Kelly Clarkson’s hit, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)“, certainly lives up to its name. Not only is it the original Idol winner’s longest-running chart topper of her career, but it just became the best-selling “American Idol” single of all time. Congrats. The empowering track surpasses previous champion “Before He Cheats” sung by Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood.

As of last week’s Neilsen SoundScan numbers, “Stronger” has sold 3,510,000 singles, just narrowly beating “Before He Cheat’s” 3,509,000 units. Just in case you were wondering, Jordin Sparks earns the bronze in the Idol Olympics. Her duet with Chris Brown on “No Air” is in third place with 3,437,000 singles sold to date.


Carrie shouldn’t feel too bad losing this crown. The country singer is still tops when it comes to total domestic album sales. Underwood has moved 13,205,000 albums, while Clarkson has 11,664,000 units sold to her credit. With Carrie on top, the prophecy made by Simon Cowell after her “Alone” performance on the show still stands. For you Idol hardcore fans, you might remember Cowell saying, “Not only will you win this show, you will sell more records than any other previous Idol winner.” So far that remains true.

There’s still one thing “Before He Cheats” has over “Stronger”. The car scratching anthem is one of nine songs to have stayed on Billboard’s Hot 100 for 60 weeks or more since the chart was introduced in August 1958. Check out the others below.

  • 76 weeks, “I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz, No. 6, 2008
  • 69 weeks, “How Do I Live,” LeAnn Rimes, No. 2, 1997
  • 66 weeks, “Party Rock Anthem,” LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock, No. 1 (six weeks), 2011
  • 65 weeks, “Rolling in the Deep,” Adele, No. 1 (seven weeks), 2011
  • 65 weeks, “You Were Meant for Me” / “Foolish Games,” Jewel, No. 2, 1997
  • 64 weeks, “Before He Cheats,” Carrie Underwood, No. 8, 2007
  • 62 weeks, “You and Me,” Lifehouse, No. 5, 2005
  • 60 weeks, “Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum, No. 2, 2010
  • 60, “Macarena,” Los Del Rio, No. 1 (14 weeks), 1996

Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” has only 29 weeks to its credit as of today. I can’t see it remaining on the Hot 100 for another 31 weeks. Do you? Out of the two songs, which do you prefer? Are you Team Carrie or Team Kelly? Sound off below.

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