“American Idol” debuted in 2002 and instantly became a pop culture phenomenon running for 15 seasons on Fox. In 2018 it found a new home on ABC and Ryan Seacrest continues to serve as host. The show plucks everyday singers from obscurity and gives them an opportunity to win a recording contract, fortune and fame. We know many of the famous champions from Kelly Clarkson to Carrie Underwood to Phillip Phillips. But which runners-up came up short of the grand prize and truly deserved to win? Tour our photo gallery below to see who came in second place each season of “American Idol.”
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Season 1: Justin Guarini
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox Justin Guarini (age 23 on the show) auditioned in New York City with The Jackson 5’s “Who’s Lovin’ You.” Since losing to Kelly Clarkson, Justin has starred in several Broadway productions and can most recently be seen playing “Lil’ Sweet,” a character used to advertise Diet Dr. Pepper.
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Season 2: Clay Aiken
Image Credit: Rich Fury/Invision/AP/Shutterstock Clay Aiken (age 24 on the show) auditioned in Atlanta, Georgia with Heatwave’s “Always and Forever.” Since losing to Ruben Studdard, Clay released six studio albums including his #1 multiplatinum debut, “Measure of a Man.” He has won one American Music Award, four Billboard Awards, written a best-selling memoir and starred in various Broadway productions.
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Season 3: Diana DeGarmo
Image Credit: JIM SMEAL/SHUTTERSTOCK Diana DeGarmo (age 16 on the show) auditioned in Honolulu, Hawaii with Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools.” Since losing to Fantasia Barrino, Diana has starred in multiple Broadway shows and had a role in the CBS daytime drama, “The Young and the Restless.” She is married to Season 5 finalist Ace Young.
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Season 4: Bo Bice
Image Credit: Peter Brooker/Shutterstock Bo Bice (age 29 on the show) auditioned in Orlando, Florida with The Allman Brothers Band’s “Whipping Post.” Since losing to Carrie Underwood, Bo has released multiple albums both as a solo artist and as a member of different bands. His rendition of “Inside Your Heaven” from the finale hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Season 5: Katharine McPhee
Image Credit: DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK Katharine McPhee (age 22 on the show) auditioned in San Francisco with Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child.” Since losing to Taylor Hicks, Katharine released five studio albums including her debut which reached #2 on the Billboard 200. She has also established an acting career, starring in the film “The House Bunny” and television shows “Smash” and “Scorpion.”
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Season 6: Blake Lewis
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox Blake Lewis (age 25 on the show) auditioned in Seattle with Seal’s “Crazy.” Since losing to Jordin Sparks, Blake has released four studio albums including his debut, “A.D.D. (Audio Day Dream),” which reached #10 on the Billboard 200. He has had multiple hit singles on the Billboard Dance charts.
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Season 7: David Archuleta
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox David Archuleta (age 17 on the show) auditioned in San Diego with John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change.” Since losing to David Cook, Archuleta has sold over one million albums and over three million singles in the United States. He has won five Teen Choice Awards including Breakout Artist in 2009.
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Season 8: Adam Lambert
Image Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock Adam Lambert (age 26 on the show) auditioned in San Francisco with Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Since losing to Kris Allen, Adam has released four studio albums, been nominated for a Grammy and won a Teen Choice Award. Alongside his successful solo career, Adam has toured with rock band Queen as their lead vocalist since 2011.
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Season 9: Crystal Bowersox
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox Crystal Bowersox (age 24 on the show) auditioned in Chicago, Illinois with Erma Franklin’s “Piece of My Heart.” Since losing to Lee DeWyze, Crystal has released three studio albums and was cast as the title role in the Broadway musical, “Always, Patsy Cline.”
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Season 10: Lauren Alaina
Image Credit: ABC Lauren Alaina (age 16 on the show) auditioned in Nashville, Tennessee with Faith Hill’s “Like We Never Loved at All” and Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” Since losing to Scotty McCreery, Lauren has released two studio albums and 11 singles. Her single “The Road Less Traveled” hit #1 on the country airplay charts and she won New Artist of the Year at the American Country Awards and Breakthrough Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards.
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Season 11: Jessica Sanchez
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox Jessica Sanchez (age 17 on the show) auditioned in San Diego with Aretha Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman.” Since losing to Phillip Phillips, Jessica her debut album “Me, You & the Music” and had brief role in the FOX series “Glee.”
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Season 12: Kree Harrison
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox Kree Harrison (age 23 on the show) auditioned in Oklahoma City with an original song she wrote to her mother. Since losing to Candice Glover, Kree has released two studio albums and five singles. Her song “All Cried Out” peaked at #34 on the Billboard Country singles chart.
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Season 13: Jena Irene
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox Jena Irene (age 18 on the show) auditioned in Detroit with Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.” Since losing to Caleb Johnson, Jena signed with Original 1265 record label and released her debut EP, “Innocence” in 2016.
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Season 14: Clark Beckham
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox Clark Beckham (age 23 on the show) auditioned in Nashville, Tennessee with James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.” Since losing to Nick Fradiani, Clark has released albums and was nominated for a Teen Choice Award in 2015.
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Season 15: La’Porsha Renae
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox La’Porsha Renae (age 22 on the show) auditioned in Little Rock, Arkansas with Radiohead’s “Creep.” Since losing to Trent Harmon, La’Porsha released her debut album, “Already All Ready,” in 2017 which peaked at #15 on the Billboard R&B chart. Her single “Battles” became the official song for the United States Women’s Gymnastics Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
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Season 16: Caleb Lee Hutchinson
Image Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless Caleb Lee Hutchinson (age 19 on the show) auditioned in Atlanta, Georgia with The SteelDrivers’ “If It Hadn’t Been for Love.” Since losing to his girlfriend, Maddie Poppe, Caleb released his self-titled EP in 2019. His single “Johnny Cash Heart” has sold 9,000 copies in the US.
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Season 17: Alejandro Aranda
Image Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless Alejandro Aranda (age 24 on the show) auditioned in Los Angles with two original songs – “Out Loud” and “Cholo Love.” Since losing to Laine Hardy, Alejandro goes by the stage name Scarypoolparty and signed with Hollywood Records. He has headlined a small tour across the United States and released six singles.
