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There's Life After 'American Idol'

Tribune photo by JAY NOLAN

Syesha Mercado of Sarasota was voted off "American Idol" on Wednesday.

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Published: May 15, 2008

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Which American Idol non-winner will have the most successful career?

Clay Aiken
Chris Daughtry
Jennifer Hudson
Katharine McPhee
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Syesha Mercado will not win Season 7 of ''American Idol.''

That may not be a bad thing.

Mercado, the 21-year-old actress from Sarasota, has been eliminated in fans' voting, ensuring one of the Davids – Archuleta or Cook – will join Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks and Jordin Sparks as "Idol" winner.

But Mercado can take heart in the fact that several ''Idol'' also-rans have gone on to very successful show-business careers – even eclipsing many of the previous winners.

Jennifer Hudson finished seventh in Season 3, but her biggest claim to fame is her performance in ''Dreamgirls,'' in which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Chris Daughtry has gone on to a Grammy-nominated career and is arguably the biggest star to come out of Season 5, despite finishing fourth.

And others – including Clay Aiken, McPhee, Kellie Pickler and Kimberley Locke – have parlayed their appearances into successful careers.

Not to mention Tampa's Jessica Sierra, the 10th-place finisher in Season 4, who has achieved national notoriety for all the wrong reasons.

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