There have been 9 American Idol winners since the television competition show started in 2002. As of December 4, 2009, Carrie Underwood surpassed Kelly Clarkson for most albums sold in the United States by an American Idol contestant.http://top40.about.com/b/2009/12/04/carrie-underwood-moves-past-kelly-clarkson-in-top-us-album-sales-by-an-american-idol-artist.htm Lee DeWyze was named season 9 winner on May 26, 2010. Lee DeWyze beat out Crystal Bowersox. The season finale marked the end of Simon Cowell's time on American Idol as a judge.

• Season 1: Kelly Clarkson
• Season 2: Ruben Studdard
• Season 3: Fantasia Barrino
• Season 4: Carrie Underwood
• Season 5: Taylor Hicks
• Season 6: Jordin Sparks
• Season 7: David Cook
• Season 8: Kris Allen
• Season 9: Lee DeWyze

• Season 1: Justin Guarini
• Season 2: Clay Aiken
• Season 3: Diana DeGarmo
• Season 4: Bo Bice
• Season 5: Katharine McPhee
• Season 6: Blake Lewis
• Season 7: David Archuleta
• Season 8: Adam Lambert
• Season 9: Crystal Bowersox

American Idol is a singing competition held each year for anyone ages 16 to 28. It is televised twice weekly on FOX. There are 4 judges that determine whether a contestant is good enough to move to the next round. During the 2009 season, the field was narrowed down to 36 singers and the American Idol winner was determined by the votes from the viewers of the show. Three groups of 12 sang weekly, the top three made it to the final round of 12. Then 1 contestant was voted off weekly. The winner receives $1 million and a recording contract. The 2010 season will feature a top 24 format, with 12 men and 12 women, instead of the top 36 format used in the 2009 season. From 24, two men and two women are eliminated weekly until the field is narrowed down to 12 contestants. From there, one person is eliminated weekly.

• Kelly Clarkson: Thankful, Breakaway, My December, All I Ever Wanted
• Ruben Studdard: Soulful, I Need An Angel, The Return, Love Is,Playlist: The Very Best Of Ruben Studdard
• Fantasia Borrino: Free Yourself, Fantasia
• Carrie Underwood: Some Hearts, Carnival Ride, Play On
• Taylor Hicks: Taylor Hicks, Early Works, The Distance
• Jordin Sparks: Jordan Sparks, Battlefield
• David Cook: David Cook
• Kris Allen: Kris Allen

Carrie Underwood

• 2005: 3 Billboard Awards, 1 Teen Choice Award
• 2006: 5 Billboard Awards, 2 CMT Music Awards, 2 Academy Of Country Music Awards, 2 Country Music Association Awards, 1 Gospel Music Association Award, 1 NARP organization of record retail merchants award, 1 Music Row Award, 1 Inspirational Country Music Award, 1 Canadian Country Music Award, 1 Dove Award
• 2007: 5 Billboard Awards, 3 American Music Awards, 3 Academy Of Country Music Awards, 2 People's Choice Awards, 2 Grammy Awards, 2 CMT Music Awards, 2 Country Music Association Awards
• 2008: 2 CMT Online Awards, 1 Grammy Award, 1 Academy Of Country Music Award, 1 Teen Choice Award, 1 Country Music Association Award, 1 American Music Award, 1 Billboard Award, 1 European Country Music Association Award
• 2009: 4 Country Universe Reader’s Choice Awards, 3 People's Choice Awards, 2 Academy Of Country Music Awards, 1 Grammy Award
• 2010: 1 People's Choice Award, 1 Grammy Award, 2 Academy of Country Music Awards Awardhttp://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/carrie_underwood/awards.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_received_by_Carrie_Underwood
  
  

Kelly Clarkson

• 2002: 1 Billboard Award
• 2003: 2 XM Nation Music Awards, 1 Teen Choice Award
• 2005: 4 Teen Choice Awards, 2 American Music Awards, 2 MTV Video Music Awards, 1 Radio Music Award
• 2006: 2 American Music Awards, 2 Grammy Awards, 2 TMF Awards Belgium, 1 Much Music Video Award, 1 People's Choice Award, 1 Nickelodean Kids' Choice Awards, 1 MTV Asia Award, 1 MTV Video Music Award
• 2007: 1 ASCAP Pop Music Award
• 2008: 1 ASCAP Country Music Award
• 2010: 1 ASCAP Pop Music Award

http://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/kelly_clarkson/awards.html

Ruben Studdard

• 2003: 1 Teen Choice Award
• 2004: 1 NAACP Image Award, 1 Billboard AURN R&B/Hip-Hop Awardhttp://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/ruben_studdard/awards.html
  
  

Fantasia Barrino

• 2004: 1 Billboard Award
• 2005: 1 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Award
• 2009: 1 NAACP Image Awardhttp://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/fantasia_barrino/awards.html
  
  

Jordin Sparks

• 2008: 1 American Music Award, 1 Teen Choice Award, 1 NAACP Image Award
• 2009: 1 Peoples' Choice Award
  
  

David Cook

• 2008: 1 Teen Choice Award, 1 The New Music Award
• 2009: 1 Nashville Music Awardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Cook_(singer)#Awards_and_nominations