Keeping up with the 'Idol' crowd

By JOEL SELVIN
Tuesday, January 16, 2007

We live in the "American Idol" era of pop music. Not since Frank Sinatra vaulted off the Major Bowes talent show have amateur contests produced chart-toppers. But today's pop stars come elected by television audiences on a game show. As the yawning maw of the sixth season of "American Idol" begins this week, we look at the fortunes of past contestants as they fan out among the ranks in the world of show business.

2002 SEASON ONE

_ Kelly Clarkson (winner) The first Idol and the show's golden girl made "Since U Been Gone" the signature pop single of the new century. Her transition from "Idol" to bona fide star is complete, a long way from "A Moment Like This" and "From Justin to Kelly."

_ Justin Guarini (second place) Carrot-top curly-head of the bomb "From Justin to Kelly" is peddling a jazz album on his Web site.

_ Nikki McKibbin (third place) Dropped by RCA Victor after she refused to make a country record, she made some guest shots on other reality shows, such as "Fear Factor," but is still working on her first solo record (she recently cut a remake of the Mr. Big hit "To Be With You").

_ Tamyra Gray (fourth place) Also dropped by RCA after she wanted to write her own material, Gray re-emerged in a recurring role on TV's "Boston Public" and the 2005 feature, "The Gospel," for which she also sang on the soundtrack. She recently married vocalist Sam Watters of Color Me Badd.

_ R.J. Helton (fifth place) Came out of the closet and put out a gospel CD.

_ Ryan Starr (seventh place) Although her music career stalled when RCA refused to let her make a rock record, she did eventually release her song "My Religion" as an exclusive iTunes download (where it topped the chart).

_ Jim Verraros (ninth place) Also came out of the closet after "Idol" and has been making dance records.

2003 SEASON TWO

_ Ruben Studdard (winner) The cuddly Velvet Teddy Bear scored three hit albums and dabbled in guest appearances on TV and movies ("Scooby Doo 2: Monster Unleashed"). He was awarded a $2 million judgment last year in a suit against his godfather and business manager, who stole his money, and lost 70 pounds on a vegetarian diet.

_ Clay Aiken (second place) The enormously popular North Carolina singer, who many thought was robbed of first place by a voting snafu, saw his debut CD, "Measure of a Man," sell near 3 million. His tours and CD sales are second only to those of Kelly Clarkson among "Idol" alumni.

_ Kimberley Locke (third place) The belter's debut CD peaked midchart, and her follow-up has been long delayed. But she has a lingerie line with Lane Bryant and just signed on as a Jenny Craig spokesman.

_ Josh Gracin (fourth place) The ex-Marine earned three Top Five country hits and a gold album with his debut CD. His next album, "All About Y'All," is poised for release.

_ Kimberly Caldwell (seventh place) Posed for men's magazine and works as a reality show correspondent for the TV Guide cable channel. Her debut album, produced by "Idol" judge Randy Jackson with songwriter Diane Warren, is still unreleased.

_ Frenchie Davis (disqualified) Thrown off the show when topless photos of her surfaced on the Internet, Davis took over a role in Broadway's "Rent."

_ Corey Clark (disqualified) After he was kicked off the show for failing to disclose a criminal record, Clark went public with charges that he had an affair with "Idol" judge Paula Abdul and offered various phone records and photographs as evidence. The Fox network investigation cleared Abdul. Clark released his debut CD on his own label and sold 2,500 copies.

2004 SEASON THREE

_ Fantasia Barrino (winner) Her million-selling debut album earned four Grammy nominations, and the leadoff track, "I Believe," was the biggest-selling single of 2004. Functionally illiterate, she dictated her New York Times best-selling memoir, "Life Is a Fairy Tale," which was made into a cable TV movie. She is touring with Jaimie Foxx, and her hot new album featured a first single produced by Big Boi of OutKast.

_ Diana DeGarmo (second place) Her CD bombed, but she has been playing the role of Penny Singleton in the Broadway production of "Hairspray."

_ Jasmine Trias (third place) Her CD tanked, but she's big in the Philippines.

LaToya London (fourth place) Dropped by her label after the 2005 debut CD sold modestly. She dropped "LaToya" from her performing name and is writing songs for a second album, shopping for a label and headed into a Chicago run of the Broadway musical "The Color Purple."

_ Jennifer Hudson (seventh place) "Dreamgirls" made her a star. Her new album is due, and she could well win the Oscar.

_ William Hung (auditioned) The UC Berkeley student's off-key Ricky Martin cover, "She Bangs," made him a star/joke for a moment.

2005 SEASON FOUR

_ Carrie Underwood (winner) The former beauty pageant contestant made Faith Hill furious when she won Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year. Her debut album sold more than 4 million copies _ the biggest-selling "Idol" record debut _ and she could be seen last month cuddling with her new boyfriend, quarterback Tony Romo, on the sidelines of the Cowboys-Eagles game.

_ Bo Bice (second place) The Southern rocker featured a guitar solo from Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora on his first single, appeared with Trey Anastasio of Phish at the Bonaroo Music Festival, took the stage with Willie Nelson at Farm Aid and sang on the latest album by Carlos Santana.

_ Anthony Fedorov (fourth place) The Ukrainian immigrant who sings like Richard Marx finished second in a special reality-TV edition of "Fear Factor" and served as a judge on MTV's "Little Talent Show."

_ Mario Vazquez (resigned) Apparently having second thoughts, the former child prodigy quit the show in the semifinals. His first post-"Idol" single got radio play but never caught fire. His album made the chart at No. 80 and disappeared shortly thereafter.

2006 SEASON FIVE

_ Taylor Hicks (winner) His debut single, "Do I Make You Proud," hit No. 1, and his album has sold 500,000 copies since it was released last month. The husky-voiced Alabaman, named People magazine "Hottest Bachelor" last year, has already been the subject of a Weird Al parody and several "Saturday Night Live" skits. His ghostwritten memoirs will be published in April.

_ Katharine McPhee (second place) The Valley Girl who inspired McPheever will release her hotly awaited debut album Jan. 30. She has toured with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and admitted to problems with bulimia, a severe father and a reading disorder.

_ Chris Daughtry (fourth place) Last season's "rocker" released his debut album in November and has already passed the million sales mark. He played Times Square on New Year's Eve.

_ Kellie Pickler (sixth place) Her album, "Small Town Girl," topped the country charts the week it was released in October. A TV sitcom built around her dingy, unsophisticated character is in development.

_ Terrell and Derrell Brittenum (disqualified) The talented twins wound up jailed on forgery, theft and weapons charges after appearing on the first two episodes of the season. The first offenders pleaded guilty in May and were fined $1,000 each and placed on probation.

(E-mail Joel Selvin at jselvin(at)sfchronicle.com.