1. Carrie Underwood - 14 million
- The Muskogee, Okla.-born country girl used Idol to launch a massively successful recording career. A three-time Grammy country vocal winner, Underwood has sold 9.6 million albums.

2. Jennifer Hudson - 5.0 million
- The multi-talented singer-actress won an Oscar in 2006 for her role in Dreamgirls. Her 2008 self-titled album has sold over 750,000 copies. Hudson was chosen to sing the national anthem at the 2009 Super Bowl.

3. Kelly Clarkson - 4.2 million
- Idol’s original queen has sold over 10 million albums. Her latest release, “All I Ever Wanted,” hit No. 1 on Billboard charts.

4. Jordin Sparks - 3.1 million
- The season six winner broke out with “No Air,” a duet with R&B crooner Chris Brown. She has toured with Alicia Keyes and is now on the road with tween sensations the Jonas Brothers

5. Kellie Pickler - 2.3 million
- Like fellow Idol alum Underwood, Pickler is more cowgirl than diva. She has sold 1 million records since the show. She is paid to endorse Sexy Hair products.

6. Clay Aiken - 2.2 million
- The Raleigh, N.C., native maintains loyal following six years after finishing second on Idol. He has sold 4 million albums and penned a New York Times best-selling memoir. Aiken recently finished a run in Broadway’s “Spamalot.

7. Chris Daughtry - 2.0 million
- One of the first Idol rockers to reach the final four, Daughtry’s debut album sold over 4 million copies. His follow-up is slated to hit stores this July.

8. David Cook - 2.0 million
- Once a small-town songwriter, Cook has a top-selling album and a lucrative endorsement deal with Skechers.

9. David Archuleta - 1.3 million
- Edged out in the seventh season by Cook, baby-faced Archuleta has gone on to release a successful album of soulful pop. The self-titled debut record has sold 700,000 copies. The 18 year-old has played more than 100 live shows since Idol.

10. Taylor Hicks - $300,000
- Prematurely gray-haired soul master Hicks charmed Idol audiences and won the fifth season. He’s now playing Teen Angel in a national tour of Grease.

American Idol star David Cook has been “floored” by the fan response to an upcoming hometown concert in Kansas City, Missouri after seats sold out in just six minutes.

The singer, who won last year’s Idol, has kicked off his first solo tour since his victory, but it’s a return home in April, which has left him amazed; and quite rightly so!

He’ll play at the Ameristar Casino on 22 April and the show is already a sell out. He says, “I don’t even know what to say. The support I’ve just got from everybody, especially back home has just been amazing and I can’t wait to go home again.”

Don’t you just love it when someone who has come from nothing really appreciates what they are given!

Source

In case you hadn’t guessed, David Cook’s been busy since winning American Idol last season. USA TODAY’s Marco Della Cava checks in:

David Cook has been working incessantly since his Idol victory, starting with recording sessions for his self-titled RCA debut album that went on during summer’s Idols Live tour. After the album’s respectable debut (it’s certified platinum) and successful single (Light On peaked at No. 17 in Billboard’s Hot 100 and No. 20 on USA TODAY’s top 40 airplay chart), he’s now heading on the road. Cook’s Declaration tour started Feb. 13 in Tallahassee.

“It’s mainly colleges, which is fun,” says Cook, 26, who performed last week at the opening of Disney World’s new American Idol Experience attraction in Florida. “It’s time to get back to my roots and solidify this thing.”

Cook says he enjoys being on the road, as well as the “instant gratification” that a performer gets on stage. “You don’t have to wait 24 hours for validation” while America votes.

He’s stolen a few glances at Season 8. “Apart from a few panic attacks, it was OK,” he jokes. “Seriously, I felt like I spent three years with the Idol machine. I’m completely amazed I didn’t develop an ulcer.”

As an Idol champ he’ll have to steel himself for more public scrutiny, whether it’s related to his music or his personal life. He’s quick with an “Uh, no comment” when asked about his recent split from former Idol Kimberly Caldwell.

He’s taking it slow on a second album. “Look, I just want to do well enough with what I have now to be able to get there.”

Source

GALLERY LINK:
- USO Concert

Soldiers of the 1538th Transportation Company, 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, had the opportunity to relax and enjoy a USO show with musician David Cook.

The 1538th Soldiers, an Indiana National Guard company from Elkhart, Ind., are nearing the end of their yearlong deployment to Iraq and this was an event that definitely brought sunshine to the troops who are deployed.

“It was very exciting to separate myself from Iraq for a moment and enjoy the concert,” said Capt. Phillip Anderson, form Plainfield, Ind., who is the commander of the 1538th Transportation Company. “David Cook rocked the stage and reminded us of the support we have back home,” said Anderson.

For well over an hour, the musician entertained the service members and brought calm to the day to day military life each Soldier deals with in Iraq while they are away from home and loved ones.

“It was fun,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Kabay, a North Liberty, Ind. native, who is the Maintenance Technician for the 1538th. “I would go again.”

(Full Story)

David Cook kicks off his first post-“American Idol” trek today, but he is already thinking about the end of the jaunt and his hometown stop.

David’s tour will stop on April 22 in his hometown of Kansas City, MO, at the Ameristar Casino, a date which sold out recently in just six minutes.

“I’m floored,” “Idol’s” Season 7 winner told Access Hollywood on Thursday. “I don’t even know what to say. The support I’ve just got from everybody, especially back home has just been amazing and I can’t wait to go home again.”

While there are three months of tour dates to go before David and his band roll into the Missouri stop, he is already thinking of ways to make the upcoming homecoming gig special.

“We’re working on some things but we’ve got a little bit of time, so hopefully we can put something really cool together,” he said.

While life on the road playing shows most nights leaves little time to watch the current season of the show which catapulted David to fame, he admits he is still trying to keep up remotely.

“I’ve watched some episodes. I’ve DVR-d all of them. And what I haven’t seen I plan on watching,” David said.

But as for contestants he thinks will make it to the final few rounds, David is tight-lipped.

“I’m keeping ‘em close to my vest. I have my favorites that I’ve seen so far, but I want to catch everybody before I make my decision,” he smiled.

Source

“American Idol” winner David Cook brings his first-ever solo tour to headline Musikfest’s Sands RiverPlace stage at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, as announced this afternoon by Musikfest officials.
Cook, from Tulsa, Okla., won the hearts of the American public when he rocked his way to “Idol’s” season-seven title in May 2008. Following his win, 11 of his songs debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 charts.

Cook’s first album, “Analog Heart,” was an independent release in 2006, followed by his first major-label, self-titled debut last November.

His first single, “Time of My Life,” has sold more than 1 million copies and is said to have made the biggest single debut in “American Idol” history.

Tickets for the David Cook concert go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Feb. 27.

Source

David Cook says he finds his new-found fame “odd” after winning American Idol last year.

“I’m still catching up,” the star said at the launch of the American Idol Experience attraction in Disneyworld, Florida.

“It’s such an odd experience having people know who I am and know stuff about me. But I love it because it allows me to be able to do what I love to do for a living. Idol afforded me that opportunity and for that I am eternally grateful and absolutely stoked to be here.”

Source

- The Orlando Sentinal Theme Park Rangers blog recaps the event, with photos.
- FOX News article
- Some Access Hollywood stuff, with photos.
- The Disney blog has some video HERE, including soundbites from the contestants, and footage from the Idol motorcade.

Thanks attractionsmagazine.com