Idol season once again

American Idol is back and hopefully will bring in fresh talents from America. I wonder why the Philippine version is not that exciting to view. Don't tell me that colonial mentality crap because this is about talents.

Anyways- here are some memorable Idols as compiled by the staff of INQUIRER.net. I wonder why they did not include Elliot Yamin here on the list.

Kelly Clarkson—Former cocktail waitress and first winner in 2002 who sold more than 20 million albums and had eight Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100; double Grammy and four-time American Music Award winner; currently working on a fourth album due out in March.

Clay Aiken—2003 runner-up but one of most successful males in “Idol” history; recorded four studio albums and had a Broadway run in “Monty Python’s Spamalot”; admitted he’s gay in September, after the birth of his son with female friend and record producer Jaymes Foster.

Jennifer Hudson—Placed 7th in 2005, then won an Oscar, Golden Globe and SAG as Best Supporting Actor for her role as Effie White in “Dreamgirls” (2006); also appeared in “The Secret Life of Bees” and the movie version of “Sex and the City”; 2008 debut album earned four Grammy nominations. Her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew were murdered in Chicago in October.

Taylor Hicks—2006 winner whose debut album went to No. 2 on the Billboard charts, but was described as “the lowest selling album by any Idol winner”; played role of Teen Angel in “Grease” on Broadway in 2008; currently on US national tour in that role; new album “The Distance” due out on his own label in March.

Sanjaya Malakar—17-year-old Top 12 finalist in 2007, best known for variety of hairstyles and pitchy singing; in 2008, mocked himself in an insurance commercial; released a memoir in January and a five-track EP called “Dancing to the Music in My Head.”

David Cook—2008 winner whose debut album in November 2008 entered at No. 3 on the Billboard charts and is currently in 10th spot; plans a US tour in 2009.

William Hung— [I really hate this guy!] Chinese-American civil engineering student who shot to fame in 2004 after toneless audition performance of “She Bangs”; released three albums, appeared in TV commercials, starred in 2005 movie “Where is Mama’s Boy” and makes occasional appearances in Hong Kong and the US.

Carrie Underwood—2005 winner and multiple Grammy and Country Music Association Award winner; has sold more than 11 million records worldwide; third album expected in late 2009.

Chris Daughtry—2006 4th placer made chart-topping debut album and won three American Music Awards in 2007.

Jordin Sparks—At 17 became the youngest winner in 2007; debut album spawned three hit singles including “No Air” with Chris Brown which is in the running for a 2008 Grammy.

Fantasia Barrino—2004 winner whose debut album was Grammy-nominated; starred in a TV biopic of her own life as a teen single mom and won rave reviews as star of “The Color Purple” on Broadway in 2007.

David Archuleta—2008 runner-up who released a best-selling single, “Crush,” in August 2008 and a debut album in November that peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard charts. Expected to appear in Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” show in early 2009. [Reuters]

For a complete list of Idol winners follow this link.