American Idol Fan Site | Who got voted off American Idol

Placing 4th on American Idol is still a prize.

Looking at all the previous 5 American Idols contestants that came in fourth place reveals that a successful career after Idol is still promising.

• Season 1: Tamyra Gray. The former Takoma Park resident will join the Broadway cast of Rent at the end of the month, playing the lead, Mimi.

A versatile singer-songwriter-actress, Gray previously has appeared on Broadway in Bombay Dreams and had a recurring role on Boston Public.

“She was the first and most shocking elimination of all,” says Andy Dehnart, who operates the blog realityblurred.com. “Everyone expected her and Kelly Clarkson to be in the finale.”

• Season 2: Josh Gracin. After the singer completed a four-year stint with the Marines, Gracin made it big on the country charts. His self-titled debut album went gold and racked up three Top 5 country hits; a second CD is awaiting release. Gracin also has kept busy contributing songs to compilation soundtracks and appearing in such soap operas as The Young and the Restless.

• Season 3: LaToya London. One of the so-called “three divas” on Season 3, London released a critically well-received album in 2005 called Love and Life. It made its debut at No. 27 on Billboard’s R&B chart and reached 82nd place in Billboard’s Top 200.

Two singles, “Every Part of Me” and “State of My Heart,” were critical and commercial successes.

Currently, London is playing the role of Nettie in the national touring production of The Color Purple.

• Season 4: Anthony Federov. “He’s the highest-finishing contestant on American Idol never to have a recording contract,” says Dehnart, an adjunct professor of English and communications at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla.

“He was one of those singers who a lot of people thought didn’t belong on the show, but he had a pretty remarkable story. He had a birth defect on his windpipe and had to have a tracheotomy. Despite that, he still sang better than Sanjaya.” Dehnart was referring to Sanjaya Malakar, the “ponyhawked” seventh-place finalist from this season.

And Fedorov isn’t exactly on the unemployment rolls. According to Newsday, he spent last month touring U.S. Air Force bases in Europe and judging teen talent contests.

• Season 5: Chris Daughtry. “He’s been one of the most successful contestants in recent memory,” Dehnart says. He’s scheduled to appear May 24 at Washington’s 9:30 Club.

“His record debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart,” Dehnart says. “The winner, Taylor Hicks, debuted at No. 2 and then slid way down.”

Daughtry’s album also has outsold other releases by Season 5 contestants, including Katharine McPhee (the runner-up), Elliott Yamin (No. 3) and Kellie Pickler (No. 6). In fact, it’s Daughtry’s single “Home” that’s being used to send the current group of contestants, well, home.

So who will land in 4th Place on American Idol? It appears the Lakisha Jonesmay be the front runner to be kicked off, Voted Off and Here the Daughtry Song tonight May 9, 2007 as Ryan Seacrest annouces who is safe and who is voted off American Idol.

Your Thoughts? Your Comments? Your Predictions?

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