American Idol's first ten winners have established themselves well over the years, cementing their careers in music, theatre, talk shows, and other ventures. From Kelly Clarkson to Scotty McCreery, these singers have had their fair share of original songs but like every other contestant, they too came into the spotlight with cover songs.
The Idols from the first ten seasons have all redefined pop and R&B tracks by putting their unique spin on them. In fact, covers like Superstar by Ruben Studdard or Heartbreaker by Jordin Sparks have also become synonymous with these winners.
10 Season 10: Scotty McCreery ("Gone")
Winning the show's tenth season at 17 years old, Scotty McCreery emerged as the second-youngest Idol. Since his win, he has gone on to have a notable country music career.
In the Top 5 Round, McCreery decided to go with the country song "Gone" by Montgomery Gentry. He raised eyebrows with not just his effortless control over the track but also his charming persona. McCreery entered the stage from behind, walking with sass while crooning the rap-like cadences. Joined by two backup singers, he then raised the energy with an emotive chorus. Making for a scene that American Idol viewers would love to rewatch, "Gone" contributed greatly to his eventual win.
9 Season 9: Lee DeWyze ("Beautiful Day")
Even though Lee DeWyze had already begun an independent music career even before American Idol, his win definitely boosted his popularity further. Apart from music, DeWyze has also been involved in philanthropic work for several charity organizations.
His coronation song came in season 9 with U2's "Beautiful Day." DeWyze added his angsty touch to the track while maintaining the upbeat nature of the composition. The Edge guitars were replaced with some violins, making it sound more anthemic. It was a good change in tone for DeWyze who otherwise specialized in folk-rock.
8 Season 8: Kris Allen ("Heartless")
A pop-rocker from Arkansas, Kris Allen's pre-Idol life included music and missionary work in various countries. After his win, he has released five studio albums and engages in programs to spread awareness on music education.
Every once in a while, one contestant takes up a song and reinvents it totally by switching genres. Kris Allen did the same with Kanye West's "Heartless." The original is a synth-heavy pop number, with traces of hip-hop and R&B. Allen turned the tables by performing it as an acoustic ballad. This twist impressed the audience as well as the judges, especially Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson.
7 Season 7: David Cook ("Billie Jean")
David Cook's nice lies in the post-grunge and alt-rock genres. Even though he was involved with several record labels after emerging as the Season 7 winner, he currently publishes his music under his own label called Analog Heart Music.
David Cook's cover of "Billie Jean" is an iconic and quite creative song. The fast-paced Michael Jackson pop classic transformed into a laidback alternative track, as Cook crooned his heart out against an acoustic arrangement. Judge Paula Abdul stood up in awe while praising his song choice and his interesting take on it. In fact, Soundgarden frontman's Chris Cornell even praised his version, which was very similar to his own performance.
6 Season 6: Jordin Sparks ("A Broken Wing")
History was created in season 6 when Jordin Sparks became the youngest ever Idol winner - a record she holds to date. Sparks went on to enjoy success in music and theatre (even getting to sing some of Lin Manuel Miranda's greatest songs in the stage musical, In The Heights).
In a Country-themed episode, Sparks decided to perform Martina McBride's "A Broken Wing." It easily suited her vocal range as she sang the entirety of it effortlessly, finally ending with a memorable crescendo. The song was so attached to her initial popularity that she even covered it on her self-titled EP.
5 Season 5: Taylor Hicks ("Crazy Little Thing Called Love")
Be it R&B or rock, Taylor Hicks had it all covered with his unmatched energy. Since kickstarting his music career, he has also been a part of Broadway stage shows like Grease.
In the Top 8 Week (dedicated to the songs of Queen), Hicks picked "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." Now, Fantasia Barrino had already rocked her performance of the same song way back in season 3. Hicks carried on her legacy by adding his infectious on-stage charm with his twist on the Queen classic. To make his performance more worthwhile, the singer even ended up kicking the mic stand away and groovily dancing among the crowd.
4 Season 4: Carrie Underwood ("Alone")
One of the most successful American Idol winners, Carrie Underwood emerged as a leading country artist. With numerous chart-topping hits and high-profile collaborations, Underwood has earned seven Grammy wins in her career so far.
Her most memorable performance as a contestant might be the power ballad "Alone" which was originally performed by i-Ten but attained mainstream popularity by the rock band Heart. Reprising Heart's version, Underwood delivered a power-packed set that drew an overwhelming standing ovation from the audience. Randy Jackson dubbed it as 'one of the best performances' while Simon Cowell off-handedly predicted that Underwood would not only win the competition but also outsell the other best acts to come out of American Idol.
3 Season 3: Fantasia ("Always On My Mind")
Fantasia Barrino (mostly known by the mononym Fantasia) retained her post-Idol success as an R&B singer and even wrote a best-selling book titled Life Is Not A Fairytale. The memoir was not just a tell-all book on reality TV but it also documented how she rose above all odds to become an Idol winner.
When it comes to her performances on the show, her cover of Willie Nelson's "Always On My Mind" has aged quite well. The usually chirpy and youthful Fantasia put on a classy performance, with her unwavering vocals on the country hit. This change in style went on to prove her sheer versatility and talent.
2 Season 2: Ruben Studdard (A Whole New World)
Ruben Studdard gained fame for singles like his coronation song "Flying Without Wings" as well as covers such as that of Luther Vandross's "Superstar." In fact, he even released an entire Luther Vandross tribute album titled Ruben Sings Luther.
When it comes to his tenure on American Idol, his most memorable performance was when he soothingly covered "A Whole New World" for the week dedicated to Movie Soundtracks. The astounding response that Studdard generated largely overwhelmed him as he revealed backstage that he has been a "Disney film fanatic." To swoon audiences with his take on an Aladdin classic only went on to prove his love for Dinsey soundtracks.
1 Season 1: Kelly Clarkson ("Respect")
Kelly Clarkson emerged as the inaugural winner of American Idol way back in 2002. Since her claim to fame, she has had a successful Grammy-winning singing career and an Emmy-winning stint as a talk show host for The Kelly Clarkson Show.
One of the most memorable American Idol contestants, her stunning performance of Aretha Franklin's Respect (originally by Otis Redding) in the semi-finals helped her move on to the live shows. Respect allowed Clarkson to not only showcase her top-shelf voice but also her energetic stage presence. The song is also iconic for she performed it yet again for the final and made it a part of her live sets at events like the iHeartRadio Music Festival.
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