Daughtry

After releasing two albums that have both been certified platinum, Daughtry has cemented themselves as a force in the world of rock. Fronted by the band's namesake, Chris Daughtry, they have launched from his "American Idol" experience to unprecedented success.

As a teenager, North Carolina native Chris Daughtry decided to pursue music professionally. He played in several bands while studying his craft, and eventually auditioned for the reality show "Rock Star: INXS." He did not make it on the show, but the experience prepared him for an even more important audition, "American Idol." He landed a spot on the fifth season of the show and made it all the way to the top four before being voted off; an elimination that took many by surprise -- including Ellen.

Following "Idol," Chris Daughtry signed with a record label and formed a band, using his well-known last name for theirs. In 2006 they released their first album, "Daughtry," which became a critical and commercial success and has since been certified platinum four times. It even earned them four Grammy nominations. They followed it in 2009 with "Leave This Town," which has also been certified platinum.