While we all know the list of American Idol winners, who are the most successful American Idol finalists who never won the competition
Kimberly Locke, Season 2
Kimberly Locke came in third in the 2002 Season 2 of American Idol, after Clay Aiken and winner Reuben Studdard. Locke’s first album is entitled One Love and was released on Curb Records and sold about 213,000 copies in the US. Kimberly Locke’s second album was released in 2007 and is entitled Based on a True Story. While Based is not a selling success, it confirms Locke as a competent songwriter as well as singer. (Locke claims co-writing credit on 7 of the 12 tracks on Based on a True Story.) On Locke’s Christmas CD of holiday cover songs, three of four of the singles released hit number one on the charts. Locke is currently working on her fourth studio album.
Clay Aiken, Season 2
Clay Aiken is one of the most written about previous American Idol finalists, probably because of his commercial success and philanthropic endeavors post-Idol. Aiken has four studio albums and an EP, all released from 2004 to 2008. Aiken also has a greatest hits compilation, The Very Best of Clay Aiken. In 2006, People Magazine readers voted Clay Aiken as the Most Loved American Idol, even though Aiken was Number Two to Idol winner Reuben Studdard.
Chris Daughtry, Season 5
Daughtry’s self-titled debut album released in 2006 was a huge success, selling about 304,000 in its first week. Since Daughtry came out, the record has sold over 5 million copies worldwide and three years later the album is still being promoted and selling well. Daughtry is allegedly the third most successful American Idol after Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, even though Chris Daughtry was a fourth-place contestant on Idol. Not bad for Number Four!
David Archuleta, Season 7
David Archuleta released his self-titled debut album in 2008 on Jive Records. Since then it has sold at least 700, 000 copies and been certified Gold by SoundScan. Archuleta also won a couple of coveted Teen Choice Awards in 2008 including Most Fanatic Fans and Best Smile. In 2009, Archuleta won Teen Choice Awards for Breakout Artist, Music: Love Song for Crush, Music Tour and Music Rising Star.
Adam Lambert, Season 8
While Adam Lambert’s debut album is due to release November 23, 2009, just the cover of the album, For Your Entertainment, has sparked controversy as being “too over the top”. Hello, people, he’s a gay 80’s rocker and the album cover is intentionally campy. I am annoyed that the cover art was put together by an RCA intern, aka slave labor. Adam Lambert was also featured on a recent Oprah show that featured Top Reality Show stars.
Source: wikipedia.com
