Who Won “American Idol” in the Past Ten Years?
I genuinely cannot name a single person.
I was about three-years-old when American Idol first exploded with new talent, breaking television records by featuring promising American singers. My extended family would crowd the little TV in our living room and watch singers blow the judge’s minds away or completely flop and embarrass themselves in front of the menacing judges and on national TV. We were devoted fans — watching Ryan Seacrest’s little hosting bits every week and ringing in the maximum amount of calls every week to ensure that a singer would not get eliminated and ultimately become the next “American Idol.” After the first couple of seasons, our fascination dwindled. We weren’t compelled to have any participation towards the show and the wow factor was completely gone.
The drama and the urgency from the earlier seasons still flashes through my mind sometimes. I remember my mom incessantly telling our family and friends to vote for Jasmine Trias — one of the Filipino contestants during season three—and the whole let down when she was let go as the third finalist was unbearable, yet surprising, for my fanatic family members. American Idol was the Filipino embodiment of the American Dream in the entertainment industry since a common stereotype is that Filipinos do sing well, but there isn’t a set path or institution for up and coming artists. There was much camaraderie within the community to help push for a rising Filipina star, and my mother would even pray for Trias’ win after each performance. Our landline was devoted to calling that 1-800 number and extension and she’d encourage all my cousins to use their minutes to call from their prepaid Virgin Mobile flip phones. To her, every vote counted. My mom would always tell me “When you’re older, you should go on American Idol!” Looking back at that statement as an adult and years of (forced) singing lessons, I’m more than happy that my life didn’t go down that route of competition stardom.
A couple months ago, my friends and I were perusing the internet and stumbled upon William Hung’s infamous cover of “She Bangs” by Ricky Martin. It was a zing moment — like a forgotten collective memory. We remembered Simon Cowell’s disproving looks, news stories, and precursor memes (and racism) that arose out of that off-beat and off-pitch moment. We had wondered what happened after that whole boom and seemingly discovered that he had released a whole album of cringey covers that weren’t bad but they also weren’t necessarily good.
American Idol has been off my radar for years. In fact, the only reason why I know that American Idol is still airing and filming today is because of Claudia Conway’s recent TikToks. Why is a show that showcases singing talent that is dependent on the same old covers still popular? Or at least asking to be revived? The first run of American Idol ended on Fox in 2017 and ABC later picked up the show within the next year and revamped the show’s format. American Idol isn’t the only show that revolves around singing. The prominence of The Voice and America’s Got Talent has eclipsed Idol’s momentum, though all of them basically have the same concept.
It seemed like early American Idol predicted trends and virality before they exploded on the internet. There was more emphasis on the outrageous antics, the surprising skills, and the tragic backstories that have put those singers on that audition stage in the first place. To be the “American Idol” was the key to immediate pop star fame. Even runner ups were given the chance to have record deals (Clay Aiken, anyone?). Every season finale was momentous where it feels like a completed rags to riches journey — you can make it big in the music industry with great talent and enough votes! The legacy from early seasons still linger where you can slowly see the talent of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jordin Sparks seep through Today’s Hits radio stations.
However, I can’t seem to put a face or name to anyone who has been on the show for the last decade. There haven’t been any winners who have had the same kind of mainstream success that happened when the millennia started. In my account, the last person who won American Idol was Philip Philips and that is only because both his first and last name are the same and not because of his music. Do we care who wins American Idol nowadays? Probably not, because every online platform is saturated with discoverable talent. We can’t wait 4 months and vote continuously to know who’s going to hold the title of “American Idol.” Breakout stars aren’t limited to TV or radio anymore. The next viral star can be found on TikTok or Youtube and record contracts are given out left and right to promising individuals who have mastered the skill of grabbing the attention span of the public. There are more people to idolize than the American Idol going into this new decade, but I will still be jamming to David Archuleta’s “Crush.”
This story is part of Reality TV Week. Check out the other stories here.
