In the 15 years American Idol was on air, it propelled the careers of countless talented musicians into the mainstream.
For many unlucky others, however, it was the heartbreak of a lifetime as millions of viewers across the nation watched as the hopeful stars had their dreams crushed by the panel of famous judges each week.
After being cancelled from Fox in 2016, ABC announced this week that it would be reviving its own reboot of Idol, though the details have so far been shrouded in mystery.
From international superstars to viral internet sensations – Idol was host to some of the most memorable characters on television history, who have stayed busy in their years since the show.
Justin Guarini: Heartthrob runner up who hosted Idol’s spin-offs
After taking a runner-up position to Kelly Clarkson in season one, Justin went on to host two American Idol spin-off shows and a number of red carpet events
Though Justin lost season one to his competitor Kelly Clarkson – the two never harbored any negative feelings. In fact, they co-starred in the 2003 teen flick From Justin To Kelly.
Since his then, Justin went on to release two albums, hosted two Idol spin-off shows, and hosted a number of red carpet specials for the Grammys, Emmys and Oscars.
Now 38, Justin is a married father of two boys. Over the course of his career, he has also acted in several Broadway shows, including Transit, American Idiot, Romeo and Juliet, Wicked, and Paint Your Wagon.
Kelly Clarkson: American Idol’s golden girl – and potentially its new judge when the show is rebooted
Kelly Clarkson, the season one winner, immediately became a household name and shot to the spotlight as America’s sweetheart at the age of 20 after the show’s 2002 finale
The season one winner immediately became a household name and shot to the spotlight as America’s sweetheart at the age of 20 after the show’s 2002 finale.
Her soulful single ‘A Moment Like This’ was the best-selling single that year and launched a still-accelerating career.
She was the first artist to win a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album twice, and was the first American artist to have a best-selling holiday album of the year in 2013.
Today Clarkson, 35 and a mother-of-two and stepmother to her husband’s two children from a previous relationship, has been revered as one of the most influential women in music, had written a children’s book, and is working on an eighth studio album.
More recent Idols have cited her as a major influence, and Billboard called the success of the then-22 year old a movement that ‘helped legitimize the crossover impact of a television series’.
It’s rumored that she could be a judge on the new ABC reboot.
Clay Aiken: The singer turned openly gay Democratic politician
Although he lost to Studdard in Idol’s season two, Aiken was still offered a recording contract after the show ended, and released four albums. In 2014, he took a dramatic career turn by running for a Congressional seat in North Carolina
Although he lost to Ruben Studdard in Idol’s season two, Aiken was still offered a recording contract after the show ended, and released four albums with their shared label – RCA Records.
In 2008, he revealed publicly that he was gay after becoming a father in the midst of his Broadway career.
In 2014, he took a dramatic career turn by running for a Congressional seat in North Carolina.
He later lost the race, but has said maintained an interest in politics and reportedly has interest in running again.
His political career has been an eventful one – his Democratic opponent in the exceedingly tight race, Keith Crisco, was found dead in his home a week after the first primary was held.
Ruben Studdard: The winner who became the Biggest Loser by dropping 115 pounds on another reality show
Ruben Studdard, the season two winner, made a career after the show in R&B, pop and gospel genres. He later appeared on The Biggest Loser in 2014 where he lost more than 115 pounds throughout the duration of the show
The season two winner made a career after the show in R&B, pop and gospel genres.
He was nominated for a Grammy for a cover that he performed on American Idol in 2003, and later released a platinum album, ‘Soulful’ and several more over the course of his career. He made cameos in several television shows before later appearing on The Biggest Loser in 2014, where he lost more than 115 pounds throughout the duration of the show. He also launched a children’s show in the small town of Dothan, Alabama titled ‘Uncle Ruben’s House’ in 2016 aimed at promoting good manners and values.
William Hung: He never made it past the audition stages but his performance earned him viral fame
Though never actually making it past the audition segment, William Hung’s name because known nationwide for his iconic performance of ‘She Bangs’ for the show’s third season
Happily wed: American Idol reject William Hung got married in California on June 17, 2014
Though never actually making it past the audition segment, William Hung because known nationwide for his iconic performance of ‘She Bangs’ in the show’s third season.
He was unfortunately ridiculed by notoriously harsh judge Simon Cowell, who said: ‘You can’t sing, you can’t dance, what do you want me to say?’
Hung, however, won the hearts of many, and sold 200,000 units of three albums, and in June 2014, he won the heart of someone special – and tied the knot with his now-wife in Alhambra, California.
Elliott Yamin: Ejected after the tightest race the show had ever seen
After an incredibly close final three vote on the show’s third season, Elliott Yamin was eliminated in favor of his competitors, Katherine McPhee and Taylor Hicks. He has since turned his attention towards advocacy, and acts as a spokesperson for a the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
After an incredibly close final three vote on the show’s third season, Yamin was eliminated in favor of his competitors, Katherine McPhee and Taylor Hicks, who went on to win the competition that year.
Best known for his single ‘Wait for You’ which debuted in 2007, Yamin once opened for his favorite artist Whitney Houston.
He has since turned his attention towards advocacy, and as a diabetic, took on the role as a spokesperson for a the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Yamin is also close to 90 per cent deaf in his right ear, making his foray into singing even more impressive.
He is still producing music, and recently released an EDM hit titled ‘Obvi’.
Jennifer Hudson: The Dreamgirl who became an Oscar-winner
Despite being voted off while in seventh place on Idol’s third season, Jennifer Hudson has gone on to be one of the most successful contestants in the show’s history. Her foray into film earned her an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award for her performance in Dreamgirls.
Despite being voted off while in seventh place on Idol’s third season, Hudson has gone on to be one of the most successful contestants in the show’s history.
Her foray into film earned her an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award for her performance in Dreamgirls. Her self-titled debut album in 2008 landed at the number two spot on the Billboard 100 and was later certified gold.
She also appeared as the character of Shug Avery in the Broadway production of The Color Purple. In 2016, she joined the team on the United Kingdom’s revamp of The Voice on ITV as a judge.
Hudson, who has a young son with her fiance David Otunga, also attracted attention for her momentous weight loss – she dropped 80 pounds and became a representative for Weight Watchers in 2010.
Though her career has been marked with hard-earned fame, her personal life has struggled – her mother, brother and nephew were all killed in a 2008 shooting in her hometown of Chicago. Her former brother-in-law was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for their deaths.
Though her career has been marked with hard-earned fame, her personal life has struggled – her mother, brother and nephew were all killed in a 2008 shooting in her hometown of Chicago
Fantasia Barrino: Success and perseverance despite hardship
The vocal powerhouse took the win of the show’s third season and rose to fame with several famous R&B records, earning her the nickname of ‘Baby Patti LaBelle’ by none other than LaBelle herself.
Barrino – now Taylor after marrying her husband Kendall in 2014 – revealed in a biography that she was functionally illiterate at the time of the show after dropping out of school when she was raped by a classmate.
She later became embroiled in scandal after having an alleged affair that led to a lawsuit by her lover’s wife.
Fantasia Barrino – now Fantasia Taylor – took the win of the show’s third season and rose to fame with several famous R&B records, earning her the nickname of ‘Baby Patti LaBelle’ by none other than LaBelle herself
She said that a scandalous affair, coupled with depression, led her to attempt suicide in 2016. Fortunately, she is doing much better these days, and is still on tour travelling with her current husband, despite a recent bus accident last week that left her with second degree burns
She told People that the affair, coupled with depression, led her to attempt suicide in 2016.
Fortunately, the mother-of-two is doing much better these days, and is still on tour travelling with her current husband, despite a recent bus accident last week that left her with second degree burns.
Carrie Underwood: The record-setting country music star
Another widely recognized household name, Carrie Underwood shattered the charts after winning the show’s fourth season in 2005. She achieved almost immediate success with her debut album Some Hearts, which went platinum eight times over
Another widely recognized household name, Carrie Underwood shattered the charts after winning the show’s fourth season in 2005.
She achieved almost immediate success when her debut album Some Hearts released that year, which went platinum eight times over.
She has won seven Grammys, 17 Billboard music awards, 11 American Music Awards, and even holds the Guinness World Record for the most number one country singles for a female artist in the United States (tied with Reba MacEntire).
Underwood wed hockey star Mike Fisher in 2010 and the two share a young son named Isaiah.
Katharine McPhee: Born for stardom, embroiled in scandal
The daughter of a television producer and vocal coach, McPhee was born and bred for stardom. She enjoyed a lengthy and successful music career following up her runner-up status in American Idol’s fifth season
The daughter of a television producer and vocal coach, McPhee was born and bred for stardom.
She enjoyed a lengthy and successful music career following up her runner-up status in American Idol’s fifth season.
She also went on to act in a number of television shows and movies, including The House Bunny and Shark Night 3D.
McPhee was embroiled in scandal in 2013 after the married actress and singer was photographed kissing the married director of the musical Smash which she starred in.
The affair ended her six-year marriage to her manager Nick Cokas.
Sanjaya Malakar: Infamous ‘ponyhawk’ loved among ‘Fanjayas’
When the then 17-year old auditioned for season six of Idol with his sister, Sanjaya Malakar became an instant favorite on the show – even rallying a group of fans who dubbed themselves ‘Fanjayas’
When the then 17-year-old Sanjaya Malakar auditioned for season six of Idol with his sister, he became an instant favorite on the show – even rallying a group of fans who dubbed themselves ‘Fanjayas’.
His ‘faux-hawk’ made up of small ponytails captured the nation, and even the hearts of many female fans. One of whom, dubbed ‘Crying Girl’ became famous herself after a clip surfaced of her sobbing after his dismissal from the show went viral.
In the ten years since, the now 27-year-old went on to win Best Teen Reality Star in the 2007 Teen Choice Awards, and later hosted Idol Stars: Where Are They Now?
He also briefly appeared on another reality television show – I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.
Phillip Phillips: A double-named dynamite who went on to sue Idol
The season eleven winner Phillip Phillips has launched an incredibly successful music career since his time on the show. His relationship with the show that birthed his career, however, has been tense. He filed a suit against the label produced by American Idol 19 Entertainment, stating that they ‘manipulated him’ and his career – later calling them ‘oppressive’
The season 11 winner has launched an incredibly successful music career since his time on the show, and told UPI while on his current tour that he hopes to be able to perform ‘for the rest of my life’.
His relationship with the show that birthed his career, however, has been tense.
He filed a suit against the label produced by American Idol 19 Entertainment, stating that they ‘manipulated him’ and his career – later calling them ‘oppressive’.
The label later filed for bankruptcy, and filed a $60 million counter-suit against Phillips.
Phillips, on the other hand, happily married his long-time lover Hannah Blackwell in a southern-styled wedding in October 2015.
Jordin Sparks: Youngest winner in show’s history starred alongside Whitney Houston and sang at Barack Obama’s inauguration
Rising to fame as the youngest winner in the show’s history, 17-year-old Jordin Sparks captured audiences nationwide in 2007, and dove head-first into a fruitful singing career
Rising to fame as the youngest winner in the show’s history, 17-year-old Jordin Sparks captured audiences nationwide in 2007, and dove head-first into a fruitful singing career.
Now 27, Sparks went on to have several billboard charting hits, and has won a NAACP Image Award, Bet Award, American Music Award People’s Choice Award and two Teen Choice Awards.
Her single ‘No Air’ with Chris Brown took the number three spot on the Billboard 100 when it was released in 2008.
Sparks also performed at the first inauguration of President Barack Obama that same year.
In 2012, Sparks starred alongside Whitney Houston in the film Sparkle, and has also made several television cameos over the years, and designed her own brand of perfume.
Sparks dated singer Jason Derulo for several years.
Corey Clark: An ‘affair’ with Paula Abdul, a criminal history, and now – an Uber driver
Corey’s Idol legacy was one marred by scandal, after he claimed to have had an affair with former pop star and Idol judge Paula Abdul while on the show. He was disqualified from the sixth season after producers said he failed to disclose his criminal background, which included a 2002 arrest for battery on his teenage sister, criminal restraint and resisting arrest
Corey’s Idol legacy was one marred by scandal, after he claimed to have had an affair with former pop star and Idol judge Paula Abdul while on the show.
Clark sued E! in 2013 over a True Hollywood Story episode that covered Abdul, and recently testified under oath that he and the judge had sex multiple times while he was on the show in 2003.
He was disqualified from the sixth season after producers said he failed to disclose his criminal background, which included a 2002 arrest for battery on his teenage sister, criminal restraint and resisting arrest.
He lost a previous $40 million lawsuit against MTV and Viacom in 2014 in which he accused defamation regarding the public discussion of his dismissal from the show.
He was arrested again in 2015 for misdemeanor domestic violence, but was never charged.
Clark has, however, been continuing to pursue a music career – and was spotted driving for Uber in California in October 2016.
He was arrested again in 2015 for misdemeanor domestic violence, but was never charged. Clark has, however, been continuing to pursue a music career – and was spotted driving for Uber in California in October 2016
Adam Lambert: The punk rocker who now tours with Queen
Adam Lambert, the punk-rock runner up on season eight of Idol had tried for some time to launch a music career before the show. During the season finale in 2009, he was joined on stage by Queen to perform We Are the Champions
In 2014, he joined Queen again on stage for a world tour, and this year the duo plan to go on tour again in the UK and Ireland
The punk-rock runner up on season eight of Idol had tried for some time to launch a music career before the show.
During the season finale in 2009, he was joined on stage by Queen to perform We Are the Champions.
In 2014, he joined Queen again on stage for a world tour, and this year, at 35, he plans to join the band on tour again in the UK and Ireland.
Candice Glover: Season 12 stunner trying her hand at songwriting
After taking the win for the twelfth season of Idol, Glover released one album, and told DailyMail.com that she’s in the process of building her second
After taking the win for the twelfth season of Idol, Glover released one album, and told DailyMail.com that she’s in the process of building her second.
Glover auditioned twice for the show before winning in 2013, and has since been continuing to promote her career as an R&B artist.
Randy Jackson called her performance of The Cure’s Love Song ‘one of the best in the history of Idol’.
Now 27, she’s looking forward to having more creative control over her next album, and is looking forward to what becomes of the Idol reboot.
‘I know they’re going to make it a good show – we can count on that,’ she said.