Really it was mostly her, once season 2 started they pretty much discarded her (and have continued to run that cycle, the winner tour largely exists to advertise next season, and then they actively tamp down on last year’s people because they don’t want them distracting from the show). She was in the “where are they now” column for a while. Sure name recognition helped her some, but she pretty much had to build her own career. Just look at how few other Idol winners have anything going 2 or 3 years later. Her and Adam Lambert are pretty much the only ones, and if Queen hadn’t adopted Lambert he probably doesn’t manage to do much either.
“Sure, name recognition helped her some, but she pretty much had to build her own career. Just look at how few other Idol winners have anything going 2 or 3 years later.
Fair point.
+1
You are forgetting country music superstar Carrie Underwood and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson.