Total Rebound: Stars Who Have Found Fame Despite Flopping on ‘American Idol’

By ETCanada.com Staff. 16 May 2019 4:26 PM

You won’t believe how many stars-to-be have auditioned for “American Idol” over the years but weren’t able to make headway in the famed singing competition. Everyone deserves a second chance, and sometimes the most golden of tickets is the one not won, so here we go with a feel-good gallery for everyone who’s ever been shot down but still hoped for their very own bright and shiny happy ending among the stars.

Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images

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Rick Kern/Getty Images for Turner

Instagram/Kane_Brown

@msamberpriley

Universal Republic

Capitol

Simco

@mickeyguyton

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@alanritchson

@colton.swon

Bleu

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Maren Morris
Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images
Poor, poor Maren Morris. She was rejected not only by "American Idol" but by "The Voice" too. Good thing she has a Grammy Award, smash hits like "Girl" and "My Church" and a headlining tour in full swing.
Hillary Scott
Shutterstock
"I never got to see [the judges]. I literally performed for the production assistants and the interns, and I just didn't make it," said the five-time Grammy-winning frontwoman of Lady Antebellum. Scott tried out for two different seasons of "American Idol" but she didn't even make it to Hollywood, let alone to the famous judges.
Bebe Rexha
Rick Kern/Getty Images for Turner
You know the 29-year-old singer from hits like “Me, Myself & I” and “Meant to Be” but did you also know she's a songwriter who's penned hits for other artists, such as "The Monster" for Eminem and Rihanna?
Kane Brown
Instagram/Kane_Brown
This rising country star and three-time AMA winner was rebuffed by "American Idol" and quit "The X Factor" after they tried to put him in a boy band. He found fame posting covers online. He is now topping Billboard Charts so everything turned out.
Amber Riley
@msamberpriley
Who says no to Mercedes Jones?! Before embodying that huge role on "Glee", Riley auditioned for "Idol" but didn't advance past the producers. Also: Remember when she won the 17th season of "Dancing With The Stars"? And she appeared in Tyler Perry's film "The List", which will also star Whoopi Goldberg and Tiffany Haddish. Turns out Riley didn't need "Idol"'s golden ticket to get to Hollywood afterall!
Colbie Caillat
Universal Republic
Here's another singer who was rebuffed by "Idol" twice. At one of her auditions, the songwriter sang an original composition — never an easy performance — called "Bubbly" which, despite her "Idol" rejection, became a massive international hit for her in 2007. Caillat has sold over six million albums worldwide, and over 10 million singles.
Tori Kelly
Capitol
It was season 9 when this 14-year-old failed to reach the top 24 on "Idol" but don't feel bad for the "Thinkin Bout You" hitmaker: Like Kanye and Bieber, she's now managed by Scooter Braun. She's opened for Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith. And in 2016, she was nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist.
Alex & Sierra
Simco
Hold on, because this pair's story is a real roller-coaster: Alex Kinsey auditioned for "Idol" season 12 and was cut during Hollywood Week. Sierra Deaton auditioned for "Idol" season 12 and didn't make it past an audition for the producers. Later, the two teamed up as a musical duo (and a romantic duo) who won season 3 of "The X Factor USA". The pair released an EP in 2016 and toured before announcing that the band had broken up (and so had the relationship).
Mickey Guyton
@mickeyguyton
She was only onscreen for a split second of "American Idol" season 8 but that was when she was being told she wouldn't be advancing to the next round. Now, the Texas native is making (sound) waves in Nashville, including her 2015 hit, “Better Than You Left Me”.
Chris Lane
Rob Latour/Shutterstock
Chris Lane and his twin brother Cory earned the dubious distinction of performing an "Idol" audition that was televised — because it was so bad! The pair wore matching shirts and auditioned as a beatboxing rap duo. Now Lane is a country star and his brother is his drummer (aww!). He scored the recent hit "I Don't Know About You", which peaked at No. 15 on Billboard's Country Digital Song Sales chart.
Alan Ritchson
@alanritchson
You remember this guy. He was the guy who did the striptease for judge Paula Abdul in season 3 and made it all the way to the Top 87 (ah, the legendary "Top 87") before being shown the door. Since then, you've seen him as Aquaman on "Smallville" and Thad Castle on "Blue Mountain State". He was also in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" and the 2014 remake of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". Now he's joined the DC Universe in "Titans", playing Hank Hall/Hawk in a recurring role.
Colton Swon
@colton.swon
Remember the country duo The Swon Brothers who came in third on "The Voice", season 4? Yeah, they're the ones who've toured extensively with Carrie Underwood. Okay, The Swon Brothers are Zach Swon and Colton Swon and in season 7 of "Idol", Colton Swon reached the Top 48.
Robyn Troup
Bleu
Just weeks after Troup was eliminated during "Idol"'s Hollywood Week in 2006, she won Yahoo Music's "My Grammy Moment" talent search and, as part of the prize, she dueted with Justin Timberlake during the televised awards. She has since recorded with Nav, Santana, and Bleu.

Total Rebound: Stars Who Have Found Fame Despite Flopping on ‘American Idol’

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