These 8 Singers Are the Youngest to Ever Win the American Idol

In its more than 20-year history, American Idol has featured dozens of promising singers who have tried to win it big and become true celebrities. But only a select few have emerged victorious, and some of them were quite young at the time.

And that's only natural, as American Idol has always prided itself on turning young and inexperienced performers into huge stars, a sentiment certainly proven by the 8 singers listed below.

8. Just Sam

A fan-favorite contestant from the 2020 season managed to surpass all expectations with her heartfelt rendition of Selena Quintanilla's 'Como La Flor,' making her the winner that pandemic year. The singer-songwriter was just 22 at the time of her win, and she obviously has a lot more time to cement her star status in the future.

7. Phillip Phillips

The adorable singer broke all kinds of records in 2012 with his hit folk-rock anthem 'Home,' which sold more than 5 million copies in the United States. The singer wowed the judges and won the 11th American Idol competition that same year, becoming one of the youngest winners in history at just 21 years old.

6. Carrie Underwood

It's hard to remember, but the iconic singer got her start on American Idol back in 2005 and has since become a huge inspiration to all contestants. The star won at the tender age of 21 and has continued to build her impressive resume ever since.

5. Maddie Poppe

Trent Pope's daughter proved to be just as talented as her famous father in 2018, when she won the competition with her emotional folk songs. At the time of her win, Maddie was just 20 years old and showed unparalleled control of her stage presence at such a young age.

4. Fantasia

Season three queen Fantasia is definitely one of the most talented soul singers to ever appear on American Idol, and her Grammy Awards certainly prove it. Fantasia won the trophy at the age of 19, breaking the record for the youngest person to win American Idol.

3. Laine Hardy

The heartthrob country singer wowed the judges in season seventeen with his guitar playing and great voice, winning the competition at just 18 years old. While his recent actions make him a rather despicable person (he secretly recorded his girlfriend and was arrested for it), his title as the third-youngest American Idol winner is still with him.

2. Scotty McCreery

The country maverick got his start on the tenth season of American Idol and has since gone platinum. Even 10 years later, McCreery is still at the top of his game, making it clear that he was already an accomplished artist at the age of 17 when he won the American Idol trophy.

1. Jordin Sparks

Wonderful singer first appeared before the public in 2007 and immediately proved to be the greatest performer among the other contestants of season 6. Like McCreery, Jordin won American Idol at the age of 17 and went on to sell millions of copies of her albums.