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American Idol is an American talent reality television series that first aired in 2002. As of May 2024, there have been twenty-two seasons. Each season, the final round of competition features ten to fourteen singers. A total of 178 contestants have reached the finals of their season.
The show's age requirements have varied year-to-year. Of the finalists, 55 of them were under the age of 20, including three winners and five runners-up. First season-winner Kelly Clarkson currently holds the record for the highest-selling album sales worldwide, with more than 25 million copies, while fourth season-winner Carrie Underwood currently holds the record for the highest-selling album sales in the United States, with more than 13 million copies.
As of 2024, seven finalists have died: Michael Johns (d. 2014), Rickey Smith (d. 2016), Leah LaBelle (d. 2018), Nikki McKibbin (d. 2020), Willie Spence (d. 2022), C. J. Harris (d. 2023), and Mandisa (d. 2024).[1] In addition, two semifinalists have also died: season 7's Joanne Borgella (d. 2014) and season 3's Marque Lynche (d. 2015; brother of Michael Lynche).[1]
| † | Indicates an alumni who is now deceased |
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Contestants
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Notes
edit- ^ Mario Vazquez initially made the Top 12 by votes, while Nikko Smith was eliminated in the semifinals. However, Vazquez withdrew from the competition, citing it was allegedly due to "personal, artistic reasons". Smith was reinstated in his place as a finalist, as having the next most votes from the Top 8 Boys (thereby inferring Travis Tucker had the least).
- ^ In a surprise twist introduced specifically during this season, ten assorted contestants from the previous season were invited back to compete for a chance to re-enter the competition. (Due to the fact that those twenty contestants, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, had to broadcast from home, none of them ever sang on the Idol stage.) Season 18's runner-up Arthur Gunn won the public vote and re-entered at the Top 10, lasting two weeks.
- ^ Contestant's age at the time the season's final round began.
References
edit- General
- "Season 1 Top 5 Contestants". American Idol. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- "Season 2 Top 5 Contestants". American Idol. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- "Season 3 Top 5 Contestants". American Idol. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- "Season 4 Top 5 Contestants". American Idol. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- "Season 5 Top 5 Contestants". American Idol. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- "Season 6 Top 5 Contestants". American Idol. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- "Season 7 Top 5 Contestants". American Idol. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
- "Season 8 Top 5 Contestants". American Idol. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
- "Season 9 Top 5 Contestants". American Idol.
- "Season 10 Top 5 Contestants". American Idol.
- "Season 11 Top 5 Contestants". American Idol.
- Specific
- ^ a b Schonfeld, Alexandra (2023-01-19). Naugle, Wendy (ed.). "American Idol Contestants Who Have Died". People. ISSN 0093-7673. OCLC 794712888. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
American Idol finalist Rickey Smith died in Oklahoma on May 6, 2016, in a wrong-way wreck caused by an allegedly drunk driver, KOCO reported at the time. He was 36.