[Netizen]

There's only been two winners that have become stars. There have been plenty that did NOT win, but went on to be stars. Just a few are Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson (Broadway), Tamyra (Broadway), Lakisha (Broadway), Dianna DeGarmo (Broadway), Aiken (though this new release will tell us if he has any staying power, since he took a hiatus), I think I would add Pickler to this group because I think she will do well in country.

It's too bad there isn't a way to compare each of the contestants with their record sales from their first albums, to see how each of them has done.

While Fantasia went on to Broadway, she made headlines for NOT showing up for work/the show and when she did, she dissed her fans.

[bootless]

Agree - I went to a concert featuring Kelly and Clay right after Season 2, and it was very well- and enthusiastically attended. THe next tour (Jukebox?) didn’t come to my area, and Clay’s fan base has been unbelievably dedicated. I was disappointed with his last non-holiday CD, and hope the next one will be better.

After seeing him, Kelly and Carrie in concert, the contestants with the out-size personalities (a little too big for TV sometimes) do just fine in the arena.

Daughtry is spectacular - I took my son to see that season’s Idol tour in Sacramento - he got THE biggest ovation of the night.

[EmilyGeiger]

Don’t forget Josh Gracin. He was in season 2, the military guy and now he has a couple of country songs.