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From reality TV to the Grammys: Talent show contestants with Grammy nominations
L. Cohen/Getty Images

From reality TV to the Grammys: Talent show contestants with Grammy nominations

"American Idol," the titan of reality TV talent shows, ended its 15-year run in 2015 but not before it completely changed the landscape of television as we know it. Not only did it fill the pockets of television executives, dozens of singers and musicians have lived their dreams because of these shows.

But this is not a recent phenomenon.

Amateur contests on television have a history dating back to the 1950s, where some of the most iconic stars were discovered. The Grammy Awards, one of the music industry's most prestigious honors, has recognized a number of these amateurs turned musical Goliaths.

Here are stars who started from the depths of talent shows and ended up at the Grammys. 

 
1 of 56

Kelly Clarkson, American Idol

Kelly Clarkson, American Idol
L. Cohen/Getty Images

The one. The only. The original. Kelly Clarkson has been a trailblazer by being the first winner ever of American Idol and being its first Grammy nominee and winner. Clarkson notched her first wins in 2006 with Best Female Vocal Performance in “Since U Been Gone” and Best Pop Vocal Album in "Breakaway." Clarkson has 12 total nominations and three wins over the span of 13 successful years.

 

 
2 of 56

Usher, Star Search

Usher, Star Search
Lester Cohen/WireImage/Getty Images

R&B legend Usher told us his confessions and it only made us love him more. He has sold 75 million records overall and received eight Grammy awards in his career, all of which came after being spotted by L.A. Reid on "Star Search" when the singer was only 13 years old. 

 

 
3 of 56

Miranda Lambert, Nashville Star

Miranda Lambert, Nashville Star
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Lambert did not make the final two when she competed on "Nashville Star," but she is one of their most successful contestants, accounting for 12 Grammy nominations and winning two of the coveted awards. 

 

 
4 of 56

Tony Bennett, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts

Tony Bennett, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts
Jason LaVeris/Getty Images

The legend that left his heart in San Francisco has 19 Grammy wins to his name and over 50 million records sold, but before he crooned to millions, he was just a kid from New York on "Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts."

 
5 of 56

Backstreet Boys, Star Search

Backstreet Boys, Star Search
Munawar Hosain/Fotos International/Getty Images

At the height of the boy band crazy, the Backstreet Boys were arguably the kings of the genre. The group has seven Grammy nominations, but maybe just as importantly, appeared on "Star Search" in the early nineties. 

 

 
6 of 56

Chris Daughtry, American Idol

Chris Daughtry, American Idol
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Chris Daughtry was eliminated in a shocking result in the Top 4 in Season 5 of "American Idol" but he has recovered to be recognized at the Grammys. As the frontman of his band Daughtry, he was nominated for four gramophone trophies in 2008.

 

 
7 of 56

ABBA, Eurovision Song Contest

ABBA, Eurovision Song Contest
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The group of “Dancing Queen” disco fame never won a Grammy, but their classic hit song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2005, but the band first rose to fame winning "Eurovision" in 1974. 

 

 
8 of 56

Jennifer Hudson, American Idol

Jennifer Hudson, American Idol
Lester Cohen/Getty Images

Hudson never made it past the Top 7 on Season 3 of "American Idol." However, she still found success with six Grammy nominations, winning one in 2009 for her self-titled album – after the untimely death of her mother and brother to a shooting.

 

 
9 of 56

Adam Lambert, American Idol

Adam Lambert, American Idol
John Sciulli/Getty Images

Before belting out classics with legendary Queen, Lambert got his chance by impressing judges with his unique look and rock and roll sound on "American Idol." Before being selected to lead Queen, he was nominated at the 2011 Grammy awards for his performance of “Whataya Want from Me.”

 

 
10 of 56

Ruben Studdard, American Idol

Ruben Studdard, American Idol
L. Cohen/Getty Images

The Velvet Teddy Bear walked into our lives on Season 2 of "American Idol" and proudly represented the 205 on the show and beyond. He even made it to the Grammy awards in 2004, nominated for Favorite Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Superstar.”

 

 
11 of 56

Patsy Cline, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts

Patsy Cline, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts
GAB Archive/Getty Images

The country music pioneer was taken away from us way too early when she died at 30 in a plane crash. In her short time on earth, she was able to be one of the most influential musicians ever, even being awarded a Lifetime Achievement award at the Grammys in 1995.

 

 
12 of 56

Carrie Underwood, American Idol

Carrie Underwood, American Idol
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Rolling Stone called her the female vocalist of her generation of any genre. Billboard called her country music’s reigning queen. 14 Grammy nominations, including seven wins later and you’re looking at the most successful "American Idol" singer.

 

 
13 of 56

Ace Young, American Idol

Ace Young, American Idol
Jeff Vespa/Getty Images

Most "American Idol" contestants don’t become stars, but most of them stay in music one way or another. Ace Young made it to the Top 7 on Season 5, and then made an album, but he was able to break into the Grammy awards by co-writing “It’s Not Over” with "Idol" alum Chris Daughtry and others.

 

 
14 of 56

Gladys Knight, The Original Amateur Hour

Gladys Knight, The Original Amateur Hour
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

At the ripe age of seven, a young Gladys Knight won "The Original Amateur Hour" in 1952. A year later she formed the Pips some family members and the rest is history. Seven Grammy awards later, she has earned her nickname, “the Empress of Soul.”

 

 
15 of 56

Celine Dion, Eurovision Song Contest

Celine Dion, Eurovision Song Contest
Vince Bucci/Getty Images

The songstress got her start representing Switzerland in the "Eurovision Song Contest" (which is weird because she’s French-Canadian). From that launch point, she won five Grammy awards, and has one of her songs referenced in Cards Against Humanity – an achievement of a different status.

 

 
16 of 56

Danny Elfman, The Gong Show

Danny Elfman, The Gong Show
Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images

Before he was composing music for "The Simpsons" and The Family Guy," Danny Elfman was the frontman for new wave group Oingo Boingo, who were introduced on "The Gong Show" in 1976. Elfman would split from the group, winning a Grammy for his musical score in Tim Burton’s "Batman."

 

 
17 of 56

Rosemary Clooney, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts

Rosemary Clooney, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts
Donaldson Collection/Getty Images

Clooney’s 54-year career was marked with initial success only for her to fall into depression and drug addiction only to then come back in 1977 to record more jazz albums. She garnered five Grammy nominations, and secured her first with a lifetime achievement Grammy in 2002.

 

 
18 of 56

Jordin Sparks, American Idol

Jordin Sparks, American Idol
Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Sparks wowed the Recording Academy with her hit “No Air” winning the Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals in 2009. She also remains as the youngest "American Idol" winner at the age of 17.

 

 
19 of 56

Justin Timberlake (Justin Randall), Star Search

Justin Timberlake (Justin Randall), Star Search
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS

Before he was impressing us with his suit and tie as Justin Timberlake, Justin Randall was impressing judges at "Star Search" as a child country crooner. His journey has taken him a long way, and he has nine Grammy award wins to show for it.

 

 
20 of 56

Fantasia Barrino, American Idol

Fantasia Barrino, American Idol
Dan MacMedan/Getty Images

Fantasia wowed audiences with her raspy, but powerful in Season 3 of the popular series. After winning the season, Fantasia has quietly been one of the more successful Idol winners, getting nominated for 12 Grammys, winning her only one in 2011 for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance ("Bittersweet").

 
21 of 56

Taylor Hicks, American Idol

Taylor Hicks, American Idol
Rick Diamond/Getty Images

The silver-haired sensation from Birmingham, Alabama rocked his way to the top of Season Five. He also holds the honor of being the first male Idol to be featured on a Grammy-winning album for “Friday” on Jimmy Fallon’s "Blow Your Pants Off" in 2013.

 

 
22 of 56

Destiny’s Child, Star Search

Destiny’s Child, Star Search
Vince Bucci/Getty Images

Beyoncé is Queen B now, but before she was just one of the girls in the one of the best R&B groups ever, that just happened to be on "Star Search" in 1993. Destiny’s Child was later nominated for nine Grammy awards winning for classic songs like, “Survivor” and “Say My Name.”

 

 
23 of 56

Christina Aguilera, Star Search

Christina Aguilera, Star Search
Chris Polk/FilmMagic/Getty Images

First she was a “Genie in a Bottle.” Then she was “Dirty.” Next she was “Beautiful.” No matter what Christina Aguilera was she was successful. Just ask her five Grammy wins that came after she appeared on "Star Search" in 1990 when she was just a child. 

 

 
24 of 56

Carmel Quinn, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts

Carmel Quinn, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts
Harold Whyte/Getty Images

Some stars are so good, they don’t even need music to win Grammys. Carmel Quinn launched her career by winning "Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts" in 1955, and never looked back, performing for two presidents and selling out Carnegie Hall annually for St. Patrick’s Day with a voice that has been compared to Judy Garland’s. However, she was nominated for her children’s recording of “Patrick Muldoon and his Magic Balloon.”

 

 
25 of 56

Leona Lewis, X-Factor

Leona Lewis, X-Factor
Ray Mickshaw/FOX via Getty Images

The London-based singer is the most successful X-Factor contestant from the Britain series, nominated for three Grammys in 2008 after winning the competition in 2006.

 

 
26 of 56

Lenny Bruce, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts

Lenny Bruce, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts
Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Stand-up comedy is a tough gig, but Lenny Bruce made it look easy with his impressions on "Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts." Then he became one of the best satirical comics with some epics rants about politics, abortion and the Ku Klux Klan, earning three Grammy nominations for Best Comedy Album.

 
27 of 56

Alanis Morissette, Star Search

Alanis Morissette, Star Search
Ron Galella/WireImage/Getty Images

There was no one that did angry music quite like the Canadian-American alt-rock queen, but at age 14 she lost on "Star Search." Have no fear though, behind the critically acclaimed "Jagged Little Pill," Morissette has sold over 60 million album, nominated 12 times at the Grammys and winning seven times.

 

 
28 of 56

Britney Spears, Star Search

Britney Spears, Star Search
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Before she was shaving her head and attacking paparazzi with umbrellas, Britney Spears was at the top of the pop world, coming out with hit after hit. Her successful career landed her eight Grammy nominations, including one win for her transformative hit “Toxic” which came more than a decade since the child performer had competed on "Star Search" in 1992

 

 
29 of 56

Mandisa, American Idol

Mandisa, American Idol
Steve Granitz/Getty Images

Mandisa didn’t last long on the fifth season of "Idol," but she didn’t go away for long. After releasing the appropriately named "Overcomer" in 2013, Mandisa won her first Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album.

 

 
30 of 56

Adam Sandler, Star Search

Adam Sandler, Star Search
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

While it is hard to top getting in a fist fight with Bob Barker, Adam Sandler can also count a couple of Grammy nominations in 1997 and 2000 for Best Comedy Album, even if he didn't get far on "Star Search" when he was just starting out in his comedy career.

 

 
31 of 56

Steve Lawrence, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts

Steve Lawrence, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts
NBC/Getty Images

Partnering with his wife, Eydie Gormé, the duo known as Steve and Eydie won a Grammy in 1962 for Best Performance by a Vocal duo or Group for their song, “We Got Us.”

 

 
32 of 56

LeAnn Rimes, Star Search

LeAnn Rimes, Star Search
RON LEVY/AFP/Getty Images

Rimes was a nine-year-old, one-week champion on "Star Search." She made the switch to country soon after, where she became the youngest person to win a Grammy at age 14 for Best New Artist. She added a second Grammy at the same award ceremony for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

 

 
33 of 56

Lulu, Eurovision Song Contest

Lulu, Eurovision Song Contest
Michael Putland/Getty Images

The United Kingdom representative starred on the song contest in 1969, performing “Boom Bang-a-Bang.” She had a modest career, but still earned a Grammy nomination for “Who’s Foolin’ Who” on her self-titled album.

 

 
34 of 56

Katrina and the Waves, Eurovision Song Contest

Katrina and the Waves, Eurovision Song Contest
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

In a reversal of the Grammy fame coming before reality show wins, this British-American rock band had us “Walking on Sunshine” in 1985 and rode the song to their only Grammy nomination, but later won "Eurovision" with their song "Love Shine a Light" in 1997.

 

 
35 of 56

Beth Hart, Star Search

Beth Hart, Star Search
Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images

In 1993, Hart won the Female Vocalist competition on "Star Search." 11 years later, she was nominated for a Grammy when we teamed with Joe Bonamassa for their album, "Seesaw."

 

 
36 of 56

Jonathan Winters, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts

Jonathan Winters, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

After making appearances on "Mork & Mindy" and having his own show, Winters totaled 11 Grammy nominations, notching one win for Best Spoken Comedy Album for "Crank(y) Calls" in 1996.

 

 
37 of 56

Billy Porter, Star Search

Billy Porter, Star Search
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Porter came a long way from winning "Star Search" in 1992. After years on the New York theater scene, he starred as Lola on "Kinky Boots" where he won both a Tony and Grammy for his performance.

 

 
38 of 56

Carly Rae Jepsen, Canadian Idol

Carly Rae Jepsen, Canadian Idol
Jeff Vespa/WireImage/Getty Images

With a little help from her fellow Canadian Justin Bieber, Jepsen burst onto the scene with “Call Me Maybe” in 2011. The single invaded computers everywhere, nabbing two Grammy nominations.

 

 
39 of 56

Green Jelly, The Gong Show

Green Jelly, The Gong Show
Steve Eichner/Getty Images

Comedy punk is a heck of a genre to try and break into the music business but they still able to attain moderate success, getting a Grammy nomination for Best Long Form Video with their fourth album "333" after appearing on "The Gong Show" in the 1980s. 

 

 
40 of 56

Marian McPartland, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts

Marian McPartland, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts
George Pimentel/Getty Images

One of the most accomplished jazz pianists ever, Marian McPartland’s career spanned over 70 years, culminating in her lifetime achievement Grammy in 2004.

 

 
41 of 56

Kacey Musgraves, Nashville Star

Kacey Musgraves, Nashville Star
Dan MacMedan/WireImage/Getty Images

The Golden, Texas-born artist didn’t let a 7th place finish stop her from achieving her dreams. Musgraves has five total Grammy nominations, winning two in 2014 for the album "Same Trailer Different Park" and the song “Merry Go ‘Round.”

 

 
42 of 56

Karina Pasian, Star Search

Karina Pasian, Star Search
Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic/Getty Images

It’s not enough that she can sing in English, but Pasian can sing in six other languages as well. Her talent netted her one Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary R&B album in 2009 after her 2003 appearance on "Star Search."

 

 
43 of 56

Melissa Lawson, Nashville Star

Melissa Lawson, Nashville Star
John Russell/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

The Arlington country star won the competition and our hearts in 2008 on "Nashville Star" and she rode that momentum to two Grammy nominations in 2009.

 

 
44 of 56

Scott Hoying, Star Search

Scott Hoying, Star Search
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Hoying finished 12th on "Star Search," but he recovered with a little help from his friends. The former USC Trojan joined up with four other singers to form the a cappella group Pentatonix won two Grammys and is nominated for a third in 2017.

 

 
45 of 56

Shanice, Star Search

Shanice, Star Search
Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage/Getty Images

Shanice signed a deal with A&M records shortly after competing on "Star Search" and started recording at the age of 14. A couple years later, she was nominated for a Grammy in 1993 for Best R&B Vocal Performance for her song “I Love Your Smile.” 

 

 
46 of 56

Roy Clark, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts

Roy Clark, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts
Jason Davis/Getty Images

Clark made his appearance on the show in the late 50s, and became one of the most influential figures in country. After winning almost anually at the Country Music Association Awards from 1970-1980, he finally won his first and only Grammy for Best Country Instrumental Performance for his recording of “Alabama Jubilee.”

 

 
47 of 56

Nadia, La Academia

Nadia, La Academia
Mark Sullivan/WireImage/Getty Images

The singer from Oaxaca, Mexico finished as a runner-up in "La Academia," but she was still a successful contestant after nabbing a Grammy nomination in 2008 for "A Puro Dolor."

 

 
48 of 56

Tamar, Star Search

Tamar, Star Search
Ray Tamarra/Getty Images

A young Ashley Tamar Davis appeared on "Star Search" with the group Girl’s Tyme, only to leave to do her own thing. Unfortunately for her that group ended up being Destiny’s Child, but she is still having a nice career, getting nominated for one Grammy collaborating with Prince in 2006.

 

 
49 of 56

Jeanie Tracy, Star Search

Jeanie Tracy, Star Search
Clarence Gatson/Gado/Getty Images

Tracy studied opera and classical piano before earning two Grammy nominations: one for appearing on Carlos Santana’s "Supernatural" and on the "Titanic" soundtrack.

 

 
50 of 56

Chris Young, Nashville Star

Chris Young, Nashville Star
Ed Rode/WireImage for NARAS

The 2006 winner of the competition was nominated in 2010 for Best Male Country Performance for his sultry song “Gettin’ You Home.”

 

 
51 of 56

Aaliyah, Star Search

Aaliyah, Star Search
Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images

The Brooklyn-native was well on her way to being one of the biggest stars in the world when she was on "Star Search" as a child in 1999, later starring in "Romeo Must Die" and selling millions of albums by the time she was 22. She was even nominated for her first Grammy for “Try Again” before tragically dying a plane crash in 2001.

 

 
52 of 56

The Blackwood Brothers, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts

The Blackwood Brothers, Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts
GAB Archive/Getty Images

This quartet start in the Great Depression, but it wasn’t until they won the "Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts" competition that the group took off. They become pioneers of the Christian music industry and won nine Grammys in the process.

 

 
53 of 56

Tori Kelly, Star Search

Tori Kelly, Star Search
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Kelly made the rounds on the competition shows, appearing on "Star Search," "America’s Most Talented Kids" and "American Idol." All of those experiences finally got noticed as she was nominated for Best New Artist in 2016.

 

 
54 of 56

Ty Herndon, Star Search

Ty Herndon, Star Search
Amanda Edwards/WireImage/Getty Images

The country singer from Butler, Alabama was nominated for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel album in 2010 for "Journey On" – 25 years after he was on "Star Search."

 

 
55 of 56

Susan Boyle, Britain’s Got Talent

Susan Boyle, Britain’s Got Talent
Casper Christoffersen/AFP/Getty Images

Boyle’s rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” on Britain’s Got Talent” in 2009 was one of the most sensation moments of the year and carried Boyle to a runner-up finish in the show. She also received two Grammy nominations in 2011 and 2012.

 

 
56 of 56

Sutton Foster, Star Search

Sutton Foster, Star Search
Cindy Ord/Getty Images

The Broadway stage was kind to Foster, who won two Tonys for her work in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and was nominated for one Grammy in 2012 for her on work on the musical theater album "Anything Goes" after appearing on "Star Search" as a teenager.

 

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