Taylor Hicks

“Do I Make You Proud?”

He won American Idol after 63.4 million votes were cast. Less than two years later his label had dropped him, and before long he was hosting a show about state foods on INSP.

★ Leading Steepest Fall, Outstanding Achievement in Fading

Read the nomination This year’s race ↓

“Taylor Hicks, American Idol season 6 winner performs at CLDJ (cropped)” by Master Sgt. Vanessa Valdez, U.S. Air Force, via commons.wikimedia.org · Public domain · cropped to square and resized

The 2026 nominees

Steepest Fall

Judged on how fast they fell: fame lost per year after the peak

Longest Time in the Wilderness

Judged on years since their peak

Outstanding Achievement in Fading

Judged on Fade-o-Meter score

Frontrunner in each category marked ★ (ties share it). The winner is announced in December.

Meet the nominees

Steve Guttenberg in a cap, smiling at his signing table under a banner reading Steve Guttenberg, GalaxyCon Richmond, March 2026

Nominee No. 04

Steve GuttenbergPolice Academy and Three Men and a Baby, 1984–1987

“Steve Guttenberg at Galaxy Con Richmond - 55186310676” by John Manard, via commons.wikimedia.org · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped to Steve Guttenberg and his name banner, square, and resized; adapted image licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Nominee No. 03

Taylor Hickswinning American Idol, 2006

“Taylor Hicks, American Idol season 6 winner performs at CLDJ (cropped)” by Master Sgt. Vanessa Valdez, U.S. Air Force, via commons.wikimedia.org · Public domain · cropped to square and resized

Pauly Shore smiling and making a peace sign at GalaxyCon Raleigh, July 2024

Nominee No. 02

Pauly ShoreEncino Man, 1992

“Pauly Shore (54006965946)” by John Manard for Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, via commons.wikimedia.org · CC BY 2.0 · cropped to square and resized

Vanilla Ice performing into a microphone in an orange Houston Dash jersey, in front of a “Yo! I love the 90s” sign, Houston, October 2023

Nominee No. 01

Vanilla Ice“Ice Ice Baby”, 1990

“Houston Dash 90s Bash, 2023-10-08 (53256190154) (cropped)” by 2C2K Photography from Houston, TX, USA, via commons.wikimedia.org · CC BY 2.0 · cropped to square and resized

Submit a nomination

The academy accepts nominations all year. Who, what happened, and a link.

Public figures only: actors, pop stars, presenters, reality alumni, one-hit wonders, influencers of yore. Tell us what they were famous for and link to proof of where they are now. No private people, and nobody who stepped back for their health, a bereavement or their family.