Most Underrated American Idol Contestants

The Top Ten
1 Clay Aiken

An unbelievable voice! He can sing anything! He is also a great entertainer... funny with a quick wit and great rapport with the audience, Clay was way ahead all of Season 2 and should have won. His "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was phenomenal!

Wish that he would have had more chances on the radio.

What a voice. I am always astonished to hear him sing. Favorite AI performer of all time.

Best voice, bar none.

2 Haley Reinhart Haley Elizabeth Reinhart is an American singer, songwriter, and voice actress from Wheeling, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

She has a very unique vocal ability that no one in American Idol has showcased in its entire run. She can do anything from jazz, rock, soul, country... She covered songs, made it her own, and made it priceless. She is a goddess in the stage, mesmerizing everyone who watch and listen to her. America should see her talent as how we, from other parts of the world, did. You wouldn't regret it.

She has a great and distinctive voice but was unfairly ridicule judges. Also besides her hardcore fans many people didn't like her due to how she reacted to harsh comments and being in the bottom three multiple times, which has nothing to do with talent. Also if you need proof listen to her album "Listen Up" or her idol songs, House of the Rising Sun, Benny and the Jets, What is and What Should Never Be, I Who Have Nothing, and Moaning with Casey Abrams. Although I'm not big on either genre but she encompasses a current flavor to both classic rock and jazz which is simply amazing

Absolutely one of the best idols ever. She should have won easily, but on American Idol the best singers and performers usually don’t win because the teeny boppers vote for the cute boys or the cute girls. Plus Haley was being sabotaged the entire way by the producers and the judges. Nonetheless she can sing like nobody’s business and her voice is amazing. She is going to be big. She is too good not to. Not to mention that she is also beautiful. Indeed, she has all the tools and the making of a future superstar.

She doesn't get the fame she deserves. You kidding me? This girl rocks, she should have won that season hands down. Don't blame me, I love Scotty and he's one of my fave Idols, but I think that Haley has what it takes.

3 Kelly Clarkson Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American singer, songwriter and children's book author. She rose to fame in 2002 after winning the inaugural season of the television series American Idol, which earned her a record deal with RCA Records. Clarkson's debut single, "A Moment Like This", topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and became the country's best-selling single of 2002. It was followed by the release of her debut album, Thankful (2003), which debuted atop the US Billboard 200. Trying to reinvent her image, Clarkson decided to part ways with Idol management and her second album, Breakaway (2004), featured a pop rock sound. It sold over 12 million copies worldwide and earned Clarkson two Grammy ...read more.

I don't see how she underrated. She's one of the first American idols that I talk about. No pun intended. She's phenomenal. And her music and top hits tell it all

Underrated cause she doesn't win every award she's nominated for. But she's the only idol contestant to have 100 billboard no. 1 singles. So... Yeah

She gets the success she deserves, but for some reason, some people don't see her as being as amazing as she is.

She should be above the likes of Taylor Swift... who is extremely untalented. I love Kelly and she's very talented.

4 Elise Testone

An incredible vocalist, she should have been at least in top 3, I think that her voice is amazing and very unique.

She's got awesome voice but she'd been thrown under the bus several times

5 Katharine McPhee Katharine Hope McPhee is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. In May 2006, she was the runner-up on the fifth season of American Idol. Her self-titled debut album was released on RCA Records on January 30, 2007, and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 381,000 copies.

Gorgeous voice & she's now an actress as well as a singer She should've won hands down!

6 Carly Smithson
7 Megan Corkery

Quirky, different, and just what the industry needs. I bought and love both of her albums. Admittedly, her song choice wasn't always great. But she was just misunderstood.

8 Phillip Phillips Phillip LaDon Phillips Jr. is an American singer, songwriter and musician who won the eleventh season of American Idol on May 23, 2012. His coronation song, "Home," released after his win, became the best selling of all coronation songs.

How is he underrated? He won!

9 Taylor Hicks
10 Allison Iraheta

Allison was amazing! The only true female rocker ever on the show. The fact that she was eliminated on rock week instead of Scream On Gokey is still one of the biggest upsets in American Idol's history. Kradison should've been the top 3.

The Contenders
11 Kris Allen Kristopher Neil Allen is an American singer and songwriter from Conway, Arkansas, and the winner of the eighth season of American Idol.Prior to Idol, he self-released a 2007 album entitled Brand New Shoes.Allen's Idol coronation song, "No Boundaries" and his version of "Heartless" both charted within the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. Allen's post-Idol self-titled album was released on November 17, 2009, by Jive Records.

I often wonder if Kris' career would be better if he didn't win. I see so many comments that Adam Lambert should have won (heck, even Kris Allen said that more than once).

He was a brilliant young artist, unfortunately the show wanted to stick to the Danny-Adam finale, too bad for them - BIG TIME!

Faded into obscurity after his fifteen minutes of fame. Kris should change his last name to Who. You know, Kris Who?

He sings "Hit the Road Jack" at his shows. They must be bringing in bus load of 80 year olds to see him perform. Lol

12 Elliott Yamin Efraym Elliott Yamin is an American singer known for his hit single "Wait for You" and for placing third on the fifth season of American Idol.

He should have won that season, he is such an amazing performer with soul and emotion.

13 Diana DeGarmo

She wasn't only a good singer, but she was also an AMAZING, INCREDIBLE person! So humble and ordinary that I could almost relate with her! She is so, so sweet and inspiring!

She lacked Fantasia's star quality and powerful voice but she doesn't get the success she deserves. She is truly amazing and her voice is beautiful.

Had she not had to face Fantasia in the finals, she would had won her season for sure

Come on, she was incredible.

14 Tatiana Del Toro

She's a great singer, but some people are annoyed by her, and are therefore not listening to how good a singer she is.

If I were Michael Sarver or Anoop, I would apologize to her for unfairly taking her spot, which she deserved.

The judges should not play favorites!

15 Vonzell Solomon
16 David Cook David Roland Cook is an American rock singer-songwriter, who rose to fame after winning the seventh season of American Idol in 2008.

Amazing voice very deep yet still an incredible 2.4 octaves range very original and always knowing what to do when to do it totally deserved to win but after his win his not really as big as he should he's a lot better than the famous Daughtry and a lot more versatile than kelly clarkson

One of the best voice in the history of IDOL, he is also a very good role model, he offers a lot of money in charities and he is very humble.

17 Joanna Pacitti
18 Melinda Doolittle

She is my favorite IDOL ever, and I think she is the most underrated contestant in the history of AMERICAN IDOL. Her voice is remarkable, unique and beautiful, definitely better than other winners like Kelly Clarkson. She should be more famous, making huge career, be a star.

A phenomenal live performer! If you've never been to one of her concerts, you are missing out. She never showed her true personality on IDOL. You may be surprised with how warm, funny and relaxed she is on stage. Not to mention that her vocals are always spot on.

I've never heard somebody saying "my favourite IDOL contestant is Melinda Doolittle". They all like Kelly and Carrie. But Melinda was amazing too! She is too underrated.

19 Michael Johns
20 David Archuleta David James Archuleta is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. At ten years old, he won the children's division of the Utah Talent Competition leading to other television singing appearances.
21 Colton Dixon Michael Colton Dixon is an American Christian singer-songwriter and musician from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He placed seventh on the eleventh season of American Idol.
22 Jasmine Murray

She is the most underrated finalist of season 8, for her voice was immature during her time on the show. However, she was still better than Michael Sarver, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Kris Allen, Alexis Grace, Danny Gokey, Anoop Desai, and Lil Rounds. She was sabotaged during the semifinal round. She should have gotten 5th place, not 13th place. The judges should have saved her instead of Matt Giraud.

She was very underrated her voice may not have been completely matured yet but still she was better than Micheal, Matt, Meghan, Danny, and Anoop!

23 Jordin Sparks Jordin Brianna Sparks is an American singer, songwriter and actress. In 2007, she rose to fame after winning the sixth season of American Idol; at age 17, she became the youngest winner in the series' history.
24 Adam Lambert Adam Mitchel Lambert is an American singer, songwriter and stage actor. Since 2009, he has sold over 2.5 million albums and 5 million singles worldwide.

Adam doesn't belong in this category. He has gone on to have a successful global career both with his solo music/touring and as frontman for the legendary Queen. If you've never seen him perform live you don't know what you are missing. The man is so incredibly talented, gorgeous, with charisma and charm oozing out of every pour. He's been invited back to American Idol for special performances and was the first to sit at the judges table. He has done some modeling, acting, and numerous T.V. appearances. Adam as had much more success than many of the winners. Even Kris Allen said many times that Adam should have won. While Kris is right, it didn't matter. Adam didn't need to win to have the successful international career he has today. His has a huge fan base and it keeps growing. Love Adam Lambert and can't think of anyone who deserve the success more than him!

25 Ruben Studdard Christopher Ruben Studdard, is an American R&B, pop and gospel singer. He rose to fame as winner of the second season of American Idol and received a Grammy Award nomination in December 2003 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Superstar".
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