Daughtry

After Chris Daughtry’s fourth-place finish on Season 5 of American Idol, the rocker formed his self-titled band Daughtry, kickstarting his long career. Their debut album went sextuple platinum since its release in 2006—making the North Carolina-born singer one of the most popular contestants in Idol history, trailing only Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson in records sold. Key to Daughtry’s sustained success has been the singer’s capacity for not just tweaking but abandoning altogether the hard-rock sound with which he became synonymous during the television show. Five more full-lengths followed, and from 2009’s Leave This Town—another platinum seller—to 2025’s EP SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM (PART TWO), the band has experimented with sounds, textures, and instruments, producing dreamy-alt ballads, synth-infused pop-rock, and riff-powered tunes, with the former reality star’s versatile voice at the forefront.