With seven seasons of American Idol under our nation's collective belt, there is never a shortage of news to report on.  There is a veritable stable of American Idol alumni clawing to regain their fame or taking advantage of the new-found fame that Idol has afforded them.  For some, like David Cook, their star is still on the rise.  For others, like Sanjaya Malakar, their careers are on life support (for good reason, too).  Still others, like Katherine McPhee, remain in a holding pattern, stardom still a possibility.  Though one would like to believe that the trajectory of former American Idol contestants' careers are based solely on the quality of their musical output, it's actually much more of a crap shoot than we'd like to believe.  That being said, let's catch up with a few of American Idol's most (in)famous singers, including our most recent Idol champion.

David Cook 

Cook continues to set the world on fire, less than two weeks since he wrestled the Idol crown from the hands of a teenage Mormon.  His debut single, “Time of My Life” is planted in the number three spot on the Hot 100 charts, behind only Leona Lewis and the first single from Lil' Wayne's “Tha Carter 3.”  Cook, thanks to the studio versions of songs he sang over the course of the Idol season, has 11 songs currently on the Hot 100 charts, and 17 total on the Top 200 charts.  Nothing like this has happened since The Beatles were taking over the world in the sixties. 

Clay Aiken

Nothing much in the way of updates from the initial story (e'd like to believe.  That being said, let's catch up with a few of American Idol's most (in)famous singers, i).  To sum up: Aiken has artificially inseminated (not personally, he's not a doctor, but you get what I mean) Jaymes Foster, a 50 year old record producer and best friend to Aiken.  It's a bizarre situation, but I guess we should all be happy for them.  Anyway, the only update is this: they're having a baby boy!  At least, that's the word according to TMZ. 

Sanjaya Malakar

Sanjaya has pretty much given up, it appears.  In an upcoming Nationwide Insurance commercial for their “Life Comes at You Fast” campaign, Malakar went to India and filmed a spot.  He goes to an Indian monastery seeking advice – he is told to come up with a retirement plan and change his hairstyle.  Probably good advice on both counts.


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of FOX)
Source: E! Online, Billboard, TMZ