And The Winner Of The Top Earning American Idol Star Is….

Forbes has released its annual list of the top earning American Idol stars for the past year, and the list will surprise you.

Of course, Carrie Underwood tops the list — but the shocker is that my fave Glambert comes in at number 2, above Kelly Clarkson.

In fact, Kelly Clarkson gets beat out by even Jordin Sparks and Fantasia Barrino… Then again, this list only covers May 2010-May 2011.

What you will notice missing from the list are the last three winners of the show, Lee DeWyze, Kris Allen and Scott McCreery, although, granted, McCreery obviously gets a pass since he just won the Idol crown.

Here are the top 10 earners:
1. Carrie Underwood – $20 million

2. (tie) Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry – $6 million. Lambert’s first album, For Your Entertainment, sold 821,000 copies domestically and was certified gold or platinum in six other countries. He also had a 116-date Glam Nation Tour which proved a rare success in 2010′s troubled concert industry.
4. Fantasia Barrino – $4 million–Fantasia’s reality show Fantasia For Real, was VH1′s biggest hit of 2010, and her comeback album Back To Me, was her highest-charting album to date.
5. Jordin Sparks – $3 million
6. Kelly Clarkson – $2.5 million
7. Jennifer Hudson – $2 million
8. Kellie Pickler – $1.8 million
9. Clay Aiken – $1.5 million
10. (tie) Katharine McPhee, David Archuleta, David Cook – $1 million. McPhee made the list due to her upcoming NBC series Smash and a new label deal with Columbia Records in conjunction with that show. 

Video: David Cook Performs Simple Minds ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’ On Idol Finale (Photos)

Season seven American Idol winner David Cook performed a cover of the 1985 song by Simple Minds, Don’t You (Forget About Me) at the American Idol season ten finale Tuesday May 24, 2011. The song has also been the boot song once the contestants were voted off all season.

Cook’s new album, This Loud Morning, will hit the stores June 28 with his first single being The Last Goodbye. Below are some pictures of Cook from his recent visit to the set of Extra at The Grove in Los Angeles for an interview with Renee Bargh.
Watch David’s performance from the Idol finale below:

First Time EVER! “American Idol” To Release Greatest Hits CD For 10th Anniversary

Ten Years Of American Idol Artists – The Hits Compilation Album To Be Released On March 15, 2011

19 Recordings/RCA Records Announce American Idol 10th Anniversary – The Hits Compilation Album To Be Released On March 15, 2011


For the first time ever, the superstar recording artists from the past 10 years of television’s #1 show American Idol will have their signature songs featured on one compilation. American Idol 10th Anniversary – The Hits will be released on March 15, 2011 with mega-hit singles from the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, Adam Lambert, Fantasia, David Cook and more.

Pre-order your copy from Amazon

American Idol 10th Anniversary – The Hits spotlights some of Idol’s most successful contestants like Kelly Clarkson’s #1 Billboard Pop 100 hit “Since U Been Gone,” Carrie Underwood’s Grammy award-winning “Before He Cheats” and rock super group Daughtry’s #1 ballad “Home.” Other tracks include season 6 winner Jordin Sparks’ collaboration with R&B’s Chris Brown on “No Air,” heartthrob David Cook’s platinum single “Light On” and Fantasia’s #1 Hot R&B/Hip Hop song “When I See U.” The compilation also highlights Ruben Studdard’s soulful single “Superstar,” Taylor Hicks’ esteemed performance of “Takin’ It To The Streets” and Broadway star Clay Aiken’s 2003 hit “Invisible.” Adam Lambert soars on this years Grammy-nominated “Whataya Want From Me” while current American Idol Lee DeWyze closes out the album with his chart-climbing single “Sweet Serendipity.”

Since its debut in 2002, American Idol, created by Simon Fuller, has become one of the most popular shows in the history of American television. Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and global superstar Jennifer Lopez help kick off a second decade of Idol as new judges this season. Together they join twenty-year music industry veteran Randy Jackson and media mastermind Ryan Seacrest for the 10th anniversary season. Throughout the show, contestants will face new and exciting challenges as they compete to become the next American Idol. 


American Idol – 10th Anniversary – The Hits – Volume 1

1. Kelly Clarkson – “Since U Been Gone”

2. Ruben Studdard – “Superstar”

3. Clay Aiken – “Invisible”

4. Fantasia – “When I See U”

5. Carrie Underwood – “Before He Cheats”

6. Taylor Hicks – “Takin’ It To The Streets”

7. Daughtry – “Home”

8. Jordin Sparks (duet with Chris Brown) – “No Air”

9. David Cook – “Light On”

10. Kris Allen – “Live Like We’re Dying”

11. Adam Lambert – “Whataya Want From Me”

12. Lee DeWyze – “Sweet Serendipity”


American Idol: “Welcome Home” Interview Video W/All Past Winners

VIDEO CLIP OF THE DAY.

The 10th season of American Idol starts January and promises a whole lot of changes and a hope for a bright future.

But before the future is upon us, Idol is taking us back for a nostalgic look at its past glory.

THE VIDEO BELOW IS A MUST SEE for any Idol fan of the past 9 years. It has interviews with all past 9 winners: Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Kris Allen and Lee DeWyze, in a documentary called, “Welcome Home.”

Watch it here: