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Though she didn’t actually win "Idol", the season three contestant continues her rise. With a "Dreamgirls" role and two gold albums under her belt, Hudson earned terrific reviews for her performance of Whitney Houston’s "I Will Always Love You" at last year’s Grammys. She also added to her coffers with a Weight Watchers endorsement deal and fitness memoir "I Got This." (AP)
Top-Earning 'Ame...Though "Idol’s" judges and producers earn far more than its contestants, some of the show’s most successful alums have gone on to have lucrative careers in music and film. And though "Idol" still collects a sizeable chunk of recent winners’ paychecks—up to half, in some cases—the show still serves as a viable launching pad. Read on to see which former contestants made the most last year. (Michael Becker/FOX)
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
8. Kellie Pickle...Though she only finished in sixth place on season five of "Idol", Pickler has parlayed a middling finish into a lucrative career. Her latest album, "100 Proof", sold a respectable 27,000 in its first week, and she continues to pull in cash on the road. (Getty Images)
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
8. Katharine McP...Rather than focus entirely on music, McPhee has developed a flourishing acting career. She makes the list again this year, thanks to roles in the hit NBC show "Smash" and the film "You May Not Kiss The Bride." (Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz)
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
7. Adam Lambert ...Extensive touring pushed this fan-favorite toward the top of last year’s list with $6 million in earnings. Lambert played fewer shows this time around, taking off to record new album "Trespassing", which was released after the end of our scoring period (and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts with 78,000 copies sold its first week). Look for him to finish higher on next year’s list, thanks to that album and a new tour. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
6. Jordin Sparks...After opening for New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys on the road, the "Battlefield" singer appeared in "Sparkle" alongside Whitney Houston. But with no new album in our scoring period, Sparks clocks in a bit lower than last year’s $3 million. Look for a bigger year in 2013 with Sparks’ Reebok endorsement deal and new movie projects. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
5. Jennifer Huds...Though she didn’t actually win "Idol", the season three contestant continues her rise. With a "Dreamgirls" role and two gold albums under her belt, Hudson earned terrific reviews for her performance of Whitney Houston’s "I Will Always Love You" at last year’s Grammys. She also added to her coffers with a Weight Watchers endorsement deal and fitness memoir "I Got This." (AP)
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
4. Scotty McCree...Season ten’s winner received a $250,000 record deal as teenager—and blew expectations out of the water with his debut, "Clear As Day", which shipped over 1 million units. McCreery quickly took advantage by hitting the road last year, opening for Brad Paisley along with the Band Perry. Look for another album later this year. (AP)
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
2. Daughtry ($5 ...Chris Daughtry’s eponymous rock act’s latest album, "Break the Spell", has sold over 400,000 copies since its 2011 debut. The group continues to tour heavily, pulling in six-figure grosses along the way—enough to capture a second place tie on our list. (Getty Images)
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
2. Carrie Underw...Arguably "Idol’s" most successful alum, Underwood released her new album "Blown Away" toward the end of our scoring period, but generated enough sales to claim her share of the second spot on the list. The record went on to sell 1.2 million copies (just shy of the total for Justin Bieber’s "Believe"). With a nightly concert gross in excess of $400,000, she’ll likely soar even higher on the strength of a tour set to run through at least early summer. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles/Invision)
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
1. Kelly Clarkso...More than a decade after winning season one, the original "Idol" reigns supreme. Clarkson’s résumé continues to grow: she earned gold certification for new album "Stronger", added a role as a mentor on "The Voice", launched a lucrative tour and sang—live—at President Obama’s inauguration. Look for her to earn even more next year, as many of her recent concerts fell just outside our scoring period. (John Shearer/Invision/AP)
