Kelly Clarkson
Season 1 winner (2002)
TV, movie, Grammy winner, played Buffalo
Has sold more than 23 million albums.
Sang national anthem at Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.
Named 14th best-selling artist of the 2000s by Billboard.
Placed 19th on VH-1’s “100 Great Women in Music” in 2012.
Sang at the 57th Presidential Inauguration.
Just released “Greatest Hits Chapter One” disc.
Clay Aiken
Season 2, second place (2003)
TV, Broadway, Christmas album, book, played Buffalo
Fans are known as “Claymates,” a trademarked term.
Named a UNICEF ambassador in 2004.
Sang national anthem at the 2003 World Series and 2011 NHL All-Star game.
Appointed to the Presidential Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, 2006.
Has released a greatest hits disc.
Jennifer Hudson
Season 3, seventh place (2004)
TV, Broadway, movies. Oscar winner, Grammy winner, book
Garnered more than 20 nominations – winning many including an Oscar – for her role in “Dreamgirls.”
Sang “America the Beautiful” at Super Bowl XLVIII in 2013.
Debuted a fashion collection on QVC.
Sang at the Presidential Inaugural Ball.
Well-known as Weight Watchers spokeswoman.
Carrie Underwood
Season 4 winner (2005)
Grammy winner, movie, played Buffalo
Has sold 15 million albums, with 16 No. 1 singles.
Six Grammys, seven American Music, six People’s Choice and nine CMT awards, among her honors.
The “face” of Olay beauty.
Appeared as a hologram during 2012 Brad Paisley concert at Darien Lake.
Constantine Maroulis
Season 4, sixth place (2005)
TV, Broadway, played Buffalo
Tony nomination for “Rock of Ages.”
Celebrity promoter for “Rock Star Mickey.”
Named a “Forty Under 40” winner by the Greek American Foundation in 2010.
Recently performed at Shea’s in “Jekyll & Hyde.”
Katharine McPhee
Season 5, second place (2006)
TV, movies, Christmas albumd
Stars on TV in “Smash.”
Her charity is McPhee outreach.
Has collaborated or performed with Chris Botti, on “Randy Jackson’s Music Club, Vol. 1,” and with “American Idol” contestant Elliott Yamin.
Was a celebrity spokeswoman for Neutrogena.
Chris Daughtry
Season 5, fourth place (2006)
Played Buffalo
Asked to audition for the rock band Fuel.
Back-to-back No. 1 albums, plus four No. 1 songs.
Winner of four American Music Awards; has been nominated for four Grammys.
Has collaborated or performed with Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, Carlos Santana, Sevendust and Lifehouse, among others.
Scotty McCreery
Season 10 winner (2011)
Christmas album, played Buffalo
He was only 17 when he won “Idol.”
Sang national anthem at the World Series in 2011.
First studio album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Top 200 and Top Country Albums, making him the youngest artist ever to do so.
Ranked No. 1 on the Top New Country Artists for 2011 by Billboard.
Named Best New Artist at Academy of Country Music Awards and American Country Awards.
First two singles were certified gold.