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.

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.

Who has been the most successful Idol of all-time? Take a gander at the gallery, above, to find out who holds the honor.

Then weigh in: Who is your favorite Idol? Explain why in the comments, below.

He may not have won American Idol, but Chris Daughtry is doing just fine, thank you. 

His self-titled band Daughtry is about to hit the road again — and not only did Celebuzz get the deets on the best and worst parts of touring from Crhis himself, but we’re giving one lucky winner a chance to win a pair of tickets to see the show in the city of their choice! (UPDATE: A WINNER HAS BEEN SELECTED, THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING) 

See tour dates and entry rules below! First, take a peep our Q&A with the rocker right here: 

What’s the scariest thing that’s ever happened to you?
Car accident when I was 17…flipped my car 3 times…no seat belt…came out unscathed. Thank God.

Any plans to expand your family? You’re still behind Brad & Angelina!
You never know! 

What is some of the best advice you’ve ever gotten in your career?
Perform the music YOU love. Don’t chase trends.

What are the best and worst parts about being on tour?
Best: Living the dream! Playing music for the fans for a living.
Worst: Missing out on “real” life at home with my wife and kids.

Want more with Daughtry? Then see catch a live show! Tour dates below — which you can purchase at any time HERE: 

Here’s how to enter to win:

Follow Celebuzz on Twitter and ‘Like us on Facebook, and then leave a comment below telling us which Daughtry song is your favorite (be sure to list the city of your choice)!

PLEASE NOTE: You must sign in to Celebuzz (or use Facebook to sign in) in order to comment and win. Transportation is NOT provided to the venue. 

Giveaway ends Thursday, April 12th, so get commenting and good luck!

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RULES

Somewhere, Lady Gaga is cringing.

Ryan Seacrest and his friend, CNN host Larry King took it upon themselves to cover Gaga’s “Poker Face” on the American Idol host’s radio show this week… and while they get points for their effort, the vocals weren’t exactly pretty. It got us thinking about some of the other celebrity “Poker Face” covers out there, some better and (believe it or not,) some worse than Seacrest and King’s.

Check out celeb “Poker Face” covers ranging from acoustic to a cappella and even spoken word below.

First, Seacrest and King’s duet effort. “This isn’t the one Gershwin wrote, right?” King asks before they get started. Broadcasting giants they may be, but neither Seacrest nor King are singers.

By contrast, Chris Daughtry gave the Gaga hit a pleasing-to-the-ears grungy acoustic spin on German radio:

South Park’s Cartman took on “Poker Face” for a questionable montage about Japanese whalers.

Moving on to teen phenom and future Glee actress Charice, who gave the tune her soulful treatment during a trip to the Us Weekly offices. “Poker Face” starts at 3:08, as part of a comprehensive Gaga medley.

“Poker Face: The Spoken Word Edition by Christopher Walken?” Yes, it happened before a lucky (not so much?) BBC 1 audience last year:

Of course, Walken was just spoofing Jude Law’s poetic rendering of “Poker Face” on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” (:50 in)

At the end of the day, though, the person who sings Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” best … is Lady Gaga herself.

What’s your favorite version of “Poker Face?” Let us know in the comments!

Wasn’t Avril Lavigne at the top of the music game not too long ago, busting the charts with songs like “Girlfriend” and “Complicated”? Or was that all just a disturbing dream?

Either way, the Canadian bird-flipper is opening (yes, opening) for Daughtry August 3 at the Toms River Festival in New Jersey. And just as a reminder, Chris Daughtry didn’t even win American Idol the season he was on.

Adding kerosene to the raging fire that is Avril’s shame, the dethroned mall punk is also opening for new Rolling Stone cover boys the Jonas Brothers on seven tour dates prior to the Toms River fest.

No wonder she’s hocking her name to fragrances and demanding a couple million dollars from YouTube. It’s hard out there for a washed-up sk8er girl.

Being a chrome dome doesn’t have nearly the stigma that it used to in Hollywood.

In fact, thanks to a handful of particularly sexy celebrity skinheads, going cue ball has become trendy—even among those who don’t choose the Yul Brynner look out of necessity.

In honor of Mena Suvari‘s bald-faced confessions yesterday, the countdown gallery on the right serves up 10 of the most scintillating scalps in show biz.