Kelly Clarkson News

A look at the winners of Fox's "American Idol" and what they've been up to since taking home the prize:

• Kelly Clarkson: The 27-year-old singer has released four albums since winning the first "Idol." Her name was immortalized in 2005 when Steve Carell screamed it out after getting his chest waxed in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin." Clarkson currently has two singles, "My Life Would Suck Without You" and "I Do Not Hook Up," on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

• Ruben Studdard: The 30-year-old crooner has also released four albums since winning the second season, including the 2004 gospel record "I Need an Angel." He is currently starring as Fats Waller in a national tour of "Ain't Misbehavin'." Studdard's most recent album, "Love IS," dropped Tuesday and features a mix of romance-themed covers and original tunes.

• Fantasia Barrino: The 24-year-old singer has released two albums, "Free Yourself" and "Fantasia." Barrino played herself in a 2006 Lifetime TV film based on her autobiography, "Life Is Not a Fairy Tale." She starred as Celie in the Broadway musical version of "The Color Purple" in 2007 and will reprise her role in a national tour later this year.

• Carrie Underwood: The 26-year-old country crooner is arguably the singing competition's most successful winner, becoming a Grammy-winning, multi-platinum selling recording artist with her two albums, "Some Hearts" and "Carnival Rides." Underwood captured the entertainer of the year award at last month's Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.

• Taylor Hicks: The 32-year-old Soul Patrol leader's first, self-titled album went platinum but never generated the acclaim or hype of winners like Clarkson or Underwood. He later went on to play Teen Angel in the Broadway and national touring casts of "Grease." Hicks released a second album in March under his own label after leaving Arista Records.

• Jordin Sparks: The 19-year-old singer's self-titled first album debuted at No. 10 on Billboard. After winning the sixth season, Sparks performed the national anthem at Super Bowl XLII and defended the Jonas Brothers at last year's MTV Video Music Awards when host Russell Brand joked about their purity rings. She will release her second album in July.

• David Cook: The 26-year-old rocker released his self-titled debut album in November and is currently touring the country. He dueted with Underwood on Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way" at the opening of an "Idol" attraction at Disney World. Cook's older brother, who famously cheered for him in the "Idol" audience, died from brain cancer earlier this month.

• Kris Allen: The 23-year-old college student used his twangy voice and folksy charm to overpower 27-year-old theater actor Adam Lambert during the eighth season finale, despite the fact Lambert had been declared the frontrunner by the show's judges. Allen told reporters following his win backstage he wanted to make "pop singer-songwriter kinda" album.