Several alumni of American Idol are dominating the music charts just a week after David Cook beat out David Archuleta in the show’s seventh edition, and weeks before the start of the 50-plus date American Idols Live! Tour, which kicks off July 1 in Glendale, AZ.
Currently, there are 17 American Idol contestants with songs on Billboard Hot 100. In an astonishing chart feat, 14 of those songs make their debut this week. All 17 are by artists who had their careers launched after they competed on the massively popular TV series.
Cook set the record for the most new entries by an artist in the 50-year history of the Hot 100 with 11 songs entering the chart dated June 7. That breaks the record of six new entries in one week set by Miley Cyrus. Cook’s 11 songs are led by “The Time of My Life,” which debuts at No. 3, making it the highest new entry of 2008. “The Time of My Life” debuts at No. 1 on two other charts, Hot Digital Songs and Hot Digital Tracks, bringing the total of No. 1 hits of “American Idol” performers to 179, an amazing run of chart-toppers that began when Kelly Clarkson had the first American Idol No. 1 in October 2002 with “A Moment Like This.”
Archuleta has three songs entering the Hot 100 this week, starting with his stunning remake of John Lennon’s “Imagine” at No. 36.
Completing the 17 Hot 100 songs are “No Air” by Jordin Sparks (in a duet with Chris Brown) at No. 5, “Last Name” by Carrie Underwood (taking a wild 37-19 leap) and Daughtry’s “Feels Like Tonight.”
This year’s American Idol Live! Tour will only feature this season’s top 10 performers, including Cook and Archuleta.
