Most Successful American Ldol Contestant

Chris Daughtry was the only official member at the time the album was released leading some to mistakenly believe that the band Daughtry is Chris Daughtry's solo project In its ninth week of release Daughtry reached number one on the Billboard charts Chris Daughtry is now the third most successful American Idol contestant in terms of record sales behind only Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood who both won their respective seasons.


Daughtry was born in Roanoke Rapids North Carolina and raised in Lasker North Carolina until he was 14 His parents Pete and Sandra Daughtry reside in Palmyra Virginia where Daughtry grew up before he relocated to McLeansville North Carolina outside of Greensboro North Carolina His brother Kenneth lives in North Wilkesboro North Carolina.


He took guitar lessons from blues rock guitarist Matt Jagger at Stacy's Music store in Charlottesville and sought advice from Andy Waldeck frontman for Earth To Andy who is credited first on his debut album. He performed with rock bands during his time in high school at local venues opening for future guitarist Brian Craddock's band My Dog Lucy and Matt Jagger.