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American Idol is an American talent reality television series that first aired in 2002. As of October 2008, there have been seven seasons. During every season, the final round of competition features twelve singers, except for season one when it had ten finalists. A total of 106 contestants have reached the top twelve (or ten) of their seasons. The show's age requirements only allow people to enter if they are between the ages of 16 and 29 years of age. Out of the 106 contestants listed, 21 of them were under the age of 20, including two winners and two runners-up. The age with the most contestants is 24, including no winners, and one runner-up. Season four winner Carrie Underwood currently holds the record for the highest-selling American Idol album, with more than six million copies sold in the United States.[1]
In season one, Jim Verraros, an openly gay contestant, was told by FOX TV to remove all mentions of his homosexuality from his online journal as producers "thought [he] was trying to gain more votes."[2] During the second season, finalist Corey Clark was disqualified when it was revealed that he had been arrested during the competition after he was charged with resisting arrest, battery upon his sister, and criminal restraint. In season five, voters claimed that phone calls dialed for Chris Daughtry during the first few minutes of voting were misrouted to Katharine McPhee's lines, when they heard her recorded message thanking them for voting for McPhee.[3] In season seven, it was revealed that Carly Smithson held a prior label record deal with MCA Records. Reports suggested that MCA spent over $2 million promoting Smithson's previous album which she made under the name Carly Hennessy. The album sold 378 copies, and is now available on iTunes.[4] Smithson remained on the show, and placed sixth in her season.