page_title: List of American Idol finalists
section_title: Contestants
hierarchical_section_title: List of American Idol finalists / Contestants
caption_attribution_description: Winner of season 3 of American Idol, Fantasia Barrino.
context_page_description: American Idol is an American talent reality television series that first aired in 2002. As of May 2020, there have been eighteen seasons. Each season, the final round of competition features ten to thirteen singers. A total of 178 contestants have reached the finals of their season. The show's age requirements have varied year-to-year. Of the finalists, 55 of them were under the age of 20, including three winners and five runners-up. First season-winner Kelly Clarkson currently holds the record for the highest-selling album sales worldwide, with more than 25 million copies, while fourth season-winner Carrie Underwood currently holds the record for the highest-selling album sales in the United States, with more than 13 million copies.
  In first season, Jim Verraros, an openly gay contestant, was told by Fox to remove all mentions of his homosexuality from his online journal as producers "thought [he] was trying to gain more votes". During the second season, finalist Corey Clark was disqualified when it was revealed that he had been arrested and charged with resisting arrest, battery upon his sister, and criminal restraint.
caption: Fantasia Barrino, third season winner
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