American Idol Stars Rockin' Out with Their Younger Selves



By Kelli Bender


UPDATED 04/24/2014 at 08:00 PM EDT • Originally published 05/21/2014 at 06:00 PM EDT



As Caleb Johnson and Jena Irene battle in Wednesday night's American Idol finale, let's take a look at how far the Fox series' past contestants have come.

Over the course of 13 seasons and multiple judge lineups, the show has continued to launch numerous music careers – plus, an Oscar winner.


To prove the show and its stars have grown, we took the powers of Photoshop and matched the famous faces of American Idol with their younger selves. Get ready for the funkiest jam band around.


All photo illustrations by Tiffany Hagler-Geard and Linzi Silverman for PEOPLE.com.


Kelly Clarkson: Since U Been Gone ... Oh Wait, You Never Left


American Idol Stars Rockin' Out with Their Younger Selves| American Idol, American Idol, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Steven Tyler, Media Products, TV Seasons & Episodes

Kelly Clarkson in 2013 and 2002


Photos by Wireimage and Getty; Photo Illustration by Tiffany Hagler-Geard




Steven Tyler: Stevie, I Don't Want to Miss a Thing


American Idol Stars Rockin' Out with Their Younger Selves| American Idol, American Idol, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Steven Tyler, Authors Class

Steven Tyler in 2014 and 1990


Photos by Getty; Photo Illustration by Linzi Silverman




Paula Abdul: Forever Her Own Girl


American Idol Stars Rockin' Out with Their Younger Selves| American Idol, American Idol, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Steven Tyler, RolesClass, Entertainment Franchises, Media Product Details, Media Products, TV Seasons, TV Series

Paula Abdul in 1988 and 2013


Photos by Wireimage and Getty; Photo Illustration by Tiffany Hagler-Geard




Carrie Underwood: Carrie, Take the Wheel


American Idol Stars Rockin' Out with Their Younger Selves| American Idol, American Idol, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Steven Tyler, Musician Class

Carrie Underwood in 2014 and 2005


Photos Provided by Getty and Wireimage; Photo Illustration by Tiffany Hagler-Geard




Clay Aiken: From Runner-Up to Congressional Candidate in 11 Seasons


American Idol Stars Rockin' Out with Their Younger Selves| American Idol, American Idol, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Steven Tyler, Authors Class

Clay Aiken in 2012 and 2003


Photos by Getty and FOX; Photo Illustration by Linzi Silverman




Jennifer Hudson: Young Jennifer, I Am Telling You I'm Not Going


American Idol Stars Rockin' Out with Their Younger Selves| American Idol, American Idol, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Steven Tyler, RolesClass, Entertainment Franchises

Jennifer Hudson in 2014 and 2006


Photos by Getty; Photo Illustration by Tiffany Hagler-Geard




Jennifer Lopez: She's Still Jenny from the Block


American Idol Stars Rockin' Out with Their Younger Selves| American Idol, American Idol, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Steven Tyler, Musician Class, Producers Class

Jennifer Lopez in 2014 and 1995


Photo Illustration by Tiffany Hagler-Geard; Photos Provided by Getty




Jordin Sparks: You're Like a Tattoo, I'll Always Have You


American Idol Stars Rockin' Out with Their Younger Selves| American Idol, American Idol, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Steven Tyler

Jordin Sparks in 2014 and 2007


Photos by NBC and Wireimage; Photo Illustration by Tiffany Hagler-Geard




Simon Cowell: Gray Is the New Black


American Idol Stars Rockin' Out with Their Younger Selves| American Idol, American Idol, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Steven Tyler, Producers Class, RolesClass, Entertainment Franchises, Media Product Details, Media Products, TV Seasons, TV Seasons & Episodes, TV Series, TV Shows, American Idol

Simon Cowell in 2014 and 2002


Photos by Getty; Photo Illustration by Tiffany Hagler-Geard




Randy Jackson: Yo Dawg, Why'd You Go and Cut Your Hair?


American Idol Stars Rockin' Out with Their Younger Selves| American Idol, American Idol, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Steven Tyler, Authors Class

Randy Jackson in 2013 in 1987


Photos by Getty and REX USA; Photo Illustration by Linzi Silverman




RELATED: See the Cast of Mean Girls Hanging Out with Their Younger Selves




American Idol Stars Rockin' Out with Their Younger Selves| American Idol, American Idol, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Steven Tyler, DVDs, Home Video Products

Lindsay Lohan in 1998 and 2014


Photos Provided by Getty and REX USA; Photo Illustration by Tiffany Hagler-Geard




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