Top 5 Most Successful 'American Idols' of All-Time (PHOTOS)

From Kelly Clarkson to Jordin Sparks, a closer look at the show's biggest stars.

Posted January 16, 2013, 7:00 pm • by Cory Lopez • 1 comments

With American Idol season 12 kicking off, the search begins for the next big star.

While taking the crown on the FOX singing competition can certainly be a singer's breakout moment, a win doesn't necessarily spell success.

‘American Idol’: Most Outrageous Contestants Through the years

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'American Idol' - Most Outrageous Contestants Through the Years

After each Idol season adjourns, victors venture into the wider world of in the music industry, some making quite a splash — like chart-blazing inaugural champ Kelly Clarkson — while others simply sink.

Sometimes, even as title holders lose that Idol lunar pull as runner-ups — like season two's second-best Clay Aiken or seventh-place finisher Jennifer Hudson — stand the test of time.

So as the FOX jaugernaut prepares to premiere — revealing a revamped judge's panel, with pop diva Mariah Carey, raptress Nicki Minaj and country star Keith Urban joining Idol veteran Randy Jackson — it feels only fitting to look back at all the Idol alums who have made a mark on music.