She Bangs: American Idol's William Hung Keeps Winning

American Idol is preparing for its 15th and final season in 2016, after which there will be no more highlight reels of terrible auditions from recording star wannabes who mistakenly believe that they possess some sort of singing talent.

Season 3's William Hung is one such singer. But despite his shortcomings in front of the microphone, Hung parlayed his likeability into a recording contract and legendary status as an American Idol alum who found modest success even though he couldn't make it past the audition stage.

On the live tournament poker tables, Hung has crushed his auditions. In fact, after bagging another poker title last month at the Aria in Las Vegas, he was well on his way to Hollywood Week. And while many American Idol contestants have their dreams of stardom shattered during their stay in California, Hung cashed twice more in the Golden State this summer following his championship in Aria's $125 Nightly Event for $1,786 in July.

That marks the second time Hung captured the $125 Nightly, the first time came last December and resulted in a $2,264 payday. While these victories and relatively small prizes may seem insignificant to most poker pros, players with dreams of making it big in poker have to begin somewhere and tournaments with entry fees of a hundred bucks or so are the typical starting point.

What was not insignificant was Hung's 3rd place finish in the $235 Daily Deepstacks at the Rio in June where he cashed for $17,856. All told, the 32­ year ­old landed in­ the money six times this summer, winning over $24K in the process. His lifetime earnings now stand at $31,024, according to the Hendon Mob.

Ironically enough, Hung was not the only American Idol Season 3 contestant to later go on to win poker tournaments. Maria Ho also auditioned and did move on to Hollywood Week, but didn't make the cut for the live show.

American Idol's loss was the poker community's gain, as Ho found her true calling and has collected winnings of $1,703,487 on the poker tables after Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson eliminated her. Ho has also lended her poker expertise as an analyst for the Heartland Poker Tour and will co-host the new "Poker Night In America: The Tour."

Will we see Hung move up in stakes anytime soon? Of course, the competition gets tougher the higher stakes you play. Can those bigger events be more difficult than belting out a Ricky Martin tune in front of Simon Cowell, the less-­than­-friendly judge who told Hung that he can neither sing nor dance?

But as we have learned, Hung can play poker.