What are Past Idols doing?

With the new season of American Idol just starting, I thought I would revisit some of the past contestants and see what they are up to.

We all know of the most successful Idols accolades, Kelly's Grammy Awards and stellar sales of her sophomore album, and Carrie's CMA Awards and highest debut sales for a debut album with 4.7 million albums sold and still selling strongly. Of course, my favorite had quite a year. It was a year of ups and downs for Clay. Despite the nasty tabloid lies and inferior promotion for his Clive Davis-mandated cover CD, Clay still managed to have many shining moments as summarized with commentary, articles, pictures and videos at claymatized.com. Please check it out.

Here's a look at the rest:

Season 1:

• Christina Christian: Living in Florida with husband and son and working as a songwriter.She has received her real estate liscence and has a successful career selling real estate.
• Elijah Day: Living in Georgia when he's not singing on cruise ships.
• Justin Guarini: Living in the Hollywood Hills and recorded a jazz/soul/funk album, and is now recording an R&B album.
• AJ Gil: Living in California and working on a R&B album.
• Tamyra Gray: Recently married former Color Me Badd singer Sam Watters in Italy.
• RJ Helton: Came out of the closet in October and enjoying life with boyfriend. Previously recorded a Christian album.
• Nikki McKibbin: Bartending in Texas, planning her July wedding, and working on a rock CD.
• Ryan Starr: Living in California and pitching a reality show about landing a record deal.
• Jim Verraros: Living in Chicago with his partner Bill and working on his second pop album.
  

Season 2:

• Ruben Studdard: Released his third album and is helping Alabama peel back the pounds with the Scale Back Alabama weight-loss campaign after his recent 100-lb weight loss.
• Kimberly Caldwell: Working for TV Guide Channel in Los Angeles and planning a country album having dropped the rock album she has worked on for 3 years. The issue is it is being done in conjuction with Randy and Diane Warren and they have limited availablity to work on this prioject - they are now involved with other ex-idols.
• Corey Clark: Working construction in Nashville and separated from his wife.
• Julia Demato: Working as a cosmetologist and raising her new son as a single mom in Connecticut. She attended Clay's Hartford Christmas concert.
• Josh Gracin: Living in Nashville ,after a successful debut country album, with wife and three kids and performing at shows (about 130 in 2006). He's at work on his next country album.
• Charles Grigsby: Taking a break at his Ohio home after losing a cousin to diabetes.
• Kimberly Locke: Living in New York City and working on a second pop album and Christmas album that are both due out in 2007.
• Carmen Rasmusen: Living in Utah with her new husband and recording a country album.
• Rickey Smith: Bartending in Oklahoma and recording a R&B album. Rickey just graduated from college in June where he studied music ( specifically opera).
• Trenyce: Living in Los Angeles and getting ready to appear in the musical "Love In The Nick of Tyme" in a 17-city tour.
• Vanessa Olivarez: Living in Atlanta and singing country with South 70.

Season 3:

• Fanatasia: Released her second album and starred in the successful life-time movie based on her life.
• Jennifer Hudson: A Cinderella story. Jennifer appears to accolades in Dreamgirls with strong Best Supporting Actress buzz. She recently signed a record deal with Clive Davis and J Records.
• Amy Adams: Living in California with her husband and son after touring with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
• Diana Degarmo: Living in New York City and performing in Broadway's Hairspray.
• Leah LaBelle: Studying at Boston's Berklee College of Music.
• Jon Peter Lewis: Living in Los Angeles and promoting his recently released his debut album.
• La Toya London: Living in Oakland and starring in stage version of The Color Purple in Chicago.
• Matt Rogers: Living in California with wife and son and hosting the Discovery Channel's upcoming Really Big Things series.
• John Stevens: Attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
• Jasmine Trias: Moving to Los Angeles and working on an album and auditioning for movies.
• Camile Velasco: Living in Los Angeles and recording an urban R&B album.

Season 4:

• Bo Bice: Promoting his "The Real Thing" debut album and recovering from intestinal surgery. Bo is doing selected appearanes and is searching for music for his sophomore CD.
• Lindsey Cardinale: Working on a country album and living in Louisiana.
• Matt Rogers: Co-host “Idol Extra,” a behind-the-scenes look at the reality show.
• Mikalah Gordon: Lead correspondent for “The Tyra Banks Show” , co-host of Idol Extra, and singing in a Randy Jackson-produced girl group.
• Anthony Fedorov: Recording his debut album, and dealing with losing his 28-year-old brother to a rare form of cancer. Appeared on Fear Factor.
• Constantine Maroulis: Performing in Broadway and off-Broadway productions after his ABC sitcom project fell through. Recording an album.
• Anwar Robinson: Living in New Jersey and is working on an R&B CD.
• Jessica Sierra: Living in Nashville and recovering from terrifying stalker experience.
• Scott Savol: Recording an R&B CD in Nashville, spending time with his wife, son and stepdaughter.
• Nikko Smith: Living in St. Louis and talking to some record labels.
• Vonzell Solomon: Living in Florida, finishing an R&B album and breaking into acting.
• Nadia Turner: Living in Miami and working on her album and clothing line and caring for her 7-year-old daughter. She recently co-hosted The View.
• John Stevens: Released a jazz album with Maverick and is now studying at Boston’s Berklee College of Music.
• Mario Vazquez: Promoting his debut album which had less than stellar sales, and rebuilding his relationship with his estranged father.

Season 5:

• Paris Bennett: Wrapping up her "Princess P" debut album that's due out in January.
• Kevin Covais: Planning to "give movies and TV a go" after graduating high school.
• Bucky Covington: Living in Nashville with his wife and putting the finishing touches on his country album.
• Chris Daughtry: Promoting his debut album and enjoying a new $690,000 North Carolina home with his wife and kids.
• Mandisa: Finishing her Christian album that's due out in April and penning an Idol book that comes out in June.
• Melissa McGhee: Working on a southern-rock CD and living in Land O'Lakes, Florida.
• Kellie Pickler: Promoting her "Small Town Girl" debut album and working on her Fox sitcom project.
• Lisa Tucker: Graduated from high school and planning to attend college
• Elliott Yamin: Dating model Jamie Paetz and recording a soul album in Los Angeles.
• Ace Young: Living in Los Angeles and working a debut album that he plans to release in 2007.
• Kevin Corvais: Working with the American Diabetes Association to educate young people about diabetes.
  ~~Thanks to additional information from Reality TV World and playbiller at the Clack House.

~~Though many past Idols are recording CD's, few are signed to major labels. Some are them are signed to independent labels with quite a few without a record deal at all. They record first and then shop it around.

Technati Tags: American Idol, Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia, Ruben Studdard, Christina Christian, Elijah Day, Justin Guarini, AJ Gil, Tamyra Gray, RJ Helton, Nikki McKibbin, Ryan Starr, Jim Verraros, Kimberly Caldwell, Corie Clark, Julia Demato, Josh Gracin, Charles Grigsby, Kimberly Locke, Carmen Rasmusen, Rickey Smith, Trenyce, Vanessa Olivarez, Amy Adams, Diana Degarmo, Leah LaBelle, Jon Peter Lewis, La Toya London, Matt Rogers, John Stevens, Jasmine Trias, Bo Bice, Camile Velasco, Lindsey Cardinale, Mikalah Gordon, Anthony Fedorov, Constantine Maroulis, Anwar Robinson, Jessica Sierra, Scott Savol, Vonzell Solomon, Nikko Smith, Nadia Turner, Mario Vazquez, Paris Bennett, Kevin Corvais, Bucky Covington, Chris Daughtry, Mandisa, Melissa McGhee, Kellie Pickler, Elliott Yamin, Lisa Tucker, Ace Young