# List of American Idol alumni album sales in the United States

This article provides a list of albums recorded by alumni of the popular American televised singing competition American Idol in the post-Idol career. It only lists main albums released in the alumni's post-Idol career. American Idol compilations, individual artist's pre-Idol recordings, EPs, and compilation albums are not listed here, however, the numbers in parentheses may include sales from these releases. For complete list of releases including those not listed here for each artist, please see their individual discography pages (linked here in the total number in parentheses). Sales figure listed are for U.S. only.

## Artists with sales of 500,000 or more albums

This first list only includes contestants with at least 500,000 total album sales. Total albums sold listed in this pages for each artist is shown first. Certification status of album for units shipped in U.S. (Gold, Platinum, and/or Multi-platinum) is shown if awarded. The numbers in parentheses are for sales for all albums including EPs and compilations which may not be listed here.
| | Contestant Total albums sold | First album | Second album | Third album | Fourth album | Fifth album | Sixth album | Seventh album | Eighth album | Ninth album | Tenth album |
| 1. | Carrie Underwood (season 4, winner) 16,389,000 | Some Hearts (November 15, 2005) Arista Nashville 7,450,000 9× Platinum Peak: #2 | Carnival Ride (October 23, 2007) Arista Nashville 3,400,000 4× Platinum Peak: #1 | Play On (November 3, 2009) Arista Nashville 2,300,000 3× Platinum Peak: #1 | Blown Away (May 1, 2012) Arista Nashville 1,853,200 3× Platinum Peak: #1 | Storyteller (October 23, 2015) Arista Nashville 752,100 Platinum Peak: #2 | Cry Pretty (September 14, 2018) Capitol Nashville 534,000 Platinum Peak: #1 | My Gift (September 25, 2020) Capitol Nashville 628,000 Gold Peak: #5 | My Savior (March 26, 2021) Capitol Nashville 293,000 N/A Peak: #4 | Denim & Rhinestones (June 10, 2022) Capitol Nashville 120,000 Peak: #10 | |
| 2. | Kelly Clarkson (season 1, winner) 14,150,000 | Thankful (April 15, 2003) RCA 2,800,000 2× Platinum Peak: #1 | Breakaway (November 30, 2004) RCA 6,355,000 6× Platinum Peak: #3 | My December (June 26, 2007) RCA 858,000 Platinum Peak: #2 | All I Ever Wanted (March 10, 2009) RCA 1,004,000 N/A Peak: #1 | Stronger (October 24, 2011) RCA 1,129,000 Platinum Peak: #2 | Wrapped in Red (October 29, 2013) RCA 942,000 Platinum Peak: #3 | Piece by Piece (March 3, 2015) RCA 284,000 Gold Peak: #1 | Meaning of Life (October 27, 2017) Atlantic 68,000 Gold Peak: #2 | When Christmas Comes Around... (October 15, 2021) Atlantic 106,000 Peak: #22 | Chemistry (June 23, 2023) Atlantic 53,000 Peak: #6 |
| 3. | Chris Daughtry (as Daughtry) (season 5, 4th place) 7,204,000 | Daughtry (November 21, 2006) RCA 5,040,000 6× Platinum Peak: #1 | Leave This Town (July 14, 2009) RCA 1,357,000 Platinum Peak: #1 | Break the Spell (November 21, 2011) RCA 513,000 Gold Peak: #8 | Baptized (November 19, 2013) RCA 270,000 Gold Peak: #6 | Cage to Rattle (July 17, 2018) RCA 24,000 N/A Peak: #10 | Dearly Beloved (September 17, 2021) Dogtree 88,000 N/A Peak: #50 | | | | |
| 4. | Clay Aiken (season 2, runner-up) 5,069,000 | Measure of a Man (October 14, 2003) RCA 2,786,000 2× Platinum Peak: #1 | Merry Christmas with Love (November 16, 2004) RCA 1,416,000 Platinum Peak: #4 | A Thousand Different Ways (September 19, 2006) RCA 531,000 Gold Peak: #2 | On My Way Here (May 6, 2008) RCA 165,000 N/A Peak: #4 | Tried and True (June 1, 2010) Decca 80,000 N/A Peak: #9 / #120 | Steadfast (March 25, 2012) Decca#120 | Christmas Bells Are Ringing (November 22, 2024) Alvis | | | |
| 5. | Fantasia Barrino (season 3, winner) 3,332,000 | Free Yourself (November 23, 2004) J Records 1,839,000 Platinum Peak: #8 | Fantasia (December 12, 2006) J Records 530,000 Gold Peak: #19 | Back to Me (August 24, 2010) J Records 490,000 N/A Peak: #2 | Side Effects of You (April 23, 2013) RCA 300,000 Peak: #2 | The Definition Of... (July 28, 2016) RCA 32,000 Peak: #6 | Christmas After Midnight (October 6, 2017) Concord Peak: #193 | Sketchbook (October 11, 2019) Rock Soul 10,000 Peak: #62 | | | |
| 6. | Ruben Studdard (season 2, winner) 2,644,000 | Soulful (December 9, 2003) J Records 1,792,000 Platinum Peak: #1 | I Need an Angel (November 23, 2004) J Records 483,000 Gold Peak: #20 | The Return (October 17, 2006) J Records 238,000 N/A Peak: #8 | Love Is (May 19, 2009) Hickory Records 50,000 N/A Peak: #36 | Letters from Birmingham (March 13, 2012) Shanachie 17,000 N/A Peak: #150 | Unconditional Love (February 4, 2014) The Verve Music Group 6,000 N/A Peak: #46 | Ruben Sings Luther (March 9, 2018) SEG Music N/A N/A Peak: n/a | The Way I Remember It (October 27, 2023) SoNo Recording Group | | |
| 7. | Scotty McCreery (season 10, winner) 2,264,000 | Clear as Day (October 4, 2011) Mercury Nashville 1,166,000 Platinum Peak: #1 | Christmas With Scotty McCreery (October 16, 2012) Mercury Nashville 382,000 Gold Peak: #4 | See You Tonight (October 15, 2013) Mercury Nashville 269,900 N/A Peak: #6 | Seasons Change (March 16, 2018) Thirty Tigers 97,800 Gold Peak: #7 | Same Truck (September 17, 2021) Thirty Tigers N/A Peak: #86 | Rise & Fall (May 10, 2023) Thirty Tigers | | | | |
| 8. | Kellie Pickler (season 5, 6th place) 1,557,000 | Small Town Girl (October 31, 2006) BNA 900,000 Gold Peak: #9 | Kellie Pickler (September 30, 2008) BNA 470,000 N/A Peak: #9 | 100 Proof (January 24, 2012) BNA 90,000 N/A Peak: #7 | The Woman I Am November 11, 2013 Black River Entertainment 47,000 N/A Peak: #19 | | | | | | |
| 9. | David Cook (season 7, winner) 1,510,000 | David Cook (November 18, 2008) RCA 1,380,000 Platinum Peak: #3 | This Loud Morning (June 28, 2011) RCA 133,000 N/A Peak: #7 | Digital Vein (September 18, 2015) InGrooves Music 11,000 N/A Peak: #35 | | | | | | | |
| 10. | Phillip Phillips (season 11, winner) 1,495,000 | The World from the Side of the Moon (November 19, 2012) Interscope 1,033,000 Platinum Peak: #4 | Behind the Light (May 19, 2014) Interscope 123,000 N/A Peak: #7 | Collateral (January 19, 2018) Interscope 5,000 N/A Peak: #141 | Drift Back (June 9, 2023) Interscope | | | | | | |
| 11. | Jennifer Hudson (season 3, 7th place) 1,446,000 | Jennifer Hudson (September 30, 2008) Arista 839,000 Gold Peak: #2 | I Remember Me (March 22, 2011) Arista 459,000 Gold Peak: #2 | JHUD (September 23, 2014) RCA 61,000 N/A Peak: #10 | The Gift of Love (October 23, 2024) Interscope | | | | | | |
| 12. | Jordin Sparks (season 6, winner) 1,313,000 | Jordin Sparks (November 20, 2007) Jive 1,056,000 Platinum Peak: #10 | Battlefield (July 21, 2009) Jive 190,000 N/A Peak: #7 | Right Here, Right Now (August 21, 2015) Louder Than Life N/A Peak: #161 | Cider & Hennessy (November 26, 2020) Disrupt Group N/A Peak: N/A | No Restrictions (September 13, 2024) (Legacy Music Group) | | | | | |
| 13. | Adam Lambert (season 8, runner-up) 1,173,000 | For Your Entertainment (November 23, 2009) RCA 863,000 Gold Peak: #3 | Trespassing (May 15, 2012) RCA 197,000 N/A Peak: #1 | The Original High (June 16, 2015) Warner Bros Records 52,000 N/A Peak: #3 | Velvet (March 20, 2020) Empire Records N/A Peak: #89 | High Drama (February 24, 2023) BMG | | | | | |
| 14. | David Archuleta (season 7, runner-up) 1,156,000 | David Archuleta (November 11, 2008) Jive 765,000 Gold Peak: #2 | Christmas from the Heart (October 13, 2009) Jive 246,000 N/A Peak: #30 | The Other Side of Down (October 5, 2010) Jive 67,000 N/A Peak: #13 | Forevermore (March 26, 2012) Ivory Records N/A N/A Peak: N/A | Begin. (August 7, 2012) Highway Records 14,000 N/A Peak: #28 | No Matter How Far (2013) E1 Music 5,000 N/A Peak: #110 | Postcards in the Sky (October 20, 2017) Archie Music N/A N/A Peak: N/A | Winter in the Air (November 2, 2018) Archie Music N/A N/A Peak: #191 | Therapy Sessions (May 20, 2020) Archie Music N/A N/A Peak: N/A | |
| 15. | Gabby Barrett (season 16, 3rd place) 1,000,000 | Goldmine (June 19, 2020) Warner Music Nashville 1,000,000 Platinum Peak: #4 | Chapter & Verse (February 2, 2024) Warner Music Nashville | Carols & Candlelight (November 8, 2024) Warner Music Nashville | | | | | | | |
| 16. | Mandisa (season 5, 9th place) 928,000 | True Beauty (July 31, 2007) Sparrow 226,000 N/A Peak: #43 | It's Christmas (October 14, 2008) Sparrow 64,000 N/A Peak: #85 | Freedom (March 24, 2009) Sparrow 152,000 N/A Peak: #83 | What If We Were Real (April 5, 2011) Sparrow 270,000 N/A Peak: #66 | Overcomer (August 27, 2013) Sparrow 140,000 N/A Peak: #29 | Out of the Dark (May 19, 2017) Sparrow N/A Peak: #20 | | | | |
| 17. | Josh Gracin (season 2, 4th place) 804,000 | Josh Gracin (June 15, 2004) Lyric Street 703,000 Gold Peak: #11 | We Weren't Crazy (April 1, 2008) Lyric Street 86,000 N/A Peak: #33 | Redemption (November 8, 2011) Average Joe's 4,000 N/A Peak: N/A | | | | | | | |
| 18. | Taylor Hicks (season 5, winner) 768,000 | Taylor Hicks (December 12, 2006) Arista 705,000 Platinum Peak: #2 | The Distance (March 10, 2009) Modern Whomp 52,000 N/A Peak: #58 | | | | | | | | |
| 19. | Bo Bice (season 4, runner-up) 757,000 | The Real Thing (December 13, 2005) RCA 673,000 Gold Peak: #4 | See the Light (October 23, 2007) StratArt 62,000 N/A Peak: #150 | 3 (May 18, 2010) Saguaro Road 11,000 N/A Peak: #154 | | | | | | | |
| 20. | Elliott Yamin (season 5, 3rd place) 696,000 | Elliott Yamin (March 20, 2007) Hickory Records RED Distribution 527,000 Gold Peak: #3 | Sounds of the Season (October 14, 2007) Hickory Records 81,000 N/A Peak: #32 | My Kind of Holiday (October 7, 2008) TRP Records, Fontana Distribution 27,000 N/A Peak: #162 | Fight For Love (May 5, 2009) Hickory Records 49,000 N/A Peak: #26 | Let's Get to What's Real (March 27, 2012) E1/Purpose Music Group 2,000 N/A Peak: N/A | | | | | |
^Note 1 Aiken's album, Tried & True was re-packaged and re-released by Decca under the new name, Steadfast, concurrent with his appearance on The Celebrity Apprentice in 2012

## Artists with sales of less than 500,000 albums

The following is a list of other American Idol alumni album sales and reflects that commercial success can be achieved through association with American Idol and with post-Idol promotion, although the degree of success varies considerably. This list only includes contestants who have numbers available, and again does not include EPs, American Idol compilations, or pre-Idol recordings, numbers in parentheses however may include sales from these releases:
| Rank | Former Contestant | Total Sales | Albums |
| 21. | Katharine McPhee (season 5, runner-up) | 475,000 | Katharine McPhee (2007) #2 — 381,000 Unbroken (2010) #27 — 45,000 Christmas Is the Time…To Say I Love You (2010) did not chart — 23,000 Hysteria (2015) did not chart |
| 22. | Lauren Alaina (season 10, runner-up) | 459,500 | Wildflower (2011) #5 — 303,000 Road Less Traveled (2016) #31 — 34,500 |
| 23. | Bucky Covington (season 5, 8th place) did not chart | 436,000 | Bucky Covington (2007) #4 — 433,000 Good Guys (2012) #178 — 3,000 |
| 24. | Blake Lewis (season 6, runner-up) | 413,000 | A.D.D. (Audio Day Dream) (2007) #10 — 350,000 Heartbreak on Vinyl (2009) #135 — 10,000 Portrait of a Chameleon (2013) did not chart — 2,000 |
| 25. | Kris Allen (season 8, winner) | 401,600 | Kris Allen (2009) #11 — 346,000 Thank You Camellia (2012) #26 — 35,000 Horizons (2014) #80 — 4,000 Letting You In (2016) |
| 26. | William Hung (Season 3, Auditioner) | 242,000 | Inspiration (2004) #34 — 200,000 Hung for the Holidays (2004) did not chart — 35,000 Miracle: Happy Summer from William Hung (2005) did not chart — 7,000 |
| 27. | Kimberley Locke (season 2, 3rd place) | 241,000 | One Love (2004) #16 — 212,000 Based on a True Story (2007) #160 — 22,000 Christmas (2008) did not chart — 3,000 |
| 28. | Crystal Bowersox (season 9, runner-up) | 230,000 | Farmer's Daughter (2010) #28 — 205,000 All That For This (2013) #71 — 8,000 |
| 29. | Danny Gokey (season 8, 3rd place) | 204,000 | My Best Days (2010) #4 — 204,000 Hope in Front of Me (2014) #40 |
| 30. | James Durbin (season 10, 4th place) | 194,000 | Memories of a Beautiful Disaster (2011) #36 — 123,000 Celebrate (2014) #83 |
| 31. | Lee DeWyze (season 9, winner) | 178,000 | Live It Up (2010) #19 — 153,000 Frames (2013) #116 — 3,000 Oil & Water (2016) |
| 32. | Diana DeGarmo (Season 3, Runner-Up) | 168,000 | Blue Skies (2004) #52 |
| 33. | Justin Guarini (season 1, runner-up) | 146,000 | Justin Guarini (2003) #20 — 146,000 Stranger Things Have Happened (2005) did not chart |
| 34. | Haley Reinhart (season 10, 3rd place) | 143,500 | Listen Up! (2012) #17 —77,000 Better (2016) did not chart — 7,500 |
| 35. | Colton Dixon (season 11, 7th place) | 128,000 | A Messenger (2013) #15 — 100,000 Anchor (2014) #23 — 28,000 The Calm Before the Storm (2015) did not chart |
| 36. | Tamyra Gray (season 1, 4th place) | 123,000 | The Dreamer (2004) #23 |
| 37. | Jason Castro (Season 7, 4th Place) | 105,000 | Jason Castro (2010) #18 — 54,000 Who I Am (2010) #198 — 18,000 Only a Mountain (2013) did not chart — 20,000 |
| 38. | Allison Iraheta (Season 8, 4th Place) | 103,000 | Just Like You (2009) #35 |
| 39. | Melinda Doolittle (season 6, 3rd place) | 091,000 | Coming Back to You (2009) #58 |
| 40. | Casey James (season 9, 3rd place) | 077,000 | Casey James (2012) #23 |
| 41. | Chris Sligh (season 6, 10th place) | 064,000 | Running Back to You (2008) #190 — 54,000 The Anatomy of Broken (2010) did not chart — 10,000 |
| 42. | LaToya London (Season 3, 4th Place) | 058,000 | Love & Life (2005) #82 |
| 43. | Phil Stacey (season 6, 6th place) | 058,000 | Phil Stacey (2008) #43 — 40,000 Into the Light (2009) did not chart — 18,000 |
| 44. | Mario Vazquez (season 4, Top 12) | 056,000 | Mario Vazquez (2006) #80 |
| 45. | George Huff (season 3, 5th place) | 52,000 | Miracles (2005) did not chart — 29,000 George Huff (2009) did not chart — 4,000 |
| 46. | Brooke White (season 7, 5th place) | 048,000 | High Hopes & Heartbreak (2009) #50 — 29,000 Gemini (2011) did not chart — 2,000 |
| 47. | Carly Smithson (as a part of We Are the Fallen) (Season 7, 6th Place) | 041,000 | Tear the World Down (2010) #33 |
| 48. | Jessica Sanchez (Season 11, Runner-up) | 38,000 | Me, You & the Music (2013) #26 — 17,000 |
| 49. | Kristy Lee Cook (season 7, 7th place) | 032,000 | Why Wait (2008) #49 |
| 50. | Candice Glover (Season 12, Winner) | 027,000 | Music Speaks (2014) #14 |
| 51. | Casey Abrams (season 10, 6th place) | 27,000 | Casey Abrams (2012) #101 |
| 52. | Constantine Maroulis (season 4, 6th place) | 25,000 | Constantine (2007) #75 |
| 53. | Caleb Johnson (season 13, winner) | 024,000 | Testify (2014) #24 |
| 54. | Paris Bennett (season 5, 5th place) | 22,300 | Princess P (2007) #133 — 22,000 A Royal Christmas (2008) did not chart — 300 |
| 55. | R. J. Helton (season 1, 5th place) | 022,000 | Real Life (2004) did not chart |
| 56. | John Stevens (Season 3, 6th Place) | 021,000 | Red (2005) did not chart |
| 57. | Michael Johns (season 7, 8th place) | 020,000 | Hold Back My Heart (2009) #97 |
| 58. | Jasmine Trias (season 3, 3rd place) | 014,000 | Jasmine Trias (2005) did not chart |
| 59. | Jimmie Allen (season 11, Hollywood) | 013,800 | Mercury Lane (2018) #128 |
| 60. | Ace Young (season 5, 7th place) | 010,000 | Ace Young (2008) #160 |
| 61. | LaKisha Jones (season 6, 4th place) | 007,000 | So Glad I'm Me (2009) did not chart |
| 62. | Nick Fradiani (season 14, winner) | 005,000 | Hurricane (2016) #121 |
| 63. | Danny Noriega (season 7, semi) | 005,000 | Till Death Do Us Party (2014) #59 After Party (2016) #192 Whatever (2017) |
| 64. | Trent Harmon (season 15, winner) | 004,500 | You Got 'Em All (2018) did not chart |
| 65. | Jim Verraros (season 1, 9th place) | 004,300 | Rollercoaster (2005) did not chart Do Not Disturb (2011) did not chart |
| 66. | Carmen Rasmusen (season 2, 6th place) | 003,100 | Nothin' Like the Summer (2007) did not chart |
| 67. | Kimberly Caldwell (season 2, 7th place) | 003,000 | Without Regret (2011) did not chart |
| 68. | Ayla Brown (season 5, Top 16) | 003,000 | Forward (2006) did not chart |
| 69. | Corey Clark (season 2, 9th place) | 002,600 | Corey Clark (2005) did not chart |
| 70. | Tim Halperin (Season 10, Semifinal) | 002,000 | Rise and Fall (2011) did not chart |
| 71. | Jon Peter Lewis (Season 3, 8th Place) | 001,600 | Stories from Hollywood (2006) did not chart — 1,100 Break the Silence (2008) did not chart — 500 |
| 72. | Michael Sarver (season 8, 10th place) | 001,000 | Michael Sarver (2010) did not chart |
| 73. | Josiah Leming (season 7, Hollywood round) | 001,000 | Come On Kid (2010) did not chart |
| 74. | Kree Harrison (season 12, runner-up) | 000900 | This Old Thing (2016) did not chart |