Kelly Clarkson has topped money magazine Forbes list of 2012’s top-earning American Idols.
Forbes reports Clarkson leads the list with earnings of $8 million, about what Nicki Minaj makes for her role on Idol and twice what Keith Urban gets. More than a decade after winning Season One, Clarkson continues to grow her career, and her bank account, with the help of gold-certified album “Stronger”, a mentor role on The Voice, a Toyota commercial and a lucrative tour.
Forbes’ numbers are based on estimated income from May 2011 to May 2012, before subtracting taxes, American Idol’s cut and any additional fees for agents, lawyers and managers.
Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry tied for the second spot. Underwood’s earnings were boosted by new album “Blown Away”, which has sold 1.2 million copies. Underwood didn’t tour much during the magazines’ scoring period, but with an average nightly gross in excess of $400,000, she’s set for a big year with a string of concert dates running through at least early summer. Daughtry’s eponymous rock group continues to tour heavily, pulling in six-figure nightly grosses along the way.
Roundinng out the list were Season 10 winner Scotty McCreery in fourth ($4 million), Jennifer Hudson ($3 million), Jordin Sparks ($2 million), Adam Lambert ($1.5 million), Katharine McPhee ($1.1 million), Kellie Pickler ($1.1 million), David Archuleta ($1 million), and David Cook ($1 million).
Kelly Clarkson
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