List of American Idol finalists
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:09:46 PM Wikipedia source
American Idol is an American talent reality television series which first aired in 2002. As of May 2026, there have been 24 seasons: the first 15 aired on FOX, while the next 9 were broadcast on ABC and Hulu/Disney+. Each season, the final round of competition features ten to fourteen singers. There have been 289 contestants who were finalists. The show's age requirements have varied from year-to-year. Of the finalists, 87 of them were under the age of 20, including five winners and seven runners-up. First season-winner Kelly Clarkson holds the record for the highest-selling album sales worldwide, with more than 25 million copies, while fourth season-winner Carrie Underwood has the record for the highest-selling album sales in the United States, with more than 13 million copies sold. As of 2025, 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). In addition, two semifinalists have also died: seventh season's Joanne Borgella (d. 2014) and third season's Marque Lynche (d. 2015, brother of Michael Lynche).
Tables
Table key
| † | Indicates an alumnus who is now deceased |
· Contestants
EJay Day
EJay Day
Name
EJay Day
Age
20
Hometown
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Season
1
Place finish
9th–10th
Jim Verraros
Jim Verraros
Name
Jim Verraros
Age
19
Hometown
Chicago, Illinois
Season
1
Place finish
9th–10th
AJ Gil
AJ Gil
Name
AJ Gil
Age
17
Hometown
San Diego, California
Season
1
Place finish
8th
Ryan Starr
Ryan Starr
Name
Ryan Starr
Age
19
Hometown
Los Angeles, California
Season
1
Place finish
7th
Christina Christian
Christina Christian
Name
Christina Christian
Age
21
Hometown
New York City, New York
Season
1
Place finish
6th
R. J. Helton
R. J. Helton
Name
R. J. Helton
Age
21
Hometown
Cumming, Georgia
Season
1
Place finish
5th
Tamyra Gray
Tamyra Gray
Name
Tamyra Gray
Age
23
Hometown
Takoma Park, Maryland
Season
1
Place finish
4th
Nikki McKibbin †
Nikki McKibbin †
Name
Nikki McKibbin †
Age
23
Hometown
Grand Prairie, Texas
Season
1
Place finish
3rd
Justin Guarini
Justin Guarini
Name
Justin Guarini
Age
23
Hometown
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Season
1
Place finish
Runner-up
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Name
Kelly Clarkson
Age
20
Hometown
Burleson, Texas
Season
1
Place finish
Winner
Vanessa Olivarez
Vanessa Olivarez
Name
Vanessa Olivarez
Age
22
Hometown
Atlanta, Georgia
Season
2
Place finish
12th
Charles Grigsby
Charles Grigsby
Name
Charles Grigsby
Age
24
Hometown
Oberlin, Ohio
Season
2
Place finish
11th
Julia DeMato
Julia DeMato
Name
Julia DeMato
Age
24
Hometown
Brookfield, Connecticut
Season
2
Place finish
10th
Corey Clark
Corey Clark
Name
Corey Clark
Age
22
Hometown
Nashville, Tennessee
Season
2
Place finish
9th
Rickey Smith †
Rickey Smith †
Name
Rickey Smith †
Age
23
Hometown
Keene, Texas
Season
2
Place finish
8th
Kimberly Caldwell
Kimberly Caldwell
Name
Kimberly Caldwell
Age
21
Hometown
Katy, Texas
Season
2
Place finish
7th
Carmen Rasmusen
Carmen Rasmusen
Name
Carmen Rasmusen
Age
18
Hometown
Bountiful, Utah
Season
2
Place finish
6th
Trenyce
Trenyce
Name
Trenyce
Age
23
Hometown
Memphis, Tennessee
Season
2
Place finish
5th
Josh Gracin
Josh Gracin
Name
Josh Gracin
Age
22
Hometown
Oceanside, California
Season
2
Place finish
4th
Kimberley Locke
Kimberley Locke
Name
Kimberley Locke
Age
25
Hometown
Nashville, Tennessee
Season
2
Place finish
3rd
Clay Aiken
Clay Aiken
Name
Clay Aiken
Age
24
Hometown
Raleigh, North Carolina
Season
2
Place finish
Runner-up
Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard
Name
Ruben Studdard
Age
24
Hometown
Birmingham, Alabama
Season
2
Place finish
Winner
Leah LaBelle †
Leah LaBelle †
Name
Leah LaBelle †
Age
17
Hometown
Seattle, Washington
Season
3
Place finish
12th
Matthew Rogers
Matthew Rogers
Name
Matthew Rogers
Age
25
Hometown
Rancho Cucamonga, California
Season
3
Place finish
11th
Amy Adams
Amy Adams
Name
Amy Adams
Age
24
Hometown
Bakersfield, California
Season
3
Place finish
10th
Camile Velasco
Camile Velasco
Name
Camile Velasco
Age
18
Hometown
Haiku, Hawaii
Season
3
Place finish
9th
Jon Peter Lewis
Jon Peter Lewis
Name
Jon Peter Lewis
Age
24
Hometown
Rexburg, Idaho
Season
3
Place finish
8th
Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson
Name
Jennifer Hudson
Age
22
Hometown
Chicago, Illinois
Season
3
Place finish
7th
John Stevens
John Stevens
Name
John Stevens
Age
16
Hometown
East Amherst, New York
Season
3
Place finish
6th
George Huff
George Huff
Name
George Huff
Age
22
Hometown
New Orleans, Louisiana
Season
3
Place finish
5th
LaToya London
LaToya London
Name
LaToya London
Age
25
Hometown
Oakland, California
Season
3
Place finish
4th
Jasmine Trias
Jasmine Trias
Name
Jasmine Trias
Age
17
Hometown
Mililani, Hawaii
Season
3
Place finish
3rd
Diana DeGarmo
Diana DeGarmo
Name
Diana DeGarmo
Age
16
Hometown
Snellville, Georgia
Season
3
Place finish
Runner-up
Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia Barrino
Name
Fantasia Barrino
Age
19
Hometown
High Point, North Carolina
Season
3
Place finish
Winner
Lindsey Cardinale
Lindsey Cardinale
Name
Lindsey Cardinale
Age
20
Hometown
Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Season
4
Place finish
12th
Mikalah Gordon
Mikalah Gordon
Name
Mikalah Gordon
Age
17
Hometown
Las Vegas, Nevada
Season
4
Place finish
11th
Jessica Sierra
Jessica Sierra
Name
Jessica Sierra
Age
19
Hometown
Tampa, Florida
Season
4
Place finish
10th
Nikko Smith
Nikko Smith
Name
Nikko Smith
Age
22
Hometown
Town and Country, Missouri
Season
4
Place finish
9th
Nadia Turner
Nadia Turner
Name
Nadia Turner
Age
28
Hometown
Miami, Florida
Season
4
Place finish
8th
Anwar Robinson
Anwar Robinson
Name
Anwar Robinson
Age
25
Hometown
East Orange, New Jersey
Season
4
Place finish
7th
Constantine Maroulis
Constantine Maroulis
Name
Constantine Maroulis
Age
29
Hometown
New York City, New York
Season
4
Place finish
6th
Scott Savol
Scott Savol
Name
Scott Savol
Age
28
Hometown
Shaker Heights, Ohio
Season
4
Place finish
5th
Anthony Fedorov
Anthony Fedorov
Name
Anthony Fedorov
Age
19
Hometown
Trevose, Pennsylvania
Season
4
Place finish
4th
Vonzell Solomon
Vonzell Solomon
Name
Vonzell Solomon
Age
21
Hometown
Fort Myers, Florida
Season
4
Place finish
3rd
Bo Bice
Bo Bice
Name
Bo Bice
Age
29
Hometown
Helena, Alabama
Season
4
Place finish
Runner-up
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Name
Carrie Underwood
Age
21
Hometown
Checotah, Oklahoma
Season
4
Place finish
Winner
Melissa McGhee
Melissa McGhee
Name
Melissa McGhee
Age
21
Hometown
Tampa, Florida
Season
5
Place finish
12th
Kevin Covais
Kevin Covais
Name
Kevin Covais
Age
16
Hometown
Levittown, New York
Season
5
Place finish
11th
Lisa Tucker
Lisa Tucker
Name
Lisa Tucker
Age
16
Hometown
Anaheim, California
Season
5
Place finish
10th
Mandisa †
Mandisa †
Name
Mandisa †
Age
29
Hometown
Antioch, Tennessee
Season
5
Place finish
9th
Bucky Covington
Bucky Covington
Name
Bucky Covington
Age
28
Hometown
Rockingham, North Carolina
Season
5
Place finish
8th
Ace Young
Ace Young
Name
Ace Young
Age
25
Hometown
Denver, Colorado
Season
5
Place finish
7th
Kellie Pickler
Kellie Pickler
Name
Kellie Pickler
Age
19
Hometown
Albemarle, North Carolina
Season
5
Place finish
6th
Paris Bennett
Paris Bennett
Name
Paris Bennett
Age
17
Hometown
Fayetteville, Georgia
Season
5
Place finish
5th
Chris Daughtry
Chris Daughtry
Name
Chris Daughtry
Age
26
Hometown
McLeansville, North Carolina
Season
5
Place finish
4th
Elliott Yamin
Elliott Yamin
Name
Elliott Yamin
Age
27
Hometown
Richmond, Virginia
Season
5
Place finish
3rd
Katharine McPhee
Katharine McPhee
Name
Katharine McPhee
Age
21
Hometown
Los Angeles, California
Season
5
Place finish
Runner-up
Taylor Hicks
Taylor Hicks
Name
Taylor Hicks
Age
29
Hometown
Birmingham, Alabama
Season
5
Place finish
Winner
Brandon Rogers
Brandon Rogers
Name
Brandon Rogers
Age
28
Hometown
Los Angeles, California
Season
6
Place finish
12th
Stephanie Edwards
Stephanie Edwards
Name
Stephanie Edwards
Age
19
Hometown
Savannah, Georgia
Season
6
Place finish
11th
Chris Sligh
Chris Sligh
Name
Chris Sligh
Age
28
Hometown
Greenville, South Carolina
Season
6
Place finish
10th
Gina Glocksen
Gina Glocksen
Name
Gina Glocksen
Age
22
Hometown
Naperville, Illinois
Season
6
Place finish
9th
Haley Scarnato
Haley Scarnato
Name
Haley Scarnato
Age
24
Hometown
San Antonio, Texas
Season
6
Place finish
8th
Sanjaya Malakar
Sanjaya Malakar
Name
Sanjaya Malakar
Age
17
Hometown
Federal Way, Washington
Season
6
Place finish
7th
Chris Richardson
Chris Richardson
Name
Chris Richardson
Age
22
Hometown
Chesapeake, Virginia
Season
6
Place finish
5th–6th
Phil Stacey
Phil Stacey
Name
Phil Stacey
Age
29
Hometown
Jacksonville, Florida
Season
6
Place finish
5th–6th
LaKisha Jones
LaKisha Jones
Name
LaKisha Jones
Age
27
Hometown
Fort Meade, Maryland
Season
6
Place finish
4th
Melinda Doolittle
Melinda Doolittle
Name
Melinda Doolittle
Age
29
Hometown
Brentwood, Tennessee
Season
6
Place finish
3rd
Blake Lewis
Blake Lewis
Name
Blake Lewis
Age
25
Hometown
Bothell, Washington
Season
6
Place finish
Runner-up
Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks
Name
Jordin Sparks
Age
17
Hometown
Glendale, Arizona
Season
6
Place finish
Winner
David Hernandez
David Hernandez
Name
David Hernandez
Age
24
Hometown
Glendale, Arizona
Season
7
Place finish
12th
Amanda Overmyer
Amanda Overmyer
Name
Amanda Overmyer
Age
23
Hometown
Mulberry, Indiana
Season
7
Place finish
11th
Chikezie
Chikezie
Name
Chikezie
Age
22
Hometown
Inglewood, California
Season
7
Place finish
10th
Ramiele Malubay
Ramiele Malubay
Name
Ramiele Malubay
Age
20
Hometown
Miramar, Florida
Season
7
Place finish
9th
Michael Johns †
Michael Johns †
Name
Michael Johns †
Age
29
Hometown
Buckhead, Georgia
Season
7
Place finish
8th
Kristy Lee Cook
Kristy Lee Cook
Name
Kristy Lee Cook
Age
24
Hometown
Selma, Oregon
Season
7
Place finish
7th
Carly Smithson
Carly Smithson
Name
Carly Smithson
Age
24
Hometown
San Diego, California
Season
7
Place finish
6th
Brooke White
Brooke White
Name
Brooke White
Age
24
Hometown
Mesa, Arizona
Season
7
Place finish
5th
Jason Castro
Jason Castro
Name
Jason Castro
Age
20
Hometown
Rockwall, Texas
Season
7
Place finish
4th
| Name | Age | Hometown | Season | Place finish |
| EJay Day | 20 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | 1 | 9th–10th |
| Jim Verraros | 19 | Chicago, Illinois | 1 | 9th–10th |
| AJ Gil | 17 | San Diego, California | 1 | 8th |
| Ryan Starr | 19 | Los Angeles, California | 1 | 7th |
| Christina Christian | 21 | New York City, New York | 1 | 6th |
| R. J. Helton | 21 | Cumming, Georgia | 1 | 5th |
| Tamyra Gray | 23 | Takoma Park, Maryland | 1 | 4th |
| Nikki McKibbin † | 23 | Grand Prairie, Texas | 1 | 3rd |
| Justin Guarini | 23 | Doylestown, Pennsylvania | 1 | Runner-up |
| Kelly Clarkson | 20 | Burleson, Texas | 1 | Winner |
| Vanessa Olivarez | 22 | Atlanta, Georgia | 2 | 12th |
| Charles Grigsby | 24 | Oberlin, Ohio | 2 | 11th |
| Julia DeMato | 24 | Brookfield, Connecticut | 2 | 10th |
| Corey Clark | 22 | Nashville, Tennessee | 2 | 9th |
| Rickey Smith † | 23 | Keene, Texas | 2 | 8th |
| Kimberly Caldwell | 21 | Katy, Texas | 2 | 7th |
| Carmen Rasmusen | 18 | Bountiful, Utah | 2 | 6th |
| Trenyce | 23 | Memphis, Tennessee | 2 | 5th |
| Josh Gracin | 22 | Oceanside, California | 2 | 4th |
| Kimberley Locke | 25 | Nashville, Tennessee | 2 | 3rd |
| Clay Aiken | 24 | Raleigh, North Carolina | 2 | Runner-up |
| Ruben Studdard | 24 | Birmingham, Alabama | 2 | Winner |
| Leah LaBelle † | 17 | Seattle, Washington | 3 | 12th |
| Matthew Rogers | 25 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | 3 | 11th |
| Amy Adams | 24 | Bakersfield, California | 3 | 10th |
| Camile Velasco | 18 | Haiku, Hawaii | 3 | 9th |
| Jon Peter Lewis | 24 | Rexburg, Idaho | 3 | 8th |
| Jennifer Hudson | 22 | Chicago, Illinois | 3 | 7th |
| John Stevens | 16 | East Amherst, New York | 3 | 6th |
| George Huff | 22 | New Orleans, Louisiana | 3 | 5th |
| LaToya London | 25 | Oakland, California | 3 | 4th |
| Jasmine Trias | 17 | Mililani, Hawaii | 3 | 3rd |
| Diana DeGarmo | 16 | Snellville, Georgia | 3 | Runner-up |
| Fantasia Barrino | 19 | High Point, North Carolina | 3 | Winner |
| Lindsey Cardinale | 20 | Ponchatoula, Louisiana | 4 | 12th |
| Mikalah Gordon | 17 | Las Vegas, Nevada | 4 | 11th |
| Jessica Sierra | 19 | Tampa, Florida | 4 | 10th |
| Nikko Smith | 22 | Town and Country, Missouri | 4 | 9th |
| Nadia Turner | 28 | Miami, Florida | 4 | 8th |
| Anwar Robinson | 25 | East Orange, New Jersey | 4 | 7th |
| Constantine Maroulis | 29 | New York City, New York | 4 | 6th |
| Scott Savol | 28 | Shaker Heights, Ohio | 4 | 5th |
| Anthony Fedorov | 19 | Trevose, Pennsylvania | 4 | 4th |
| Vonzell Solomon | 21 | Fort Myers, Florida | 4 | 3rd |
| Bo Bice | 29 | Helena, Alabama | 4 | Runner-up |
| Carrie Underwood | 21 | Checotah, Oklahoma | 4 | Winner |
| Melissa McGhee | 21 | Tampa, Florida | 5 | 12th |
| Kevin Covais | 16 | Levittown, New York | 5 | 11th |
| Lisa Tucker | 16 | Anaheim, California | 5 | 10th |
References
- Mario Vazquez initially made the Top 12 by votes, while Nikko Smith was eliminated in the semifinals. However, Vazquez w
- In a surprise twist introduced specifically during this season, ten assorted contestants from the previous season were i
- American Idolhttps://people.com/music/american-idol-alumni-who-have-died/