Everyone knows what former American Idol stars like Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, and Taylor Hicks have been up to recently. But in its January 8 issue, US Weekly caught-up with more than fifty other former Idol contestants that have appeared as a finalist in the show's five-season history.
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Season 1
• Christina Christian: Living in Florida with husband and son and working as a songwriter.
• Elijah Day: Living in Georgia when he's not singing on cruise ships.
• Justin Guarini: Living in the Hollywood Hills and recording a jazz/soul/funk album.
• AJ Gil: Living in California and working on a R&B album.
• Tamyra Gray: Recently married former Color Me Badd singer Sam Watters in Italy.
• RJ Helton: Came out of the closet in October and enjoying life with boyfriend.
• Nikki McKibbin: Bartending in Texas, planning her July wedding, and working on a rock CD.
• Ryan Starr: Living in California and pitching a reality show about landing a record deal.
• Jim Verraros: Living in Chicago with his partner Bill and working on his second pop album.
Season 2
• Kimberly Caldwell: Working for TV Guide Channel in Los Angeles and planning a country album
• Corey Clark: Working construction in Nashville and separated from his wife.
• Trenyce Cobbins: Living in Los Angeles and getting ready to appear in the musical Invisible Life.
• Julia DeMato: Working as a cosmetologist and raising her new son as a single mom in Connecticut.
• Josh Gracin: Living in Nashville with wife and three kids and performing at shows (about 130 in 2006)
• Charles Grigsby: Taking a break at his Ohio home after losing a cousin to diabetes.
• Kimberly Locke: Living in New York City and working on a second pop album and Christmas album that are both due out in 2007.
• Vanessa Olivarez: Living in Atlanta and singing country with South 70.
• Carmen Rasmusen: Living in Utah with her new husband and recording a country album.
• Rickey Smith: Bartending in Oklahoma and recording a R&B album.
Season 3
• Amy Adams: Living in California with her husband and son after touring with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
• Diana Degarmo: Living in New York City and performing in Broadway's Hairspray.
• Leah LaBelle: Studying at Boston's Berklee College of Music.
• Jon Peter Lewis: Living in Los Angeles and promoting his recently released his debut album.
• La Toya London: Living in Oakland and starring in stage version of The Color Purple in Chicago.
• Matt Rogers: Living in California with wife and son and hosting the Discovery Channel's upcoming Really Big Things series.
• John Stevens: Attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
• Jasmine Trias: Moving to Los Angeles and working on an album and auditioning for movies.
• Camile Velasco: Living in Los Angeles and recording an urban R&B album.
Season 4
• Bo Bice: Promoting his "The Real Thing" debut album and recovering from intestinal surgery.
• Lindsey Cardinale: Working on a country album and living in Louisiana.
• Anthony Fedorov: Recording his debut album and dealing with losing his 28-year-old brother to a rare form of cancer.
• Mikalah Gordon: Singing in a Randy Jackson-produced girl group.
• Constantine Maroulis: Performing in Broadway and off-Broadway productions after his ABC sitcom project fell through.
• Anwar Robinson: Living in New Jersey and enjoying his privacy.
• Scott Savol: Recording an R&B CD in Nashville, spending time with his wife, son and stepdaughter.
• Jessica Sierra: Living in Nashville and "moving on" from a "terrifying" stalker experience.
• Nikko Smith: Living in St. Louis and talking to some record labels.
• Vonzell Solomon: Living in Florida, finishing an R&B album and breaking into acting.
• Nadia Turner: Living in Miami and working on her album and clothing line and caring for her 7-year-old daughter
• Mario Vazquez: Promoting his debut album and rebuilding his relationship with his estranged father.
Season 5
• Paris Bennett: Wrapping up her "Princess P" debut album that's due out in January
• Kevin Covais: Planning to "give movies and TV a go" after graduating high school.
• Bucky Covington: Living in Nashville with his wife and putting the finishing touches on his country album.
• Chris Daughtry: Promoting his debut album and enjoying a new $690,000 North Carolina home with his wife and kids.
• Mandisa Hundley: Finishing her Christian album that's due out in April and penning an Idol book that comes out in June.
• Melissa McGhee: Working on a southern-rock CD and living in Land O'Lakes, Florida.
• Kellie Pickler: Promoting her "Small Town Girl" debut album and working on her Fox sitcom project.
• Lisa Tucker: Graduated from high school and planning to attend college
• Elliott Yamin: Dating model Jamie Paetz and recording a soul album in Los Angeles.
• Ace Young: Living in Los Angeles and working a debut album that he plans to release in 2007.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio
