The 20 Most Successful 'American Idol' Contestants, from Carrie Underwood to Jennifer Hudson

Ever since its debut in 2002, America's biggest singing competition, American Idol, has been introducing talented artists to the world. And guys, we’re not just talking about the winners. From chart-topping sensations like Adam Lambert (who came in second place) to award-winning multihyphenates like Jennifer Hudson (who came in seventh place), quite a few finalists have also taken the music industry by storm. But here’s what we want to know: Who are the most successful American Idol contestants?

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