Winners' CD sales

Think all the "American Idol" finalists have had successful albums? Think again. Here are sales figures for the albums launched by the top two vote-getters from each "Idol" season. All figures are according to Nielsen SoundScan:

Kelly Clarkson, first-season winner: "Thankful" (2003), 2.7 million; "Breakaway" (2004), 5.8 million; "My December" (2007), 536,000

Justin Guarini, first-season runner-up: "Justin Guarini" (2003), 143,000; "Stranger Things Have Happened" (2005), no sales figures

Ruben Studdard, second-season winner: "Soulful" (2003), 1.8 million; "I Need an Angel" (2004), 737,000; "The Return" (2006), 232,000

Clay Aiken, second-season runner-up: "Measure of a Man" (2003), 2.8 million; "Merry Christmas With Love" (2004), 1.3 million; "A Thousand Different Ways" (2006), 516,000

Fantasia Barrino, third-season winner: "Free Yourself" (2004), 1.7 million; "Fantasia" (2006), 447,000

Diana DeGarmo, third-season runner-up: "Blue Skies" (2004), 166,000

Carrie Underwood, fourth-season winner: "Some Hearts" (2005), 5.8 million

Bo Bice, fourth-season runner-up: "The Real Thing" (2005), 669,000

Taylor Hicks, fifth-season winner: "Taylor Hicks" (2006), 692,000

Katharine McPhee, fifth-season runner-up: "Katharine McPhee" (2007), 348,000

THE COUNTRY CONNECTION

Season-four winner Carrie Underwood established a spot in the country-music scene, but she's not the only former "Idol" contestant to do so.

Bucky Covington, fifth season: "Bucky Covington" (2007), 231,000

Kellie Pickler, fifth season: "Small Town Girl" (2006), 593,000

Josh Gracin, second season: "Josh Gracin" (2004), 691,000

The Dallas Morning News