N.C. Idols: Where are they now?

Since I am already experiencing “American Idol” withdrawal, I’m devoting my first post to an update about former Idol contestants from North Carolina.

While the Tar Heel state can’t claim season seven winner David Cook, previous seasons have produced Fantasia , who won, and Clay Aiken, who you would think won.

The newly fuchsia-haired Fantasia Barrino, of High Point, left AI judge Simon Cowell seemingly in shock earlier this season during a guest performance on the show. The season three winner was spotlighted on TMZ this week (i.e. followed around and harassed by stalkerrazzi) while trying escape in her blue Toyota.

While Fantasia was trying to get away, AI’s most famous runner-up, Clay Aiken, hasn’t made plans to go anywhere – on tour. Aiken’s new album, “On My Way Here,” debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart earlier this month. Before it was released he chatted with WRAL’s Lynda Loveland. To watch that interview click here.

Season five contestant Bucky Covington is hitting the road. The country singer from Rockingham will be playing in Tennessee, Kansas and Colorado.

Kellie Pickler debuted her new single, “Don’t You Know You're Beautiful,” this week at the Academy of Country Music Awards. The season five contestant is from Albemarle, a small town 45 minutes from Charlotte. “Beautiful” is the first single from her forthcoming second album.

Another season five alum, Chris Daughtry of McLeansville in Guilford County just wrapped up a tour with Bon Jovi. In a blog posting on his official Web site this past weekend, Daughtry introduced two new members of his family – Chloe, a toy poodle and Harlow, a Shih-Tzu.

So now that another season of Idol is in the books, did the right "David" win? GoLo users weighed in on the battle of the "Davids." User Sweet Rose said it was the "best finale in Idol history."