It's official: American Idol is back for season 22—and that's not even the best part.
In May, ABC announced that veteran host Ryan Seacrest is also resuming his role as emcee, with Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie returning as judges. The network also confirmed that Tori Kelly is joining the upcoming season as a guest mentor and performer. The 31-year-old singer previously appeared on season nine of American Idol, which jumpstarted her career.
Fans were thrilled to see 19-year-old Hawaiian singer Iam Tongi get crowned the winner of American Idol season 21, with Megan Danielle taking second and country artist Colin Stough coming in third. Following his victory, Tongi told TV Insider, "It’s amazing. I was so happy everyone voted. Thank you to everyone. Now that I’m the Idol of the 21st season, it’s crazy."
Ever since its debut in 2002, the competition series has introduced many talented artists to the world. And we’re not just talking about the winners. From chart-topping sensations like Adam Lambert (who came in second place) to award-winning multihyphenates like Jennifer Hudson (who came in seventh place), quite a few finalists have taken the music industry by storm. But here’s what we want to know: Who are the most successful American Idol contestants? And what are they up to now?