BEHIND THE MUSIC
Kelly Clarkson is the best selling American
Idol contestant with album and
digital download sales of 18.9 million.
Carrie Underwood is second with album
and digital download sales of 15.7 million.
Artist Total Album Sales Total
Digital Downloads Sales
Kelly Clarkson 9.4
million 9.4 million
Carrie Underwood 8.5
million 7.2 million
Clay Aiken 4.8
million 469,000
Chris Daughtry 4
million 5.2 million
Ruben Studdard 2.5
million 250,000
Fantasia 2.3
million 698,000
Bo Bice
721,000 474,000
Jordin Sparks
717,000 n/a
Taylor Hicks
702,000 344,000
Katharine McPhee
371,000 1.1 million
Blake Lewis
291,000 n/a
Justin Guarini
143,000 28,000
(Source: Nielsen SoundScan, through May 4,
2008)
American Idols" Appearing on The Billboard
200 albums chart - Peak Position
Artist Title
Peak Position Peak Date
Carrie Underwood "Carnival
Ride" 1 November 10,
2007
Kelly Clarkson "My
December" 2 July
14, 2007
Elliott Yamin "Elliott Yamin"
3 April 7, 2007
Katharine McPhee "Katharine McPhee"
2 February 17, 2007
Daughtry "Daughtry"
1 February 3, 2007
Taylor Hicks "Taylor
Hicks" 2 December 30,
2006
Clay Aiken "A Thousand Different
Ways 2 October 7, 2006
Ways"
Soundtrack "American Idol
Season 3 June 10, 2006
5: Encores"
Carrie Underwood "Some
Hearts" 2 December
3, 2005
Kelly Clarkson
"Breakaway" 3
December 18, 2004
Ruben Studdard
"Soulful" 1
December 27, 2003
Clay Aiken "Measure of a
Man" 1 November 1, 2003
Soundtrack "American Idol Season
2: 2 May 17, 2003
Classic American Love
Songs"
Kelly Clarkson
"Thankful" 1
May 3, 2003
(Source: The Billboard 200 through the
charted date May 15, 2008)
Most Popular American Idol Contestants*
1) Carrie Underwood
2) Clay Aiken
3) David Archuleta
4) David Cook
5) Kelly Clarkson
Most Popular American Idol Contestants
Season 7*
1) David Archuleta
2) David Cook
3) Jason Castro
4) Brooke White
5) Danny Norriega
American Idol by the numbers!
Friday, May 16, 2008, 05:50 AM PST [General]









