Ahead of the 23rd season of "American Idol," it's time to look back on previous winners and see how many actually became American idols.

Here's how we think the "American Idol" winners stack up. 22. Just Sam (season 18) The low placement of Just Sam, 26, the winner of season 18, is no fault of their own — their season was ...

From contestants who nearly botched their auditions, to folks who floored the judges, these tryouts from past "Idol" winners ...

Growing up in tiny Dardanelle, Arkansas, Sam Sparks cultivated a passion for cars at an early age. At just 15 ... said in a sneak peek of his American Idol audition. “I immediately knew that ...

An aspiring singer named Sam Sparks stunned the judges on American Idol with his powerful audition. Sparks' performance was ...

Even the "American Idol" judges are prone to mistakes. No, that's not just a reference to Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie's choice of platinum ticket winner in this week's episode ...