Simon CowellHas just compared a contestant to America’s Got Talent to one of the most successful artists he’s ever come across on a talent show: Carrie Underwood. Let’s learn whom the legendary and notoriously picky judge was talking about.
A Carrie Underwood Refresher
Think back to 2005. The Boston Red Sox were still on the high of their historic World Series victory the year before. American IdolThe NFL was less popular than the talent competition. It was a success story that made Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson household names. It was a legitimate star-making vehicle the likes of which we haven’t seen before or since.
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Underwood was 21 years old when she auditioned to the fourth season of the St. Louis show. She stood out immediately and won the competition. When it was down to the top 11, Underwood sang a cover of Heart’s hit All by Yourself. Following her performance, Cowell lavished praise on her.
“You’re not just the girl to beat, you’re the person to beat. I will make a prediction: Not only will you win this show, you will sell more records than any other previous Idol winner.”Underwood was stunned and asked Ryan Seacrest to pinch it. Cowell was right. Underwood has sold about a million more recordsMore than any other Idol contestant.
History Repeats Itself
Cowell was famously known for leaving American IdolIn 2010, to become a judge The X Factor. He also found it a huge hit and began to work on it. America’s Got Talent2015 Season 17 is in progress, and Avery Dixon, a saxophone player is making a name for herself. Atlanta’s 21 year-old Underwood was when she won. A standing ovation was earnedHis cover of “Higher Ground”Stevie Wonder. His audition earned him the first Golden Buzzer for the season, which guaranteed him a spot in the live finals.
Cowell received the greatest praise, not for the buzzer. Cowell praised Underwood to help predict the success of Dixon. “I’m going to predict something. I said this about Carrie Underwood years and years and years ago on another show, which is…you’re going to be a superstar.”
Big Shoes To Fill
It doesn’t get more successful than Underwood, so this is the steepest praise Cowell could offer. Dixon is the most successful contestant of all time, even if they achieve half the success Underwood has achieved. America’s Got Talent. If he’s going to follow her path, first he has to win the whole show. We’ll find out in September what America has to say.