Constantine Maroulis may have only been a sixth-place finalist on Season 4 of American Idol, but the Brooklyn native made the most of his 15 minutes to land plenty of post-Idol opportunities. Maroulis has landed on the Broadway stage in a number of productions including The Wedding Singer, but it was as the lead in Rock of Ages in which the Greek-American musician not only landed a Tony nomination, but ended up with plenty of material for his current tour. For this Highline show, Maroulis’ bill will also include a special acoustic set from Paulie & David Z of ZO2. As Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino and Taylor Hicks can tell you, hearing Ryan Seacrest tell the world you are the next American Idol doesn’t mean you’ve got it made. Often times, the break-out star is lurking in the Top 12, like these runner-ups who found success post-American Idol:
Chris Daughtry – Season 5 fourth-place finalist passed up the offer to be Fuel’s lead singer and instead fronts his own band, aptly named Daughtry. In the process, they have released two albums, won a slew of American Music Awards and are currently opening for Bon Jovi on the Lost Highway Tour.
Melinda Doolittle – As the third place finalist in Season 6, many felt Doolittle should have won instead of Jordin Sparks, with Simon Cowell admitting as much in an interview with Good Morning America after the fact. Last year, Doolittle released her criminally underrated solo debut Coming Back to You and has also thrown her support behind the Malaria No More organization.
Ace Young – One of Chris Daughtry’s best buddies, the man born Brett Young finished seventh on Season 5. Since then, he’s co-written the Daughtry single, “It’s Not Over,” appeared on the now defunct Total Request Live, TV show Bones, TNA Wrestling’s Slammiversary and is playing Berger in the current Broadway revival of Hair.
Jennifer Hudson – The Chicago native finished seventh in Season 3 and while Adam Lambert’s fans may disagree, Jennifer Hudson has accrued the most post-Idol success of any runner-up or winner by virtue of the Oscar she took home for her role in Dreamgirls, followed up by the Grammy she won for her 2008 self-titled debut. In addition to marriage and motherhood, Hudson has thrown herself into generating donations for Haiti relief efforts.
Ryan Starr – Not to be confused with Long Island-born singer/songwriter and Supernova contestant Ryan Star, this Starr finished seventh on Season 1 of Idol. A self-proclaimed rocker, Starr successfully freed herself from an RCA recording contract that pointed her in a pop direction. In addition to recording the best-selling 2006 iTunes-exclusive single “My Religion,” Starr appeared on VH1’s The Surreal Life, CSI and as the lead in the 2004 film Ring of Darkness.
Clay Aiken – Even though Clay Aiken was the runner-up to his buddy Ruben Studdard on Season 2 of Idol, he’s since become the second season’s best-selling artist thanks to the devotion of his fanatical Claymates fanbase. Aiken has subsequently released five full-length studio albums, gotten accolades for his Broadway run in Monty Python’s Spamalot, thrown himself into numerous charitable endeavors and is currently on the road with Studdard supporting his new all-covers record, Tried and True.
Bo Bice – The runner-up to Season 4 champ Carrie Underwood, Bice was one of the series’ oldest contestants and the designated “rocker” for that season, alongside Maroulis. Post-Idol, Bice has cut three albums, landed a chart-topping single (“Inside Your Heaven”), had three kids, toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd and gone overseas in 2008 to play for troops in Kuwait and Afghanistan.
Katharine McPhee – In Season 5, McPhee ended finished the runner-up to champ Taylor Hicks. The daughter of a vocal coach/cabaret singer, McPhee wasted no time cutting a 2007 self-titled record that went gold, co-starring in the 2008 film The House Bunny and recently released her Verve Forecast Records/sophomore bow Unbroken.
Adam Lambert – Controversy, thy name is Adam Lambert. After being the runner-up to Kris Allen in Season 8, Lambert became the first openly gay mainstream pop artist to release a debut on a major label by way of last year’s For Your Entertainment. During his 2009 appearance on the American Music Awards, he scandalously kissed a male keyboardist in addition to indulging in a few risqué moments, appeared this past season on American Idol as a guest mentor and is currently out on the road with fellow Idol alum Allison Iraheta.
NYC
Constantine Maroulis @ Highline Ballroom
431 W. 16th St. 8 p.m. $25. 212-414-5994.