Every year, television networks pump money into casting shows as a way to increase their ratings, but who are the most successful casting show winners? From American Idol to Project Runway, the realm of competitive reality-TV shows keeps growing, and from the thousands of contestants initially trialed by just a panel of judges, only a handful manage to sustain their success over time. While every season of the numerous casting shows has a winner, most of them drift into oblivion once the hype has passed. However, this list features the winners that stepped away from the TV-only audience to gain a wide-ranging and loyal fan base.
Much like the 10 most popular TV episodes of all time, which we covered in an earlier article, casting shows like American Idol or The Voice bring in huge audience ratings. Their successful formula usually includes a star judging panel, a large group of contestants fighting for one winning slot and filming the stress that accompanies that scenario. Since every year features at least one casting show, it’s difficult for every winner to sustain their popularity, but the most successful casting show winners, featured on this list, jumped the nest and have now acquired full-fledged star status.
Read on to find out who the most successful casting show winners have been; perhaps you even helped launch some of their careers with your votes.
7. Adam Lambert
The season 8 American Idol runner-up lands on this list because he outshone winner Kris Allen by a landslide. After the show ended, Adam Lambert used his eccentric individuality to create an artistic identity reminiscent of Freddie Mercury. In fact, Lambert is the first openly gay musician to land a number one spot on the Billboard 200 charts with his second album, Trespassing. The singer’s first release, For Your Entertainment, had debuted at number three, selling 198,000 copies in the first week. Lambert also headlined several world tours over the past five years, won a Grammy, and starred in the hit TV-series Glee.
6. Christian Siriano
When a 20-year-old Christian Siriano walked into the Project Runway reality-TV web, he probably wasn’t expecting to win against the much older and more experienced contestants. But he did, and his knack for ultra-feminine designs has guaranteed pretty smooth sailing for this casting show contestant ever since. Apart from running his own fashion line, which regularly presents its collections at the New York Fashion Week, his work can also be found in the prestigious Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. His young demeanor and talent have also made him a favorite of Hollywood artists like Taylor Swift and Kaley Cuoco.
5. Leona Lewis
When the 3rd season of the British version of The X Factor came to an end in 2006 and this gorgeous lady was announced the winner, nobody thought it would lead to a number one hit in 30 countries. Since her time as a casting show contestant, Leona sold 7 million copies of her debut album Spirit, and 2.5 million copies of her second album, Echo. Her song My Hands was also chosen as the main theme song for the English version of Final Fantasy XIII, which sold over 7 million copies worldwide. Leona has also won three Grammy Awards, solidifying her spot as a renowned artist.
4. One Direction
Many of you may not know this, but this pop group was rejected by the judge panel of Britain’s The X Factor, landing them in third place. Now, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson may not be casting show winners, but a bronze medal is good enough for this list, considering their magnificent success story. You can hate their teen-pop sound, but the numbers show that these fellas are the first British band to top the American Billboard chart with their first two albums, making them somewhat of a phenomenon.
3. Jennifer Hudson
This lady may only have come in 7th place on American Idol’s third season, but she went from zero to hero in no time. Her role as Effie White in Dreamgirls earned her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (while showing off her pipes next to Beyoncé), as well as a Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, and many more. Apart from starring in several movies, Jennifer Hudson has also sold millions of records and is the proud owner of a Grammy.
2. Carrie Underwood
It’s a tight race between Underwood and her predecessor Kelly Clarkson, but as this artist’s success hasn’t spread to the rest of the world (yet!), I believe she deserves to be our silver medalist. After winning American Idol’s fourth season in 2005, the Oklahoma native made a name for herself with country music albums like Some Hearts, Carnival Ride, and Blown Away. Today, she counts 6 Grammy’s, 16 Billboard Music Awards, 11 Academy of Country Music Awards and 8 American Music Awards to her name. Forbes magazine also gave her the title of biggest American Idol earner, due to her $100 million net worth!
1. Kelly Clarkson
The first singer to win American Idol, Kelly Clarkson built her legacy as an outstanding singer and even better role model. Over a decade has passed since the Texas-born rock-pop singer was crowned an idol, but her fame keeps growing. She is the only contestant from the casting show to win 2 Grammy’s, but what’s most impressive is her fan base: 91 number one singles in the U.S (across numerous charts), 11 international number one singles and over 20 million albums sold worldwide. Considering all of this happened in 10 years, I applaud this petite lady with the big voice and crown her the most successful casting show winner.
