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It's the end of an era. You may not have watched, let alone voted, for contestants on American Idol over the last 13 years, but there's no denying the mark the reality competition show — which, it was just announced, will be ending with Season 15 this fall — has made on both the television and music industries. Along with turning out its own superstars, American Idol has paved the way for hits like America's Next Top Model , Project Runway, Dancing With The Stars, Top Chef, and The Voice.
Over the past 14 seasons, the show has invited people around the world to connect over their love of music. It heightened our awareness of unknown talent, revealing that stars in the making are everywhere. It made us laugh, cry, love to hate Simon Cowell and hate to love the Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj feuds. And, it made dreams come true. Sure, that might be sappy, but when you think about it, the series ignited the careers of some of today's biggest artists. Of course, it also further delayed the dreams of many, whether due to the popular vote or the judges' whims — like when R&B powerhouse Jennifer Hudson got voted off the show in Season 3 (we're looking at you Simon). Hudson clearly didn't let her fate on the show determine her career, but other contestants who might've been robbed weren't able to bounce back as easily. Either way, the exposure and experience are seemingly invaluable, and not just for the singers. Host Ryan Seacrest, who's been with the show since it began, has shared sentimental thoughts about Idol and how it impacted his career.
Over the past 14 seasons, the show has invited people around the world to connect over their love of music. It heightened our awareness of unknown talent, revealing that stars in the making are everywhere. It made us laugh, cry, love to hate Simon Cowell and hate to love the Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj feuds. And, it made dreams come true. Sure, that might be sappy, but when you think about it, the series ignited the careers of some of today's biggest artists. Of course, it also further delayed the dreams of many, whether due to the popular vote or the judges' whims — like when R&B powerhouse Jennifer Hudson got voted off the show in Season 3 (we're looking at you Simon). Hudson clearly didn't let her fate on the show determine her career, but other contestants who might've been robbed weren't able to bounce back as easily. Either way, the exposure and experience are seemingly invaluable, and not just for the singers. Host Ryan Seacrest, who's been with the show since it began, has shared sentimental thoughts about Idol and how it impacted his career.
The contestants have been diverse on all accounts. Men, women, Black, white, blonde, bald, country and rock, just to name a few. Some voices have given us chills, while others gave us a really bad case of secondhand embarrassment. No matter what, the entertainment has never dwindled. It's nearly impossible to say who was the best of all time, so we've gathered a fitting number (15) of the greatest American Idol contestants. And, for an extra dose of nostalgia we've included their audition videos. They're just too good to pass up. Plus, they show just how far some of them have come.
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