Have any American Idol audition rejects gone on to fame and fortune yet?

Cafe Society
1

I was watching the syndicated Idol rerun show and half the people who get vetoed by two or more judges make some sort of “I’ll show them!” comment. Of course most of these people are Calvinist contestants (i.e. preselected if not predestined to be damned and allowed to audition before the trinity strictly because they’re awful), but of course some are good and just not really 'Idol’y (more Broadway or twangy-country or hip-hop), and many who audition who really are very good never make it to the judges because of looks or their particular type of talent. (A former student of mine who had a tenor that would make you cry and could hold a note for eleven days was told he had the best voice they’d heard in the auditions, but at a week-under-seventeen and about 6’2/39 pounds/a voice that was more operatic than pop he wasn’t right for the show and never got passed through to the Three.)

So I was curious: have any big acts come along in the last few years who auditioned for Idol but were shown the door? I’m not referring to those like Clay Aiken or David Archuleta or Bucky Covington etc. etc. who’ve made the show and done well without winning, but those who never made the show at all.

2

I know this doesn’t answer your question, but I’m still rooting for Tammy(?) the Pedicab Girl.

3

William Hung? He got two albums, but only because of his poor singing skills and “fame” that came out of them.

4

Remember that kid living out of his car? I thought he was offered a record deal, but got into a dispute with the show.

What was his name? What happened to him?

5

Well it’s not actually as a music act but Amber Riley one of the stars on Glee auditioned for American Idol but didn’t even make it to sing in front of the judges.

6

I’d count that- role on a hit sitcom (especially one that’s sure to have soundtrack issues if it hasn’t already) as success.

7

The closest I found is Michael Gregory. He is auditioned on season 7 of American Idol, and now he’s part of The Gregory Brothers, who are now becoming well known for their Autotune the News.

8

Does Frenchie count? She made it through and was supposed to be in the Top 12 but then they decided some risqué photos of hers made her not-idol material and kicked her off. She’s been doing okay for herself on Broadway.