David Cook returning to Oklahoma; Carrie Underwood top-earning “Idol”

Posted by brandy

on June 15, 2009 at 11:29 pm

David Cook (Associated Press photo)

David Cook, the 2008 “American Idol” winner, will return to Oklahoma next week to play shows in Oklahoma City and his former stomping grounds of Tulsa.

The Season 7 victor will perform Tuesday, June 23 at historic Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, where he lived and worked as a singer/songwriter/musician/bartender before auditioning for the reality TV show. For tickets and information, go to www.cainsballroom.com.

He also will play Wednesday, June 24 at Oklahoma City’s Diamond Ballroom. For tickets and information, go to www.diamondballroom.net.

Both dates are part of “The Declaration Tour,” featuring opener Ryan Star.

A lot has changed for Cookie since he beat out baby-faced teen crooner David Archuleta on the 2008 version of the reality TV singing program. Forbes.com recently reported that Cook has earned an estimated $2 million since June of 2008.

Most of his income came from the 1.1 million copies sold of his self-titled major label debut album, released last fall. Cook supplemented his music sales with a live tour and a product sponsorship deal with sneaker maker Skechers.

Archuleta made an estimated $1.3 million from sales of his first album and more than 100 live concerts, according to the Forbes.com story.

Carrie Underwood (AP photo)

But the title of top-earning “Idol” belongs to the other winner with Oklahoma ties: Checotah-bred Carrie Underwood. The Season 4 victor earned an estimated $14 million last year from her lucrative recording, touring and product endorsement efforts.

Her 2005 debut album, “Some Hearts,” spent 11 weeks at the top of the Billboard album charts. Songs from her second effort, 2007’s “Carnival Ride,” got massive airplay on both country and adult alternative radio. She has sold 9.6 million albums and 10.7 million digital downloads, according to the story, which cites Nielsen Soundscan.

But to find the “Idol” with the most album sales, you have to go back to the beginning: Kelly Clarkson, the first champion, has sold more than 10 million records since 2003.

Click here to read the Forbes.com story, which also reveals how Jennifer Hudson, Clay Aiken and Taylor Hicks have used acting to supplement their musical money-making efforts.

-BAM