically-minded years of the Beatles. Surely, we would hear some hot 70s-era vocals.

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American Idol


American Idol: Why it’s No Good to Be Too Good

David ArchuletaIt’s an incredibly bold idea. Start a reality show on the premise that somewhere out there, amazing singers are lurking and just waiting for their chance. Then, go out and find these incredible singers and let American decide which one gets to experience fame. But scratch the surface of , and there’s much more involved than just singing.

The best don’t always win. It’s just that simple. I mean - c’mon - Taylor Hicks? Really, was he the best singer? And Chris Daughtry - if he can’t win the show, you might as well throw the radio out the window. got booted, then went on to sing her heart out in an Oscar-winning Dreamgirls performance. Last year’s winner Jordin Sparks had dismal first week record sales (the lowest in Idol history), though she beat out twenty-three other fantastic singers just to seal the deal. Listen, Clay Aiken didn’t even win his season - remember?

The best don’t always win

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American Idol Official Site


This Week on TV (12/17-12/23)

Gossip Girl

 

MONDAY (12/17)
  • (ABC, 8pm):  The first of six-airings this week.  In this game show, the contestants ‘challenge each other’s intellect and skill, but a single wrong answer disqualifies them from trying for the $1.5 million prize.’  Seriously - if a show is going to be named ‘Duel’, it should involve body blows.
  • (NBC, 8pm):  This four-part series brings us Michael Bolton, Patti LaBelle, Nick Lachey and Kelly Rowland.  Surprisingly, this combo is not part of some program.
  • (ABC, 9pm):  “Eric must organize a baby party without ruining friendships.”  His pals are all hoping they don’t have to come.
  • (NBC, 10pm):  “Dan is sent to rescue a mother and son in an RV hanging from a cliff.”  Just for clarification—do his travels always predate the existence of 911?

Click to continue reading This Week on TV (12/17-12/23)


Has Robyn Troup Won American Idol: Season 6 Before It’s Even Started?

Robyn TroupAnyone who knows me has probably heard me rail on the “parade of mediocrity” that is the audition process for American Idol. I’m just the kind of guy that thinks that to get your fifteen minutes of fame, you must be able to do something significant to contribute to ... something. Looking like a jackass and not being able to sing don’t count.

But that’s neither here nor there. Tomorrow starts the first round of hopefuls that were talented enough to get to the Hollywood stage of the competition, and this is normally where I start paying attention to the show. Idol has the ability to make stars out of even non-winners, and in fact, not winning could end up being a major opportunity for you. Kelly Clarkson notwithstanding, some of the biggest names to come out of Idol are Jennifer Hudson and her meteoric rise to capture a Golden Globe and probably an Oscar, and Season 5 finalist Chris Daughtry who’s debut album just went platinum (and is a great rock album).

Which led me to have an interesting conversation with my wife last night. How is it that the audience has been getting it so wrong, since they are the ones making this decision? The voting should be roughly analogous to how sales should go, right? And yet, winner Ruben Studdard falters while Clay Aiken makes out like a bandit. What’s going on?

Click to continue reading Has Robyn Troup Won American Idol: Season 6 Before It’s Even Started?


American Idol 5: The Final Showdown

Katharine McPhee and Taylor HicksDrum roll, please!  After endless weeks of competition, tonight came down to—as USA Today put it best—Gray vs. Anatomy.  The contestants were armed with three songs tonight—two from their Idol past and a original song that may eventually be recorded by the winner.  Would Taylor’s soulful style resonate with people outside the southern states and those without a touch of gray?  Would Katharine’s youthful voice and pretty face be able to branch out beyond the West Coast? For the last time this season—read on!!

Click to continue reading American Idol 5: The Final Showdown


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