Chris Daughtry went from a finalist on the fifth season of “American Idol” – the original FOX version – in 2006 to the frontman of the mega-successful rock band Daughtry.

By the way, Daughtry – the singer not the band – celebrates his 45th birthday today.

Daughtry’s rise was unexpected, and by no means guaranteed. Placing fourth behind Elliott Yamin, Katherine McPhee and winner Taylor Hicks – who could all easily be featured on one of those documentaries “Where Are They Now?” – only to outsell all of them as well as previous Idol rockers like Bo Bice and Constantine Maroulis.

In fact, Daughtry ranks as the third most successful Idol alum in the show’s history, behind superstars Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. Notably, both Underwood and Clarkson won their respective seasons.

Daughtry was working in a car shop when he made the fateful decision to audition for the fifth season of “American Idol,” inspired by Bice’s previous success on the show.

Daughtry became an early favorite on Season 5 of “American Idol,” where he performed acclaimed covers such as Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” and Fuel’s “​​Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” — Fuel was so impressed by the cover that they famously offered him a place in the band. Simon Cowell, a judge on the reality show at the time, called Daughtry “the first artist ever on the show who’s refused to compromise.”

But Daughtry, up against more mainstream pop stylists like Hicks and McPhee, didn’t win, perhaps due to some awkward moments along the way. He covered Johnny Cash’s “Walk The Line,” or, more accurately, covered the version of the song first performed by the rock band Live.

When Live wasn’t initially credited for the arrangement, fans were incensed, believing Daughtry was assuming credit for a version that wasn’t his.

When Daughtry was voted off the show in May 2006, many viewers were shocked — and some even claimed their vote had been miscounted.

When Daughtry left Idol, he signed with 19 Entertainment Group – the production company behind “American Idol” – and RCA Records. Instead of releasing a solo record like so many other past contestants, Daughtry created a band — also called Daughtry — with a lineup consisting of Jeremy Brady and Josh Steely on guitars, Josh Paul on bass, and Joey Barnes on drums.

The group’s self-titled debut album became one of the biggest rock hits of 2006, and became the fastest-selling debut. The acclaimed album was also nominated for three Grammys — one for best rock album, and a nomination each for two of the album’s singles, “Home” and “It’s Not Over.” Both songs became top-10 hits on the Hot 100.

The group’s follow-up albums continued to be successful. Each successive album spent less time on the chart than Daughtry’s debut. Daughtry’s sixth studio album, “Dearly Beloved,” peaked at No. 50 after its release in September 2021.

In August 2023, Big Machine Records signed the band, which released a new single, “Artificial.” On Feb. 9, 2024, “Artificial” reached the top of Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

The band released a new single titled “Pieces” in March. Daughtry announced in June that their next album would be released in two parts, with the first part being released in September. A new single entitled “Nervous” was released in June.

In August, the band released another single, “The Reckoning”. They finally released their new EP, titled “Shock to the System (Part One)” in September.

Daughtry’s music is primarily defined by pop rock, hard rock and post-grunge influences.

Whatever his music is considered, one thing is for certain: After all these years, Chris Daughtry and his band have stood the test of time.

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Greg Williams is a reporter and Weekend Editor for The Sentinel. A Mifflin County native, he has been writing for The Sentinel since 1991.