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Carrie Underwood Is Newly Crowned Top 'Idol' Earner

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Carrie Underwood won 'American Idol' in 2005, almost three years after Kelly Clarkson became the first season's champion. Now, thanks to Carrie's three multi-platinum-selling albums, including her 2009 release, 'Play On,' which was accompanied by a 115-city tour, the Oklahoma native has surpassed Kelly's album sales to become the most successful 'Idol' contestant in the show's 10-year history.

The 'Undo It' singer has sold 12,296,000 albums, compared to Kelly's 10,674,000, according to the Hollywood Reporter. In addition, Carrie's digital sales exceeded 18,482,000, which bests Kelly's by more than one million.

This is the first year Carrie has been tops in sales over all other 'Idol' contestants, but while Carrie was battling it out on the 'AI' stage, former judge Simon Cowell famously predicted she would be the most successful contestant ever on the show.

Rocker Chris Daughtry comes in right behind Kelly, with a combined total of more than 17 million in digital downloads. Clay Aiken holds the fourth slot, with almost six million in combined sales, while Fantasia rounds out the top five with just over five million in sales.

Season 5 contestant Kellie Pickler, who came in sixth in the season that ultimately crowned Taylor Hicks the winner, has amassed more than four million in sales, with over three million credited to digital downloads.

Sales tallies aside, Carrie credits the hit show with the intimate interaction she has with fans today. "There's much more of a relationship with me and the fans, because in the beginning it was like, 'Oh, we saw her on TV,'" Carrie explains to The Boot. "It wasn't like there was a background repertoire kind of 'I have her CD. I've seen her in concert. I've followed her.' It was so instant in the beginning, and now I feel like we kind of have a relationship. I feel like I can enjoy it a lot more because I was so in shock in the beginning."

'American Idol' has launched the careers of several country stars, including Danny Gokey, Bucky Covington and Josh Gracin. Kelly Clarkson has also become a Nashville favorite, after lending her vocals to Jason Aldean's recent No. 1 hit, 'Don't You Wanna Stay.'

The finale of the 10th season of 'American Idol' will air on May 24 and 25 at 8:00 PM ET on FOX, with two country music hopefuls, Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina, battling it out to be named this season's champ.

Carrie is currently enjoying some time at home with her husband, hockey player Mike Fisher, while she works on her fourth studio album. She'll show off her athletic skills when she returns to the ball field to play in the 21st annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball game on June 21. Tickets can be purchased here.


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alisha

I love this actor.Its really awsome song.

January 03 2012 at 5:54 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris

Kelly Clarkson is still the top seller worldwide. Clarkson is an international superstar. Kelly is also more talented, creative, and unique.

July 12 2011 at 2:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ANGELAGALANTE

A YOUNG WELL KEAP 82 JUMP WHEM SOCTIE TOOK THE STAGE AND WHAT A SHOW THE VERY BEST IN 10 YEARS I WACTH EVERY ONE OF THEM AND AS FOR J,O AND HER HUSBAND MARK MY GOD WHAT A GREAT COUPLE THAT JLOMARK IS THE BEST AND GREAT FOR THE AMERICA IDOLE I SURE HOPE THEY KEEP THER SHE DID MAKE THE EVERY WEEK I JUST LOVE SOCTTIE AND CANT WAITE TO BUY HIS RECORDS ILOVE YOU SCCOT YOU HAVE AFACE I COULD KISS ALL DAY XXXXXXXX ANGELA IN BOYNTON BEACH FL.

May 25 2011 at 11:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dpostmann

finde sie echt super klasse sängerin bin begeistert von ihr

May 25 2011 at 5:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
calcomjoe

kelly learned an important lesson in listening to her producer instead of her self.
could have been number one

May 25 2011 at 12:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mauricio Balbin L.

wait for Kelly's new album ...

May 25 2011 at 3:04 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
deb4a

I love you Carrie but move over! Here comes Lauren!!!!!

May 24 2011 at 11:49 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
Gary Benard Hall

WHEN WILL WE TAKE OUR MUSIC BACK FROM THE FAKERS AND POSERS THAT TRY TO BE THE GATEKEEPERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, THE AI, AGT, XFACTOR FRANCHISE HAS TRIED TO CORNER THE MARKET, AND DICTATE WHO IS ALLOWED IN AND WHO IS KEPT OUT, THE UNFAIR BIAS IS AS CLEAR AS DAY, WHEN ALL OF THE WINNERS, DESPITE THE CLAIM THAT THE CONTEST IS OPEN TO EVERYONE, NEVERTHELESS, LAST YEARS WINNER OF AGT WAS A SUB-STANDARD PERFORMER, AND NOW THE TWO FINALISTS FOR AI ARE INEXPERIENCED COUNTRY SINGERS, THAT CATERS TO A SELECT AUDIENCE, AND LEAVES THE MAJORITY OF MUSIC FANS WONDERING WHEN THEIR MUSIC WILL BE REPRESENTED, SUCH AS BLACK R+B MUSIC WITH SUCH GREAT PERFORMERS LIKE MICHAEL JACKSON, MARVIN GAYE, JACKIE WILSON, AND LUTHER VANDROSS AND MANY OTHERS, WHO'S EFFORTS MADE POPULAR MUSIC WHAT IT IS TODAY, WE MUST INSIST THAT ALL GENRES OF MUSIC BE REPRESENTED, AND NO ONE SPECIFIC AGE GROUP DOMINATE THE PROCESS. UNLESS THE PROCESS IS TRULY FAIR AND RESPECTFUL OF THE LEGACY'S OF ALL GENRES OF MUSIC, THEN PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK ELSEWHERE, INSTEAD OF THE PROPPED UP MILLION DOLLAR KARAOKE CONTESTS

May 24 2011 at 7:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gary Benard Hall

WHEN WILL WE TAKE OUR MUSIC BACK FROM THE FAKERS AND POSERS THAT TRY TO BE THE GATEKEEPERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, THE AI, AGT, XFACTOR FRANCHISE HAS TRIED TO CORNER THE MARKET, AND DICTATE WHO IS ALLOWED IN AND WHO IS KEPT OUT, THE UNFAIR BIAS IS AS CLEAR AS DAY, WHEN ALL OF THE WINNERS, DESPITE THE CLAIM THAT THE CONTEST IS OPEN TO EVERYONE, NEVERTHELESS, LAST YEARS WINNER OF AGT WAS A SUB-STANDARD PERFORMER, AND NOW THE TWO FINALISTS FOR AI ARE INEXPERIENCED COUNTRY SINGERS, THAT CATERS TO A SELECT AUDIENCE, AND LEAVES THE MAJORITY OF MUSIC FANS WONDERING WHEN THEIR MUSIC WILL BE REPRESENTED, SUCH AS BLACK R+B MUSIC WITH SUCH GREAT PERFORMERS LIKE MICHAEL JACKSON, MARVIN GAYE, JACKIE WILSON, AND LUTHER VANDROSS AND MANY OTHERS, WHO'S EFFORTS MADE POPULAR MUSIC WHAT IT IS TODAY, WE MUST INSIST THAT ALL GENRES OF MUSIC BE REPRESENTED, AND NO ONE SPECIFIC AGE GROUP DOMINATE THE PROCESS. UNLESS THE PROCESS IS TRULY FAIR AND RESPECTFUL OF THE LEGACY'S OF ALL GENRES OF MUSIC, THEN PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK ELSEWHERE, INSTEAD OF THE PROPPED UP MILLION DOLLAR KARAOKE CONTESTS

May 24 2011 at 7:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mean ass

idol has never been as good sense carrie was on it, she was the best idol the ever had. i dont watch it anymore cause it sucks sense the day she won that was the best idol show and lord knows were in the world they have gotten the 1's on there now days but they all suck and cant stand randi cause its allways goes whats up dog and your in it to win it just right down sucks and he should not b a judge need to get him a new job. simon is the best but not there any more and he told the truth rath u like it or not to me he made the best job and needs to come back or the show will keep on going down the tubes. like said idol was the best with carrie underwoon. now that steve and jen is on there simon make it to were they get all the people back to watching it agan cause he get better singers not like the ones that they its picked now so god help this show cause friends and i dont watch it any more. over look any misspelled words just dont feel like fixing them and u all no what i mean. lets pray for better tdol and hope simon comes back he made the show the way it should b not pick just anyone he tell the people the truth about how they song and get the right singers. so im sure im not missing the stupid show ever and till simon and real better singers sing nevervwatch again and sure alot of people will disagree with me but must like to b bored to find anything to see. cause really the show sucks and god hate to hear randy.

May 24 2011 at 10:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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