Fans who watched American Idol 2025 of course know that Jamal Roberts (deservedly) took home the win and was crowned the champ of the season! Though that's the case, that doesn't mean he was the only talented contestant to take the stage this season. Season 23 of the competition series really saw so many amazing artists, including runner-ups Josh Foster and Breanna Nix.
Foster was the immediate runner-up who came in second place, while Nix was so close to the prize, going home in third place. That doesn't take away from either of their talents, and there's proof of that based on being able to get their singles on the Billboard Chart. And I'm talking about Breanna Nix in particular for that not so little piece of success.
Breanna Nix's single "Higher" hits Billboard charts
Per Forbes, the singer's original song "Higher" has not only made it onto the charts, but is currently ranking No. 1 in the U.S. right now in the Christian Digital Song Sales category. The 25-year-old from Texas has such a deep and strong voice, it was truly amazing to see her Idol journey this season. Though what's great about this accomplishment is the fact that even though she wasn't the winner, she's still finding success outside of the show too. And that's all we want for our faves like her!
Nix was definitely a fan-favorite, and previous contestants over the years have proved you can still build a career off of American Idol without necessarily being the winner. Probably the most famous one I'd say who fits that bill is Jennifer Hudson. The multi-talent actually came in seventh place back in season 3. She wasn't even close to being a runner-up! There's also Adam Lambert who came in second in season 8. Now, he tours with legendary rock band Queen. What more could you ask for?
Sometimes, an artist's Idol journey is meant to be a stepping stone for their career to get that exposure needed and then go from there. And I really do think that can, and will, happen for Nix. With her being a fan-favorite, such a talent, and already finding success just weeks after the finale? Wow! I'm not worried about this gal. Be sure to listen to her new single below. And hopefully, she'll grace us with a full-on album soon. I'll definitely be listening to it.
Stay tuned to GeekSided as we bring you updates about American Idol 2026 on ABC!