"American Idol's" track record is up and down, but Carrie Underwood is a strong mark in the "up" category.
Underwood became the first country act to break out from the show, helping "American Idol" shake its pop-only image. Since winning the fourth season of "Idol," Underwood has had three platinum albums, including 2009's "Play On," which had the best first week of sales for any solo country act last year. The Academy of Country Music named Underwood its "entertainer of the year" in 2008 and 2009, making her only the seventh woman to win the award (joining legends like Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire), and the first woman to ever win it twice.
In her five year career, Underwood has 11 No. 1 hits, including "Cowboy Casanova," "Temporary Home" and "Undo It" off her latest album.
While "American Idol" was a stepping stone to fame for Underwood, not everyone on the show has been so lucky. Here's a look at some of the show's winners, and some "losers" who upstaged them.
'Idol' winners:
Season 1: Kelly Clarkson
Career after "Idol": Is the show's highest-selling "Idol" winner, with all four of her albums going platinum.
Season 2: Ruben Studdard
Career after "Idol": Dropped by J Records after his third album, "The Return." Recently toured with season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken.
Season 5: Taylor Hicks
Career after "Idol": Second album, "The Distance," sold 45,000 copies. Appearing this week on "Celebrity Ghost Stories." Enough said.
'Idol' losers:
Season 3: Jennifer Hudson, finished seventh
Career after "Idol": Won an Academy Award for the film "Dreamgirls." Performed at the 2009 Super Bowl.
Season 5: Chris Daughtry, finished fourth
Career after "Idol": Has headlined arenas with his band, Daughtry. His 2009 album, "Leave This Town," went platinum.
Season 9: Adam Lambert
Career after "Idol": 2009 album "For Your Entertainment" is nearly platinum. Had a headlining world tour this year.
Season 3: William Hung
Career after "Idol": Debut album, "Inspiration," somehow sold a quarter of a million copies, and Hung got his 15 minutes of fame. A holiday album and later follow-up did not extend those minutes. He returned for the "Idol" finale last season, performing his version of Larry Platt's "Pants on the Ground."
Carrie Underwood
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Wells Fargo Arena, 730 Third St.
Cost: $33.50, $45.50 and $55.50
Info: Go to dahlstickets.com.
