As for the eventual victor, they walk away with $125,000 for winning the show and are signed to a recording contract. Per AmericanSongwriter, the record company typically gives the winner a $300,000 advance as a recording budget, but that is then paid back via future earnings.

American Idol contestant Doug Kiker has died at age 32. The singer's sister, Angela Evans, shared the news with a Facebook post on Wednesday, writing, "It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce the passing of my brother Douglas Kiker.