We look at country artists who have tried American Idol early in their careers.
Carrie Underwood
Randee St. Nicholas
This week, American Idol announced that season four winner — and now eight-time Grammy winner and three-time Academy of Country Music winner — Carrie Underwood will return to the televised music competition as a judge for season eight on ABC and Hulu, where she will join fellow of country artist Luke Bryan and pop folk Lionel Richie on the judging panel. Underwood marks the first American Idol alum to ever join the Idol judging panel, and she knows that journey well American Idol the contestants begin.
There have been many country artists who have tried Idol fame early in their careers, including Bucky Covington, Casey James, Kristy Lee Cook, Trent Harmon, and others such as Danny Gokey and Bo Bice, who followed the country route before making strides into other musical forms.
Idol has had a consequential boost to the careers of many artists since the show premiered in 2002 — leading many aspiring country singers to earn their first record deals, first radio hits — and for some, their first big push into a sustained global spotlight, while also providing exposure to a significant audience for established country artists who have performed with contestants on the show. Earlier this year, when the show wrapped its most recent season, it The season finale episode drew 5.64 million audience. Still other artists experienced early rejection Idolbut they were undeterred and became top, award-winning hitmakers.
Here, we look at 10 country artists whose careers include pursuits Idol as they carved out their own unique paths in pursuit of country music exposure.
-
Kelly Pickler
Kellie Pickler auditioned for American Idol in 2005, performing Martina McBride's 'A Broken Wing' and another song Idol alum, Kelly Clarkson's “Since U Been Gone.” Pickler finished sixth American Idolits fifth season, and released four albums and scored a top 10 Country Airplay chart hit with “Best Days of Your Life.”
-
Josh Grassin
Gracin was serving in the US Marine Corps when he fought American Idol and placed fourth during the show's second season. He went on to score three Top 10 Country Airplay hits, with his song “Nothin' to Lose” topping the chart in 2005. His 2004 self-titled album reached No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart and No. 11 on the Billboard 200.
-
Mickey Guyton
Mickey Guyton competed on season 7 of American Idol, although her audition was not televised. Guyton was cut from the competition before reaching the top 24 that season. Guyton became a Grammy-nominated artist for songs like “Remember Her Name” and “Black Like Me” and performed the national anthem during Super Bowl LVI in 2022.
-
Chase Beckham
Beckham was crowned his winner American Idol in 2021, and followed up his Billboard Hot 100 chart debut earlier this year with his song “23.” In March, Beckham's self-penned track became his first Country Airplay chart No. 1. He followed this success with the song “Everything I Need”.
-
Laney Wilson
Louisiana native Lainey Wilson is another rejected artist American Idol early in her career. Wilson tried Idol seven times, but failed American Idol scene until appearing in the season finale in May 2023 — though by that time, Wilson had become one of country music's most up-and-coming success stories.
“I finally made it on American idol,” he said he said after the show. “I tried seven times. It took me a long way, but I finally made it on American Idol. I never made it. I never made it past the first round.”
A few months after that performance, she was named her best year by the Country Music Association in November 2023, and earlier this year she won the same honor from the Academy of Country Music, as well as Billboard's 2024 cover star. She has also won a Grammy for Best Country album (for Bell Bottom Country).
-
Gabby Barrett
After finishing third American Idol In 2018, Barrett scored a major hit two years later when “I Hope” reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart. Her next single, “The Good Ones”, spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart, while “Pick Me Up” peaked at No. 6. Her debut album Gold mine reached No. 4 on the Top Country Albums chart, while her next album in 2024 Chapter & Verse reached No. 39.
-
Kane Brown
Kane Brown is a multi-platinum, award-winning singer-songwriter who became the first artist to lead all five Advertising signthe main country charts simultaneously. He has scored 11 No. 1 Country Airplay hits and is currently headlining the In The Air tour. But early in his career, he saw the success his classmate Alaina had while competing American Idol and decided to try it. However, Idol turned him down, with Brown telling Billboard that he told him they “didn't need another Scotty McCreery.” Also try out for another televised music competition, The coefficient xbut he said Advertising sign, “They tried to put me in a boy band, so I quit. I went home and did my thing American Idol with covers online.” Suffice it to say, Brown pulled it off just fine.
-
Lauren Alaina
Lauren Alaina competed in the same season as Scotty McCreery, finishing as runner-up. Since then, she has scored several Country Airplay No. 1 hits. with HARDY and Devin Dawson. She was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2022. That same year, Alaina aligned herself with a new label, Big Loud Records, and released the six-song EP, Unlockedin 2023.
-
Scotty McCreary
At age 16, Scotty McCreery auditioned at 10u his era American Idol, as the season progressed, McCreery ended up facing fellow contestant Lauren Alaina in the final round. McCreery was crowned the winner of the season, celebrating by performing his first single “I Love You This Big”. His debut album Clear as day debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 all-genre charts.
Since his Idol days, McCreery has become one of the leading folk singers of his generation, earning five No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay charts. McCreery has released his latest studio album Rise fall in May, and earlier this year, he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
-
Carrie Underwood
From victory American IdolIn its fourth season in 2005, Underwood has become one of country music's top entertainers and loudest voices, with a career that includes not only 16 No. 1 Country Airplay hits, but includes work in film, television, theater, books and more. She has sold out arena shows across North America and the UK Each of her 10 albums has debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 for all genres. He has won eight Grammy Awards, 16 Academy of Country Music Awards (including three Entertainer of the Year ACM wins) and seven CMA Awards. She was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2008. In 2021, she was the first artist to appear at the Resorts World Theater and Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency was just extended to 2025.
Underwood created the fitness and lifestyle brand CALIA by Carrie Underwood and published the book Find your path. She also launched the fitness app fit52 and extended her lifestyle brand with a partnership with BODYARMOR Sports Drink. Additionally, it launched the SiriusXM channels Carrie's Country, CARR-Dio by Carrie's Country and Savior Sunday Daily by Carrie's Country.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/lists/american-idol-country-contestants/
