American Idle

Yesterday we talked about the unsung heroes of American Idol 7 and 2008, so today we’ll talk about the stars that made the show the phenomenon it was in 2008. Some weathered the storm of controversy while others just stayed firm to what they did, making music and rode the momentum all the way to the top. The thing that tied them all together was that all of them had success commercially in different regards before coming to American Idol. And they all finished in the top 10. But the main criteria we used in determining our top 5 was the success they had on Idol 7 and the success that followed with their debut album, primiarly.

5. Kristy Lee Cook - Enduring more than her fair share of controversy since she had already had a record deal with Arista in her youth which failed, Cook was more or less another of those failed pop stars who came to Idol in an attempt to resurrect their career. The thing about Cook that immediately got her fan base was her good looks, her blonde hair, slim build and powerful voice. And a few Web sites took her to task for some racy photos, but in the end Cook was a success story on Idol 7, having been one of the first performers that season to come out with a new album, which, ironically, came out on Arista, the company with whom she first began her career.

4. Michael Johns - Again no stranger to the spotlight, the Australian played in several bands, including the L.A. band Film before making his way to the Idol stage. Johns’ bluesy tones along with his business savvy made him a star not only here but in his native Australia. His top 10 finish on Idol 7 was what many expected from the Aussie; some mention he may have been the best male singer to have ever played on Idol.

3. Carly Smithson - Clearly the most talented female singer Idol has ever seen, Smithson (nee Hennessy) is a native of Ireland who came over to the states years ago to become a star. But like many who try to make it in the tough music industry, Smithson found it tough going initially. Her record was so unimpressive that it sold on eBay prior to her Idol appearance for 12 cents. Many cried she was too good for a show like Idol and was a “ringer.” Smithson proved most of her critics wrong by showing her true compassionate side and her amazing voice. She also finished in the top 10.

2. David Archuleta - The native Utahn and devout Mormon has seen success before, appearing on Star Search as a teenager and performing often in his native Utah, even with the famed Mormon Tabernacle Choir. But it was the manner in which Archuleta so quickly came to fame on Idol 7, with a devout fan base of mainly teenagers screaming his name every chance they got. Never had American Idol seen so many fans absolutely craving every song and every note somebody sang! (Except Sanjaya, perhaps) David finished runner-up to David Cook and cemented his place in Idol folklore with a gold debut album.

1. David Cook - The former Midwest Kings front man went to American Idol 7 auditions in Omaha with his brother and auditioned at the last minute as a lark (his brother Adam was the one auditioning). We all know what happened next, as Cook was the surprise of the show, taking what obviously looked like it would be a battle between Johns, Archuleta and Smithson and making it his own. With unique musical arrangements Cook wowed the audience week after week and quickly gained a fan base that was as broad as it was vocal. His victory proved that anyone can win the competition and made American Idol a household name heading into season 8. With a successful debut album and tour under his belt, Cook will be heard from for years to come.

Honorable Mention: Jason Castro, Danny Noriega, Chikezie, Josiah Leming, Luke Menard, Brooke White, David Hernandez.

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