This page lists only acting roles and other projects undertaken in film, television and theater in the post-Idol career of American Idol contestants. It does not include guest musical performances or interviews on TV shows, or any pre-Idol work. It is also not intended to be a comprehensive list of all acting roles, appearances, awards nominated or won by any particular alum. Where there are multiple entries, only the more significant may be listed. Please see the appropriate links and references for individual alum for such more complete lists.
The first season of American Idol saw its first and only attempt at expanding the Idol franchise into the film industry. The winner Kelly Clarkson and runner-up Justin Guarini played the leads in the musical comedy, From Justin to Kelly , but the film failed both critically and at the box office. [1] No further film venture had been attempted in following seasons.
Kelly Clarkson has gone on to be a coach on The Voice, voiced characters in three animated movies, and since 2019 has hosted The Kelly Clarkson Show. Justin Guarini has starred in several musical productions, including non-musical production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet as Paris in 2013. He was the host of Idol Tonight and Idol Wrap on TVGN. Tamyra Gray has starred in several musical products including Rent in 2008. Jim Verraros has starred in a number of gay-theme films, while semi-finalist Kristin Holt has forged a career as TV show host.
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
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Kelly Clarkson [2] (Winner) |
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Justin Guarini [6] [7] (Runner-up) |
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Nikki McKibbin [20] (3rd place) |
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Tamyra Gray [21] [22] (4th place) |
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Christina Christian [26] (6th place) |
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Ryan Starr [27] (7th place) |
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Jim Verraros [29] (9th place) |
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The winner of season 2, Ruben Studdard, teamed up with the fifth-place finisher Trenyce and the disqualified semi-finalist Frenchie Davis to star in the touring production of Ain't Misbehavin' , the recording of which won a Grammy nomination. The runner-up Clay Aiken enjoyed two successful stints in Broadway in the musical Spamalot . Frenchie Davis also had some success in Broadway, as did Hollywood round auditioner Josh Strickland who starred as Tarzan in musical of the same name.
Kimberley Locke and Kimberly Caldwell have both pursued a career as TV hosts aside from their music.
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
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Ruben Studdard [30] (Winner) |
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Clay Aiken [34] (Runner-up) |
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Kimberley Locke [37] (3rd place) |
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Josh Gracin [38] (4th place) |
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Trenyce [39] (5th place) |
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Carmen Rasmusen [44] (6th place) |
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Kimberly Caldwell [45] (7th place) |
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Rickey Smith (8th place) |
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Corey Clark [49] (9th, disqualified) |
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Vanessa Olivarez (12th place) |
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Frenchie Davis [52] [53] (Semi-finalist) |
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Ashley Hartman [56] (Semi-finalist) |
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Season 3 winner Fantasia enjoyed a critically and commercially successful stint in musical theater when she starred in The Color Purple . [57] She also had her own TV show and is expanding into film. The runner-up Diana DeGarmo also found success in musical theater starring in Broadway musicals such as Hair and Hairspray .
Seventh-place finisher, Jennifer Hudson, became one of the most successful contests to have emerged from American Idol when she landed a part in the film adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls , and subsequently won many major awards as supporting actress including an Oscar. She has since also starred in many major films, including Sex and the City and Sing . Eleventh-place finisher Matthew Rogers has a steady career as a TV show host. Alan Ritchson who was heavily featured in the audition and Hollywood rounds pursued a career as a TV and film actor, while auditioner William Hung briefly landed some acting roles due to his exposure on the show.
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
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Fantasia [58] (Winner) |
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Diana DeGarmo [60] [61] (Runner-up) |
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Jasmine Trias (3rd place) [68] |
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LaToya London (4th place) | |||
Jennifer Hudson [74] [75] (7th place) |
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Jon Peter Lewis (8th place) |
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Amy Adams (10th place) |
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Matthew Rogers [82] (11th place) |
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Matthew Metzger [83] (Semi-finalist) |
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Katie Webber [84] (Semi-finalist) |
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Alan Ritchson [87] (Hollywood rounds) |
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William Hung [88] (Auditioner) |
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A number of season 4 Idol alumni such as Anthony Fedorov have been involved in musical theater, but the most successful is the sixth-place finisher Constantine Maroulis. Maroulis has been active on Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in Rock of Ages . [89] The winner Carrie Underwood made her acting debut in a film by starring in Soul Surfer . [90]
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
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Carrie Underwood [91] (Winner) |
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Bo Bice (Runner-up) |
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Vonzell Solomon [94] (3rd place) |
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Anthony Fedorov [97] (4th place) |
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Scott Savol (5th place) | |||
Constantine Maroulis [104] [105] (6th place) |
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Anwar Robinson [111] (7th place) |
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Nadia Turner [113] (8th place) |
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Nikko Smith [114] (9th place) |
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Jessica Sierra [115] (10th place) |
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Mikalah Gordon [117] (11th place) |
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Melissa Lawson (Hollywood rounds) |
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The season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee has established a career as a film and TV actress, and starred in the TV series Smash and Scorpion . Eleventh-placed finisher Kevin Covais also has a steady career as an actor with many acting roles in film and TV. Other Season 5 contestants who also pursued an acting career include Lisa Tucker. The winner Taylor Hicks had enjoyed a stint in theater, while seventh-place finisher Ace Young also had had a couple of major acting roles in Broadway.
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
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Taylor Hicks [119] (Winner) |
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Katharine McPhee [121] (Runner-up) |
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Elliott Yamin [125] (3rd place) |
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Chris Daughtry [126] (4th place) |
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Paris Bennett [128] (5th place) |
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Kellie Pickler (6th place) |
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Ace Young [131] [132] (7th place) |
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Lisa Tucker [134] (10th place) |
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Kevin Covais [135] (11th place) |
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Ayla Brown [136] (Semi-finalist) |
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Kinnik Sky [139] (Semi-finalist) |
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Becky O'Donohue [140] (Semi-finalist) |
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Brianna Taylor [142] (Hollywood rounds) |
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Jes Hudak [143] (Hollywood rounds) |
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The winner Jordin Sparks has taken roles both in theater and film. She appeared opposite Whitney Houston in the film Sparkle . [145] Semifinalist Jared Cotter has worked as a host for a number of TV shows.
Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
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Jordin Sparks [146] [147] (Winner) |
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Blake Lewis [150] (Runner-up) |
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LaKisha Jones [152] (4th place) |
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Sanjaya Malakar [154] (7th place) |
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Gina Glocksen [157] (9th place) |
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Chris Sligh [159] (10th place) |
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Brandon Rogers [160] (12th place) |
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Sabrina Sloan [161] [162] (Semi-finalist) |
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Jared Cotter [169] (Semi-finalist) | |||
Sundance Head [172] (Semi-finalist) |
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Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
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David Cook [173] (Winner) |
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David Archuleta [176] (Runner-up) |
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Syesha Mercado [178] [179] (3rd place) |
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Jason Castro [183] (4th place) |
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Brooke White [184] (5th place) |
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Carly Smithson [186] (6th place) |
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Kristy Lee Cook [188] (7th place) |
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Chikezie [190] (10th place) |
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David Hernandez (12th place) | |||
Adore Delano (appeared as Danny Noirega) |
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Colton Swon (Hollywood) |
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Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
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Kris Allen [194] (Winner) | |||
Adam Lambert [197] (Runner-up) |
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Danny Gokey [202] (3rd place) |
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Alexis Grace (11th place) | |||
Jackie Tohn [204] (Semi-finalist) |
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Arianna Afsar (Semi-Finals) |
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Jamar Rogers (Hollywood rounds) |
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John Twiford (Hollywood rounds) |
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Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
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Lee DeWyze (Winner) |
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Crystal Bowersox (Runner-up) |
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Siobhan Magnus (6th place) |
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Katie Stevens (8th place) | |||
Paige Miles (11th place) |
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Alex Lambert [212] (semi-finalist) |
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Todrick Hall (Semi-finalist) |
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Jermaine Sellers [220] (Semi-finalist) |
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John Park (Semi-finalist) |
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Chris Golightly (Semi-finalist) |
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Luke Edgemon (Hollywood rounds) | |||
Samuel Larsen [224] (Hollywood rounds) |
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Tori Kelly (Hollywood rounds) |
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Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
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Scotty McCreery (1st place) |
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Lauren Alaina (2nd place) |
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Haley Reinhart (3rd place) |
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James Durbin (4th place) |
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Stefano Langone (7th place) |
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Paul McDonald (8th Place) |
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Pia Toscano (9th Place) |
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Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
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Phillip Phillips (Winner) [234] |
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Jessica Sanchez (Runner-up) [237] |
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Heejun Han (9th place) |
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Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
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Alex Kinsey (Hollywood) |
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Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
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Nick Fradiani (Winner) |
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Idol Contestant | Film | Television | Theater |
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Gabby Barrett (3rd place) |
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Justin Guarini is an American singer, songwriter and actor who in 2002 was the runner-up on the first season of American Idol.
Diana Nicole DeGarmo is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She rose to fame in 2004 as the runner-up of the third season of American Idol, releasing her debut studio album, Blue Skies, later that year. The following year, DeGarmo ventured into a career in musical theatre. She has starred in two Broadway, one off-Broadway and three national tours. She made her television acting debut in a six-month arc as Angelina Veneziano on The Young and the Restless. DeGarmo has since released two extended plays, Unplugged in Nashville (2009) and Live to Love (2012). She is married to fifth season American Idol finalist Ace Young.
Tamyra Monica Gray is an American actress, singer and songwriter, who finished fourth place on the first season of the musical reality competition American Idol in 2002. Post American Idol, Gray has begun acting on Broadway and television. She had a recurring role on the third season of the drama series Boston Public in early 2003.
Constantine James Maroulis is an American actor and rock singer. He was the sixth-place finalist on the fourth season of the reality television series American Idol, and received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his role in Rock of Ages. He starred in the title role in Jekyll and Hyde on Broadway, for which he received a Drama League Award Nomination for a Distinguished Performance Award.
Anthony Fedorov is an American singer and actor who is former lead singer for the Chicago band 7th Heaven. He rose to fame as the fourth place finalist on the fourth season of American Idol.
Brenda Buell Vaccaro is an American stage, film and television actress. In a career spanning over half a century, she received one Academy Award nomination, three Golden Globe Award nominations, four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and three Tony Award nominations.
Michael Cerveris Jr. is an American actor, singer, and guitarist. He has performed in many stage musicals and plays, including several Stephen Sondheim musicals: Assassins, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Sunday in the Park with George, Road Show, and Passion. In 2004, Cerveris won the Tony Award as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Assassins as John Wilkes Booth. In 2015, he won his second Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical for Fun Home as Bruce Bechdel.
Franchell "Frenchie" Davis is an American Broadway performer and a soul, dance/electronica, and pop singer. She came to public attention in 2003 as a contestant on the singing competition show American Idol. Davis began performing in Rent on Broadway soon afterward, and was a member of the cast for four years. In 2011, Davis reached the top 8 on the first season of singing competition The Voice.
David Scott Lago is a Cuban-American actor. He is best known for playing Raul Guittierez on The Young and the Restless from 1999 to 2004. He has also had a recurring role as Jeremy on 7th Heaven.
Brett"Ace"Young is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He gained national recognition while appearing on the fifth season of American Idol. Young is married to American Idol season-three runner-up Diana DeGarmo.
Pray for the Soul of Betty was a hard rock band from New York City. The band consisted of Michael Hamboussi (drums), João Joya (guitar), Taylor, C.R. (bass) and lead vocalist Constantine Maroulis. On March 20, 2006, Maroulis announced his departure on the band's official message board, and on May 13, 2006, drummer Hamboussi posted in his MySpace blog that PFTSOB had officially disbanded.
American Idol Extra is a television show that was shown on the Fox Reality Channel and Star! and billed as "the show that picks up right where American Idol leaves off". The program featured the first full-length interview with the most recent eliminated contestant and various behind-the-scenes material.
Lillias White is an American actress and singer. She is particularly known for her performances in Broadway musicals. In 1989 she won an Obie Award for her performance in the Off-Broadway musical Romance in Hard Times. In 1997 she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for portraying Sonja in Cy Coleman's The Life. She was nominated for a Tony Award again in 2010 for her work as Funmilayo in Fela Kuti's Fela!.
Gone Country is an American celebrity reality television show in which contestants compete to become a country music singer. The winner gets a country single produced by host John Rich, one-half of the country duo Big & Rich. It aired on CMT, with reruns on TV Land, and VH1. On the first-season finale, Julio Iglesias Jr. was named the winner.
Gone Country uproots these seven musical celebrities and moves them into a Nashville mansion together to embark on a two-week adventure, hosted by singer-songwriter John Rich. Each celebrity will be paired up with some of Nashville's finest songwriters in an attempt to prepare them for a career in country music. In each episode, the cast competes against each other in challenges that will test them musically and physically to adapt to a country music lifestyle, both on and off the stage. At the end of the two weeks, the artist who is most prepared to impress a country audience, as determined by Rich, will record and release a song.
Syesha Raquel Mercado is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and model. Mercado placed third during the seventh season of American Idol. Prior to American Idol, Mercado was on The One: Making a Music Star and she won Florida Super Singer. Her musical influences are Whitney Houston, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Zap Mama, Lauryn Hill, and Aretha Franklin.
Erin Ashley Mackey is an American stage actress and singer, known for playing the role of Glinda in the Chicago, Los Angeles, Broadway, and Second National Tour productions of the musical Wicked. She was also a double in 1998's The Parent Trap.
Darren Ritchie is an American actor and singer, originally from Florida.
Todrick Hall is an American singer, rapper, choreographer, and YouTuber. He gained national attention on the ninth season of the televised singing competition American Idol. Following this, he amassed a huge following on YouTube with viral videos including original songs, parodies, and skits. A documentary series about his video-making process titled Todrick aired on MTV in 2015.
Justin Goldner is an American music producer, songwriter, arranger and session musician based in New York City, originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Renee Brna is an American actress and singer. Brna is best known as Meg in the 1st national Broadway tour of Little Women the musical starring Maureen McGovern with Autumn Hurlbert as Beth, Katie Fisher as Jo and Gwen Hollander as Amy. She went on to understudy the leading role of Young Alex/Aaron Ashbrook and Young Thomas Ledbury in the 2007 London transfer to Broadway Coram Boy at the Imperial Theatre. Under the direction of Melly Still the production garnered six Tony Award nominations.