List of American Idol Hot 100 singles

This is a list of songs released for sale from the show American Idol, consisting of recordings of coronation songs by winners and runners-up of the show, live and studio recordings by contestants, songs from the American Idol CDs, as well as special singles released by the show such as those for Idol Gives Back and specially-recorded boot songs. Songs released by Idol alumni in post-Idol career are not included here. See American Idol alumni single sales for a list of some of those releases.

In the first few seasons, songs were released as physical CD single which may contain one cover song and one original song. However after Season 5 physical singles were no longer released, and songs were available only as digital downloads starting Season 6. The digital downloads were only available initially via American Idol official website during the season towards the end of Season 5 and all the final rounds of Season 6, but were then made available from iTunes after the Season 6 ended. In all subsequent seasons all performances were made available in iTunes during the season and after the season has ended.

The digital songs sold during the season were not eligible to chart, and their sales figures were not released. Any number listed for those songs would be solely based on units sold after the finale.

All Hot 100 singles

The following Idol songs have charted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Entry date Single Artist Peak Sales RIAA cert.
September 21, 2002 "A Moment Like This"
(b/w "Before Your Love")		 Kelly Clarkson
(Season 1, Winner)		 1[1] 1,223,000 (Physical + Digital)[2]
627,000 (Physical)[3]
 Gold[4]
May 3, 2003 "God Bless the USA" American Idol Finalists
(Season 2 Finalists)		 4[5] 310,000 (Physical)[6] Gold[7]
June 28, 2003 "Flying Without Wings"
(b/w "Superstar")		 Ruben Studdard
(Season 2, Winner)		 2[8] 790,000 (Physical + Digital)[2]
737,000 (Physical)[3]		 Gold[9]
"Bridge Over Troubled Water"
(b/w "This Is The Night")		 Clay Aiken
(Season 2, Runner-Up)		 1[10] 960,000 (Physical)[3]

52,000 (Digital)[11]

 Platinum[12]
July 10, 2004 "I Believe" Fantasia
(Season 3, Winner)		 1[13] 559,000 (Physical + Digital)[2]
406,000 (Physical)[3]
July 17, 2004 "Dreams"

(b/w I Believe/Don't Cry Out Loud)

 Diana DeGarmo
(Season 3, Runner-Up)		 14[14] 202,000 (Physical)

23,000 (Digital)[3]
May 7, 2005 "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" American Idol Finalists
(Season 4 Finalists)		 39[15] 115,100 (Physical)[16]
July 2, 2005 "Inside Your Heaven"
(b/w "Independence Day")		 Carrie Underwood
(Season 4, Winner)		 1[17] 880,000 (Physical + Digital)[2]
459,000 (Physical)[3]		 Gold[18]
July 9, 2005 "Inside Your Heaven"
(b/w "Vehicle" featuring Richie Sambora)		 Bo Bice
(Season 4, Runner-Up)		 2[19] 349,000 (Physical)

52,000 (Digital)[3]

 Gold[20]
June 10, 2006 "Wanted Dead or Alive" Chris Daughtry
(Season 5, 4th Place)		 43[21] 103,000 (Digital)[22]
"Takin' It to the Streets" Taylor Hicks
(Season 5, Winner)		 69[23] 71,000 (Digital)[24]
July 1, 2006 "Do I Make You Proud" Taylor Hicks 1[23] 709,000 (Physical + Digital)[2]
464,000 (Physical)[3]
July 15, 2006 "Over the Rainbow" Katharine McPhee
(Season 5, Runner-Up)		 12[25] 131,000 (Digital)[26]
"My Destiny" Katharine McPhee 60[25] 169,000 (Physical)

98,000 (Digital)[3]
May 12, 2007 "I'll Stand by You" Carrie Underwood 6[27] 339,147[28]
"Up to the Mountain" Kelly Clarkson
featuring Jeff Beck		 56[27] 46,196[29]
June 9, 2007 "This Is My Now" Jordin Sparks
(Season 6, Winner)		 15[30] 334,000[2]
"You Give Love a Bad Name" Blake Lewis
(Season 6, Runner-Up)		 18[31] 192,000[32]
"A Broken Wing" Jordin Sparks 66[33] 52,000 [32]
"I (Who Have Nothing)"" Jordin Sparks 80[34] 44,000 [32]
"Time of the Season" Blake Lewis 99[35] 39,000 [32]
April 26, 2008 "Praying for Time" Carrie Underwood 27[36] 87,286[37]
"Shout to the Lord" American Idol Finalists
(Season 7 Top 8 Finalists)		 43[36] 55,745[38]
"Many Rivers to Cross" Annie Lennox 80[36] 29,159[38]
June 7, 2008 "The Time of My Life" David Cook
(Season 7, Winner)		 3[39] 1,482,000[40] Platinum[41]
"Dream Big" David Cook 15[42] 145,000[43]
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" David Cook 22[42] 125,000[43]
"The World I Know" David Cook 28[42] 96,000[43]
"Imagine" David Archuleta
(Season 7, Runner-Up)		 36[39] 80,000[43]
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" David Cook 42[44] 60,000[45]
"Billie Jean" David Cook 47[46] 56,300[45]
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" David Archuleta 58[47] 61,000[43]
"In This Moment" David Archuleta 60[48] 61,000[43]
"Always Be My Baby" David Cook 67[49] 46,600[45]
"Hello" David Cook 73[50] 42,300[45]
"The Music of the Night" David Cook 77[51] 36,000[43]
"Eleanor Rigby" David Cook 92[52] 28,000[43]
"I'm Alive" David Cook 99[53] 25,000[43]
June 6, 2009 "No Boundaries" Kris Allen
(Season 8, Winner)		 11[54] 343,000[2]
"Heartless" Kris Allen 16[54] 412,000[55]
"Mad World" Adam Lambert
(Season 8, Runner-Up)		 19[56] 256,000[57]
"Ain't No Sunshine" Kris Allen 37[54] 125,000[55]
"A Change Is Gonna Come" Adam Lambert 56[56] 63,000[58]
"Apologize" Kris Allen 66[54] 59,000[58]
"No Boundaries" Adam Lambert 72[56] 68,000 [59]
"One" Adam Lambert 82[56] 46,000[58]
"Falling Slowly" Kris Allen 94[54] 38,000[58]
March 13, 2010 "Let It Be" Kris Allen 63 86,000[60]
June 12, 2010 "Beautiful Day" Lee DeWyze
(Season 9, Winner)		 24[61] 186,000[2]
"Hallelujah" Lee DeWyze 44[61] 118,000 [62]
"Up to the Mountain" Crystal Bowersox
(Season 9, Runner-Up)		 57[61] 63,000[63]
"Falling Slowly" Crystal Bowersox
and Lee DeWyze		 66[61] 85,000[64]
"The Boxer" Lee DeWyze 88[61] 37,000 [63]
June 11, 2011 "I Love You This Big" Scotty McCreery
(Season 10, Winner)		 11[65] 915,000[66] Platinum[67]
"Like My Mother Does" Lauren Alaina
(Season 10, Runner-Up)		 20[65] 398,000[68]
June 9, 2012 "Home" Phillip Phillips
(Season 11, Winner)		 6[69] 5,099,000[70]

4× Platinum[71]

"We've Got Tonite" Phillip Phillips 97[69] 58,000[72]
June 1, 2013 "I Am Beautiful" Candice Glover
(Season 12, Winner)		 94[73] 48,000[73]

Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles

The following songs failed to reach the Hot 100, but managed to make the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles charts.

Entry Date Single Artist Peak Sales
July 5, 2003 "Superstar" Ruben Studdard 12[74]
June 10, 2006 "Moody's Mood for Love" Elliott Yamin
(Season 5, 3rd Place)		 1[75] 25,000[22]
"Think" Katharine McPhee 21[76] 21,000[77]
June 9, 2007 "This Love" Blake Lewis 2[78] 38,000 [32]
"When the Stars Go Blue" Blake Lewis 10[79] 31,000 [32]
"I Need to Know" Blake Lewis 19[80] 23,000 [32]
April 26, 2008 "Don't Stop The Music" American Idol Finalists 23 14,040[38]
June 7, 2008 "Little Sparrow" David Cook 1[81] 24,000 [43]
"Hungry Like the Wolf" David Cook 3[82] 23,000 [43]
"Innocent" David Cook 4[83] 23,000 [43]
"Hallelujah" Jason Castro
(Season 7, 4th Place)		 13[84] 19,000 [43]
"Day Tripper" David Cook 14[85] 19,000 [43]
"Longer" David Archuleta 15[86] 19,000 [43]
"All Right Now" David Cook 18[87] 18,000 [43]
"Think of Me" David Archuleta 19[88] 18,000 [43]
"Angels" David Archuleta 24[89] 17,000 [43]
"Happy Together" David Cook 25[90] 17,000 [43]
June 6, 2009 "Cryin'" Adam Lambert 2[91] 35,000 [58]
"Slow Ride" Allison Iraheta
(Season 8, 4th Place)
and Adam Lambert		 5[92] 34,000 [58]
"What's Going On" Kris Allen 7[93] 21,000 [94]
"To Make You Feel My Love" Kris Allen 13[93] 26,000 [58]
"The Tracks of My Tears" Adam Lambert 17[91] 26,000 [58]
"Feeling Good" Adam Lambert 21[91] 25,000 [58]
"You Are So Beautiful" Danny Gokey
(Season 8, 3rd Place)		 25[95] 15,000 [94]
June 12, 2010 "Everybody Hurts" Lee DeWyze 4 22,000 [96]
"Black Velvet" Crystal Bowersox 24 15,000 [96]
"Me and Bobby McGee" Crystal Bowersox 25[97] 14,000 [96]
June 9, 2012 "Volcano" Phillip Phillips 9[98] 49,000[72]
"Stand by Me" Phillip Phillips 24[98] 24,000[99]

Year-End Hot 100 singles

The following songs ranked in the Year-End charts for the Billboard Hot 100.

Year Single Artist Rank
2002 "A Moment Like This" Kelly Clarkson 39[100]
2003 "This Is the Night" Clay Aiken 47[101]
"Flying Without Wings" Ruben Studdard 88[102]
2005 "Inside Your Heaven" Carrie Underwood 71
2006 "Do I Make You Proud" Taylor Hicks 99[103]
2008 "The Time of My Life" David Cook 69[104]
2012 "Home" Phillip Phillips 49[105]
2013 "Home" Phillip Phillips 46[106]

Send-off songs

Starting Season 5, when contestants in the final rounds are eliminated, a video of their journey through the contest was shown, accompanied by a song as a send-off. The song is also commonly called the "boot song".

Season Single Artist Peak Sales RIAA cert.
5 "Bad Day" Daniel Powter 1[107] 3,000,000[108] 3× Platinum[109]
6 "Home" Daughtry 5[110] 2,349,000[111] Platinum[112]
7 "Celebrate Me Home" Ruben Studdard —
8 "Home Sweet Home" Carrie Underwood 21[113] 300,000[114]
9 "Leave Right Now" Will Young 81[115] 50,000[96]
10 "Don't You (Forget About Me)" David Cook — 33,000
11 "Please Remember Me" Scotty McCreery — 58,000[116]
12 "Gone Gone Gone" Phillip Phillips 25 2,000,000[70] Platinum[71]
13 "Breakaway" Eliminated contestant — — —
"—" denotes the song did not chart in Hot 100.

References

  1. ↑ Billboard Hot 100 - Kelly Clarkson
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Paul Grein (October 24, 2012). "Chart Watch Extra: Phillip Phillips’ Idol Record". Chart Watch (Yahoo Music). Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 How the American Idol coronation singles stack up, part 1
  4. ↑ "American digital certifications – Kelly Clarkson – A Moment Like This". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select ', then click SEARCH
  5. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - God Bless The U.S.A
  6. ↑ Sale Of 'American Idol' Finalist CDs Raises $185,000 $155,000 raised at 50 cents each, giving 310,00 units sold.
  7. ↑ "American digital certifications – American Idol finalist – Flying without Wings". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select ', then click SEARCH
  8. ↑ Billboard Hot 100 - Ruben Studdard
  9. ↑ "American digital certifications – Ruben Studdard – Flying without Wings". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select ', then click SEARCH
  10. ↑ Billboard Hot 100 - Clay Aiken
  11. ↑ Week Ending Sept. 26, 2010: Moving Forward, Falling Back
  12. ↑ "American digital certifications – Clay Aiken – Bridge over Troubled Water". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select ', then click SEARCH
  13. ↑ Billboard Hot 100 - Fantasia
  14. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - Diana DeGarmp
  15. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - When You Tell Me That You Love Me
  16. ↑ Billboard Top 100 Single Sales chart September 17, 2005
  17. ↑ Billboard Hot 100 - Carrie Underwood
  18. ↑ "American digital certifications – Carrie Underwood – Inside Your Heaven". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select ', then click SEARCH
  19. ↑ Billboard Hot 100 - Bo bice
  20. ↑ "American digital certifications – Bo Bice – Inside Your Heaven". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select ', then click SEARCH
  21. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - Wanted Dead Or Alive
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Idol Chatter 11-09-2006 (archived post)
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 The Billboard Hot 100 - Taylor Hicks
  24. ↑ Idol singles sales report
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Billboard Hot 100 - Katharine McPhee
  26. ↑ A brief update on Kat's singles sales
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Maroon 5 Makes 'Wondrous' Jump To Lead Hot 100
  28. ↑ Billboard Hot Digital Songs June 2, 2007
  29. ↑ Billboard Hot Digital Songs May 19, 2007
  30. ↑ Billboard Hot 100 - Jordin Sparks
  31. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - You Give Love A Bad Name
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 32.6 Idol downloads 2: Rating the theme nights by sales
  33. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - A Broken Wing
  34. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - I (Who Have Nothing)
  35. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - Time Of The Season
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 Leona Lewis Returns To No. 1 On The Hot 100
  37. ↑ Billboard Hot Digital Songs - May 3, 2008
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 Billboard Hot Digital Songs - April 26, 2008
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 David Cook Sizzles With Record Chart Debuts
  40. ↑ Paul Grein (July 10, 2013). "Week Ending July 7, 2013. Songs: The Actress in the Top 10". Chart Watch (Yahoo).
  41. ↑ "American digital certifications – David Cook – Time of My Life". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select ', then click SEARCH
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 David Cook sizzles on pop chart
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 43.4 43.5 43.6 43.7 43.8 43.9 43.10 43.11 43.12 43.13 43.14 43.15 43.16 43.17 43.18 Barnes, Ken (2008-06-101). "Idol download domination diminishes". Idol Chatter. USA Today. Retrieved March 16, 2013. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ↑ 'American Idol' champ David Cook's debut single sells 236,000 copies
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 American Idol David Cook, Runner-Up David Archuleta Dominate Billboard Downloads Chart
  46. ↑ Taking Peaks, Part 3: Nos. 50-26
  47. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
  48. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - In This Moment
  49. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - Always Be My Baby
  50. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - Hello
  51. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - The Music Of The Night
  52. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - Eleanor Rigby
  53. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - I’m Alive
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 54.4 Billboard - Kris Allen
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 Gary Trust (2013-01-16). "Ask Billboard: Kris Allen Sales". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 56.3 "Adam Lambert - Hot 100". Billboard.
  57. ↑ Bonus SoundScan numbers for Kelly Clarkson, David Cook, more!
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 58.2 58.3 58.4 58.5 58.6 58.7 58.8 Idol Chatter 6-3-2009
  59. ↑ Idol Chatter 6-10-2009
  60. ↑ Idol Chatter 03-10-2010
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 61.2 61.3 61.4 Trust, Gary (June 3, 2010). "Chart Beat Thursday: Lee & Crystal Rock On". Billboard (Billboard Magazine).
  62. ↑ Carrie Underwood tops Idol downloads; Adam Lambert on the rise
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 Carrie Underwood, Lee DeWyze top week's 'Idol' track sales
  64. ↑ Carrie Underwood dominates 'Idol' tracks "How did the Season 9 Idols sell?". USAToday (USAToday). June 16, 2010.
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 Yahoo Chartwatch 06-01-2011
  66. ↑ "Billboard Country Update" (PDF). Billboard. February 18, 2014.
  67. ↑ "American single certifications – Scotty McCreery – I Love You This Big". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  68. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (2012-05-16). "'Idol' performance boosts J-Lo's sales". Idol Chatter. USA Today. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  69. ↑ 69.0 69.1 Billboard Hot 100 - Phillip Phillips
  70. ↑ 70.0 70.1 Grein, Pauk (May 28, 2014). "Chart Watch: Meet Iggy Azalea!". ChartWatch. Yahoo Music.
  71. ↑ 71.0 71.1 "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database". RIAA.
  72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 Mansfield, Brian (2012-06-07). "Phillip Phillips sells another 100K of 'Home'". Idol Chatter. USA Today. Retrieved Jun 7, 2012.
  73. ↑ 73.0 73.1 Grein, Paul (2013-05-22). "Week Ending May 19, 2013. Songs: Idol’s Diminishing Returns". Chart Watch (Yahoo Music). Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  74. ↑ "Ruben Studdard - Bubbling Under". Billboard.
  75. ↑ "Elliott Yamin - Bubbling Under". Billboard.
  76. ↑ "Katharine McPhee - Bubbling Under". Billboard.
  77. ↑ Idol Season 5 downloads: The standings - archived post
  78. ↑ Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - This Love
  79. ↑ Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - When The Stars Go Blue
  80. ↑ Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - I Need To Know
  81. ↑ Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - Little Sparrow
  82. ↑ Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - Hungry Like The Wolf
  83. ↑ Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - Innocent
  84. ↑ "Jason Castro - Bubbling Under". Billboard.
  85. ↑ Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - Day Tripper
  86. ↑ Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - Longer
  87. ↑ Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - All Right Now
  88. ↑ Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - Think Of Me
  89. ↑ "David Archuleta - Bubbling Under". Billboard.
  90. ↑ Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - Happy Together
  91. ↑ 91.0 91.1 91.2 "Adam Lambert - Bubbling Under". Billboard.
  92. ↑ Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - Slow Ride
  93. ↑ 93.0 93.1 "Kris Allen - Bubbling Under". Billboard.
  94. ↑ 94.0 94.1 American Idols dominate weekly sales charts
  95. ↑ Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - You Are So Beautiful
  96. ↑ 96.0 96.1 96.2 96.3 Lee DeWyze lands six tracks on SoundScan Top 200
  97. ↑ "Crystal Bowersox - Bubbling Under". Billboard.
  98. ↑ 98.0 98.1 "Phillip Phillips - Bubbling Under". Billboard.
  99. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (2012-05-30). "Phillip Phillips puts up big 'Home' numbers". Idol Chatter. USA Today. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  100. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - A Moment Like This
  101. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - This Is The Night
  102. ↑ The Billboard Hot 100 - Flying Without Wings
  103. ↑ Year end Hot 100 Songs
  104. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.
  105. ↑ "Best of 2012 - Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  106. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs:Year-End most popular songs across all genres". Billboard.
  107. ↑ "Bad Day - Daniel Powter". Billboard.
  108. ↑ Paul Grein (July 27, 2010). "Week Ending July 25, 2010: It’s Every Rapper For Himself". Yahoo Music (Chart Watch). Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  109. ↑ "American single certifications – Daniel Powter – Bad Day". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  110. ↑ "Home - Daughtry". Billboard.
  111. ↑ Grein, Paul (2013-03-27). "Chart Watch Extra: Phillips Takes Idol Title". Chart Watch (Yahoo). Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  112. ↑ "American single certifications – DAUGHTRY". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  113. ↑ Flo Rida Tops Hot 100, Carrie Underwood's 'Home' Debuts High
  114. ↑ Idol Chatter 06-03-2009
  115. ↑ "Leave Right Now - Will Young". Billboard.
  116. ↑ Brian Mansfield (May 30, 2012). "Phillip Phillips puts up big 'Home' numbers". Idol Chatter. USA Today.