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'American Idol': Billboard names Kelly Clarkson most successful idol


It has been eight years since Kelly Clarkson took the stage in the very first season of "American Idol" and sang "A Moment Like This." She would go on to show that America had gotten it right.

Eight seasons later, Billboard ranks Clarkson as the most successful idol in its list of "'American Idol's' All Time Top 24."

According to the magazine, Clarkson has sold 10.6 million albums, 15.9 million in track sales and she has been played on the radio almost 4.3 million times.

In second place, the first country singer to win "Idol," Carrie Underwood, has outsold Clarkson in album sales, but the original idol still has her beat in track sales and radio plays.

The most "successful idol" is definitely a tough thing to call, especially since Clarkson has had at least three years on Underwood.

Billboard points out that not only does she beat the country diva in two of the three statistical categories, but she continues to inspire new "Idol" hopefuls like Siobhan Magnus who said she practiced her now infamous belting style by singing to Clarkson tunes.

Chris Daughtry, who didn't even win the competition in 2006, places third with the success of his band, Daughtry.

Do you think Kelly Clarkson should have won Billboard's top spot?

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Credit: Getty Images

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I think Kelly Clarkson is the most sucessful Idol. Its not all about sales these days it about the work she puts into her work. She has sold many records and doing many show. She is the ORIGINAL IDOL. She always going to be the American Idol. Carrie Underwood Is good but Play On is abit boring its a good CD but not her best. Daughtry I have to say he rocks I love Daughtry hes got a good album well his 2 albums are great. BUT KELLY IS #1 ALLLLL THE WAYYY!!!!

It's nice to read in that Billboard article that Clay Aiken and David Archuleta both are in the Top 10, so that's a bit nice to see.....I think Kelly and Carrrie are Tops though....

Has to be a kicker for Kelly Clarkson to know that up and comers like Siobhan Magnus were inspired by her. In a way that it just has to please a Streisand or a Brian May of Queen or a Michael Buble to hear a new considerable talent is there in part because they were inspired by the best.

What Kelly Clarkson did was awesome. More than Cowell and Abdul, Clarkson launched the AI franchise and made it into "the most watched TV show". Kelly's rise was epic. It was before Idol was generally a cynical, nasty and negative affair. A good-looking girl with huge pipes and who had personality and charisma was rooted for on and off the show set. She got great advice.

8 years later, ratings are in trouble. Look to the sour, scripted hostility and nastiness - the negativity. Look at the difference in the experience Siobhan Magnus got compared to contestants in earlier seasons. While I'm not comparing Magnus to Clarkson...back then it wasn't all about who with no personality or attractiveness could make piddling money selling records. It was giving the audience a large number of talented, fine young people they would be entertained by and root for.

And the link to this billboard article is where?

kelly is the best...she should be on the top...who's carrie anyway?
soori...i'm asian..

I love Kelly and that video still moves me. But how is more successful to take double as long (8 years), to sell just a million or so more tracks than Carrie? What if Carrie had 8 years to sell what she's sold? For all we know, by now, Carrie might have sold 22 million albums, 27 million tracks etc. I'm not saying this to put Kelly down, but why oh why do articles keep popping up to compare the two? What for? I still think they are both great for their own reasons.

sorry but I think who has sold not 22 if not 25 millions of copies worldwide is kelly clarkson out of trakcs and tunes or whatever you want to name it, and she is a legend in all "Idols" around the world, "pop idol", x factor where the contestans chose her songs to sing,amybe that can help to clear some things

I DID NOT WATCH SEASON 1 OF AI. I HAVE BEEN AN AVID KELLY FAN FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. LIKE ME I THINK SHE PICKS UP FANS AS THEY GET TO BE EXPOSED TO HER MUSIC. I BUY HER CDS AND LISTEN TO HER ALL DAY. I LIKEWISE INTRODUSED HER MUSIC TO MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS WHEN WE WATCHED HER CONCERT. SHE IS AMAZING

Kelly clarkson still the best of them all. she can sing anything from rock, r&b, jazz, country, pop and so on. carrie underwood can only sing country because her voice is not for pop, r&b, jazz or rock look what happened to kellie pickler when i was watching ai season 5 she tried to sing pop but she can't that's why she was voted out. kelly clarkson should get a hollywood walk of fame since she was the original idol and first american idol to win. if it's not for her no american idol season 2.remember kelly clarkson is GLOBAL SUPERSTAR carrie underwood only superstar here in the us not global.i bought all kelly clarkson's cds i enjoyed listening to her songs and it is hard for me to stop it i listen to her songs over and over again even my kids they love her songs in other word it is so addictive.

kelly clarkson is a legend no matter what we can't forget her beacause remember she's the only american idol belonged to the category of celine dion, mariah carey and whitney houston and i agree with simon cowell. the last time i was online i've read that she sold more than 56 million albums and singles worldwide.It shows that she's still the best of them all.

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