See the complete list of  American Idol  winners. 5/12/2026 Kelly Clarkson sings after winning American Idol at the Kodak Theatre on Sept. 4, 2002 in Hollywood, California. Kevin Winter/ImageDirect American Idol  just wrapped its 24th season, after months of looking for the latest aspiring singer to join its long history of superstars who have gained successful careers from the competition since it launched in 2002. Throughout the show’s history, viewers have seen singers from all genres and of all ages take the crown — and also a mix of celebrity judges helping the contestants through the competition, starting with OGs Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul leading all the way up to the current panel of Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.…