Best "American Idol" Contestants of All Time

A.J. Gil was born on 5 July 1984 in San Diego, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Destination Fame (2012), American Idol (2002) and Family Feud (1999).

Aaron Kelly was born on 2 April 1993 in Sonestown, Pennsylvania, USA.

Ace Young is from Colorado and is an American Idol Season 5 finalist. He has just released his new single, "I Wanna Fall In Love Again", which he wrote and produced along with dear friend and Top Swedish Producer, Harry Sommerdahl, that is digitally distributed through Jimmy Buffett's Mailboat Records. He is a Grammy Nominated Songwriter and also holds multiple theatre credits including "Grease" & "Hair" on Broadway.

Adam Lambert is a Grammy-nominated international artist, actor, philanthropist, and LGBTQ+ activist.

As the first openly gay male artist to top the Billboard album charts, Adam has released five studio albums to date, amassing more than three million album sales worldwide-all while honoring the legacy of Freddie Mercury as the frontman of the iconic band, Queen.

Adam counts the British Royal Family among his fans. A personal invitation from HRH The Princess of Wales had him performing at last year's Royals: Together At Christmas and previously for HRH Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, opening the show alongside Brian May and Roger Taylor.

Recent highlights include the release of Adam's latest top 10 charting album, High Drama, headlining London Pride, and showcasing his acting skills in Sofia Coppola's Fairyland, as well as the five-time Academy Award-winning film Bohemian Rhapsody.

Continuing his support for the LGBTQ+ community, Adam founded the Feel Something Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting LGBTQ+ human rights. The foundation raises funds and contributes to marginalized and underrepresented groups globally.

Adam continues to gain superstar momentum worldwide. This year, he will join the judging panel of The Voice Australia, work on his highly anticipated 6th Studio Album, and embark on a stadium tour across Japan after a successful North American tour with Queen last year. In 2024, Adam will release an ITV documentary exploring the LGBTQ+ experience within the music industry, featuring interviews with iconic musicians spanning multiple decades.

Adanna Duru is known for Postmodern Jukebox Feat. Casey Abrams: What Is Love (2017), The Voice (2011) and American Idol (2002).

Alexis Grace was born on 9 June 1987 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. She is an actress, known for Trailer Park Boys: Out of the Park (2016), Bad, Bad Men (2016) and Jacir (2022).

Allison Iraheta was born on 27 April 1992 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is an actress and composer, known for Lost Time (2014), The Short Game (2013) and Adam Lambert: If I Had You (2010).

Amanda Overmyer was born on 26 October 1984 in Mulberry, Indiana, USA. She has been married to Casey Taylor since 23 August 2008.

Amy Adams was born on 25 July 1979 in Kansas City, Kansas, USA. She has been married to Ted King since 17 January 2016. They have two children.

Andrew Garcia was born on 8 October 1985 in Moreno Valley, California, USA. He is an actor, known for JustKiddingFilms (2007), American Idol (2002) and Whistle While I Work It (2013).

Anoop Desai was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, with family roots in Gujarat, India and South Africa. His family moved to Chapel Hill, NC where he excelled in theater, improvisation, choir, and as an All-State trumpet player. As an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina concentrating in American Studies and Political Science, Desai became somewhat of a campus celebrity for his visibility as a soloist in the a cappella singing group the Clef Hangers. After graduating with honors, he auditioned for American Idol and finished in the Top 6 of that show in 2009.

In 2011, Desai began exclusively releasing and writing pop music under the pseudonym TOTEM, so named as an homage to his short stint as a graduate student in cultural anthropology at UNC. He guest starred and sang on numerous TV talk shows and variety shows and performed in venues of all sizes, from small clubs, to Lollapalooza, to big arenas. Music he has written and/or performed has generated over 50 million streams on Spotify.

Desai began studying acting with Lisa Pelikan at HB Studios, Matt Newton at MN Studio, and Tim Phillips after moving to New York City in 2017.

In 2018, Desai was offered a role in the Broadway developmental Lab of The Secret Garden directed by Warren Carlyle. Desai was also a principal performer in Songs of Drew Gasparini at Feinstein's/54 Below. He made his Off-Broadway debut in MCC Theater's 2019 world premiere musical The Wrong Man, directed by Thomas Kail. As a member of the ensemble, he was the winner of the 2021 Chita Rivera Award.

Desai's first on-screen role was in the 2020 pilot of the Apple TV+ series Little Voice created by Sara Bereilles. He also had a guest starring role in the Showtime series Billions. In 2021, he played a recurring role opposite Natasha Lyonne in the Netflix dark comedy, Russian Doll and appeared in a guest starring role in the hit CBS series, Evil. In 2022 and 2023, Desai played a major recurring role, 'Djinn' in season 4 and 5 of the FX comedy series, What We Do In The Shadows, where many of his scenes included improvisation. Desai was praised as "a standout" for his role as Raj in the Hulu limited series Under the Bridge (2024) along with Lily Gladstone, Riley Keough, and Archie Panjabi.

Desai made his feature film debut in a supporting role in The Adults (2023) opposite Michael Cera. In 2024, Desai filmed a supporting role in the A24 film Babygirl, starring Nicole Kidman.

Anoop was married in 2019 to Anna Desai. They live in Brooklyn, New York.

Anthony Fedorov was born on 4 May 1985 in Yalta, Crimean Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Crimea, Ukraine]. He is an actor, known for American Idol (2002), Ben Elohim and Katya (2011). He has been married to Jennifer Paz since 25 December 2012. They have one child.

Anwar Robinson was born on 21 April 1979 in East Orange, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor, known for American Idol (2002), Friends & Lovers: The Ski Trip 2 (2008) and Friends & Lovers (2010).

Ashthon Jones came into this world with musical roots strong within her family and remembered her first musical beginnings singing her heart out in church. She received her early training when she would make runs to Valdosta, Georgia to stay with her cousins.

Some of her musical influences are the Clark Sisters, Mary Mary, Monica, Destiny's Child, and Mary J. Blige.

For 6 years Ashthon had been working on her singing career in Nashville when she finally landed her first publishing deal with a major publishing company at the ripe age of 19. Little did she know this would lead into many more blessings.

All the while, Ashthon always kept up with American Idol and wanted to audition from day one. That fateful day came when her mother called her and told her it was her time. With out a second thought, Ashthon quit her job and went to the audition. Wearing number 8838 she went in front of Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez whom unanimously voted her in. SHE WAS GOING TO HOLLYWOOD! She made it into the FINALS and has never looked back. From an IDOL WORLD TOUR and a myriad of interviews from "LIVE with Regis & Kelly" to "Entertainment Tonight" and "MTV News", Ashthon has experienced what others only dream of.

More recently Ashthon has performed on a segment of BRAVO Networks HIT television series "Married to Medicine" which was received by network management with wide acclaim. With her eye on the prize, Ashthon is already giving back early in her career by recorded a song on First Lady Michelle Obama's "Song for a Healthier America" hip-hop album, which has been featured on GRAMMY.com's "Exclusive First Listen" and has performed at the album release at Symphony Space in New York City. She has also been featured in other well recognized projects such as Lacrae's GRAMMY winning album with Big KRIT on the single, "Mayday", as well as Big KRIT's new single "Good 2Gether". Released by Def Jam it has been rising in the charts.

Avalon Jean Young is a singer-songwriter whose talents and experience far outweigh her years.

Quickly learning that her love for music was intertwined with her love for writing, she dropped out of college in 2013 to dedicate all of her time to the music. Young's journey through the industry has since been steadfast, and the breadth of her experience only adds to her artistry as a writer and musician.

Shortly after leaving college, she released her first EP-an acoustic, self-written tape. Since then, Young's dedication to her craft has allowed her to grow in all areas of her career; from writing for other artists in multiple genres, expanding her fan base by becoming a Top 8 Finalist on American Idol's Farewell Season, releasing an additional EP, and performing all across the country on tour with fellow emerging artists Xavier Omar, Jeff Bernat, and Joyce Wrice, her experiences are more than most at the age of 23.

Most recently, the release of her latest album Shift hit #2 on the iTunes R&B Album Charts, adding yet another swing of momentum to an already blooming career.

Young's music consists of palatable stories with an added layer of vulnerability--feeling poetic, simplistic, and bold all at once. Her voice feels unmistakably natural, and her effortless vocals leave you intrigued to hear not only her range, but also what she has to say.

Having spent years honing her craft, Young's keen ability to write palatable, raw, beyond-the-surface lyrics builds a direct connection between her and her listeners, allowing you to see the true power of her penmanship. Her infectiously smooth vocals only add wings to her writing talents, making Avalon Young a true musical triple threat whose career is bound to fly.

Blake Lewis was born on 21 July 1981 in Redmond, Washington, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Blake Lewis Is Shitting in My Bathroom (2009), Free Radio (2007) and Mermaid.

Bo Bice was born on 1 November 1975 in Helena, Alabama, USA. He is an actor, known for American Idol (2002), Blades of Glory (2007) and Last Ounce of Courage (2012). He has been married to Caroline Fisher since 15 June 2005. They have three children.

Brandon Rogers was born on 11 December 1977 in North Hollywood, California, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Coming 2 America (2021), Missing Audrey (2010) and Bones (2005).

Brooke Elizabeth White was born and raised in Arizona with her parents and three younger siblings. She began singing at the age of fifteen when she tried out for the musical "Meet me in St. Louis" and got the leading role. In 2008 she tried out for American Idol and was among the top twelve and finally finished in fifth place. After American Idol she released an album titled "High Hopes & Heartbreak", executive produced by Randy Jackson. In 2010, she recorded songs for the soundtracks "The Jenson Porject" and "Secrets of the Mountain".

Bucky Covington was born on 8 November 1977 in Rockingham, North Carolina, USA. He is an actor, known for Under the Stadium Lights (2021), American Idol (2002) and Still the King (2016). He has been married to Hannah Borders since 17 October 2020. He was previously married to Crystal Callahan.