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Steepest Fall
Judged on how fast they fell: fame lost per year after the peak
The 2026 Has-Been of the Year Awards · Live from a function room near you
The race so far
Frontrunner · Has-Been of the Year 2026
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, Longest Time in the Wilderness, Outstanding Achievement in Fading
“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
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
Nominee No. 01
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
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.