American Idol: The Search for a Superstar (commonly known as simply American Idol) is a television show on the American television network Fox Network, based on the popular British show Pop Idol. The show is a contest to determine the best young singer in the United States of America.
Season synopses
Season One
- Main article: American Idol (Season 1)
Season One Contestants
The following is a list of Season One contestants, in order of elimination.
EJay Day
Jim Verraros
A.J. Gil
Ryan Starr
Christina Christian
R.J. Helton
Tamyra Gray
Nikki McKibbin
Justin Guarini (runner-up)
Kelly Clarkson (winner)
The following is a Bottom 3 Table. The Contestants written in Pink are female and The Contestants written in Blue are male
| Singer | Semifinals Group 1 | Semifinals Group 2 | Semifinals Group 3 | Wild Card | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Clarkson | Did not Perform | TOP 10 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WINNER |
| Justin Guarini | Did not Perform | TOP 10 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | LOSE |
| Nikki McKibbin | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 10 | Did not Perform | BTM3 | SAFE | BTM3 | BTM3 | BTM2 | BTM2 | ELIM | |
| Tamyra Gray | TOP 10 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | ||
| R.J. Helton | Did not Perform | Wildcard | Did not Perform | TOP 10 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | ELIM | |||
| Christina Christian | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 10 | Did not Perform | SAFE | BTM3 | SAFE | ELIM | ||||
| Ryan Starr | TOP 10 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | SAFE | BTM2 | ELIM | |||||
| A.J. Gil | Did not Perform | TOP 10 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | SAFE | ELIM | ||||||
| Jim Verraros | TOP 10 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | ELIM | |||||||
| EJay Day | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 10 | Did not Perform | ELIM |
NOTE: This Chart does not include semifinalists and Wild Cards
Season Two
- Main article: American Idol (Season 2)
Season Two Contestants
The following is a list of Season Two contestants, in order of elimination.
Vanessa Olivarez
Charles Grigsby
Julia DeMato
Corey Clark (disqualified)
Rickey Smith
Kimberly Caldwell
Carmen Rasmusen
Trenyce
Joshua Gracin
Kimberley Locke
Clay Aiken (runner-up)
Ruben Studdard (winner)
The following is a Bottom 3 Table. The Contestants written in Pink are female and The Contestants written in Blue are male
| Singer | Semifinals Group 1 | Semifinals Group 2 | Semifinals Group 3 | Semifinals Group 4 | Wild Card | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruben Studdard | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | SAFE | WINNER |
| Clay Aiken | Did not Perform | Wildcard | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | LOSE |
| Kimberley Locke | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | BTM3 | SAFE | SAFE | BTM3 | BTM3 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | ELIM | |
| Joshua Gracin | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | ELIM | ||
| Trenyce | Wildcard | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | BTM3 | BTM3 | ELIM | |||
| Carmen Rasmusen | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | BTM2 | ELIM | ||||
| Kimberly Caldwell | Wildcard | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | BTM2 | ELIM | |||||
| Rickey Smith | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | BTM3 | SAFE | ELIM | ||||||
| Corey Clark | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | DISQ | |||||||
| Julia DeMato | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | BTM2 | BTM3 | ELIM | ||||||||
| Charles Grigsby | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | SAFE | ELIM | |||||||||
| Vanessa Olivarez | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | ELIM |
NOTE: This Chart does not include semifinalists and Wild Cards
Season Three
- Main article: American Idol (Season 3)
Season Three Contestants
The following is a list of Season Three contestants, in order of elimination.
Leah LaBelle
Matthew Rogers
Amy Adams
Camile Velasco
Jon Peter Lewis
Jennifer Hudson
John Stevens
George Huff
LaToya London
Jasmine Trias
Diana DeGarmo (runner-up)
Fantasia Barrino (winner)
The following is a Bottom 3 Table. The Contestants written in Pink are female and The Contestants written in Blue are male
| Singer | Semifinals Group 1 | Semifinals Group 2 | Semifinals Group 3 | Semifinals Group 4 | Wild Card | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fantasia Barrino | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | WINNER |
| Diana DeGarmo | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | SAFE | BTM3 | SAFE | BTM3 | BTM3 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | LOSE |
| Jasmine Trias | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | SAFE | BTM3 | BTM2 | SAFE | ELIM | |
| LaToya London | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | BTM3 | SAFE | SAFE | BTM3 | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | ||
| George Huff | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Wildcard | TOP 12 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | ELIM | |||
| John Stevens | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | ELIM | ||||
| Jennifer Hudson | Wildcard | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | BTM2 | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | |||||
| Jon Peter Lewis | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Wildcard | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | ||||||
| Camile Velasco | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | ELIM | |||||||
| Amy Adams | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | BTM3 | SAFE | ELIM | ||||||||
| Matthew Rogers | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | SAFE | ELIM | |||||||||
| Leah LaBelle | Did not Perform | Did not Perform | Wildcard | Did not Perform | TOP 12 | ELIM |
NOTE: This Chart does not include semifinalists and Wild Cards
Season Four
- Main article: American Idol (Season 4)
Season Four Contestants
The following is a list of Season Four contestants, in order of elimination.
Lindsey Cardinale
Mikalah Gordon
Jessica Sierra
Nikko Smith
Nadia Turner
Anwar Robinson
Constantine Maroulis
Scott Savol
Anthony Fedorov
Vonzell Solomon
Bo Bice (runner-up)
Carrie Underwood (winner)
The following is a Bottom 3 Table. The Contestants written in Pink are female and The Contestants written in Blue are male
| Singer | Semifinals Boys 1 | Semifinals Girls 1 | Semifinals Boys 2 | Semifinals Girls 2 | Semifinals Boys 3 | Semifinals Girls 3 | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrie Underwood | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WINNER |
| Bo Bice | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | LOSE |
| Vonzell Solomon | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM3 | SAFE | SAFE | BTM3 | SAFE | BTM2 | ELIM | |
| Anthony Fedorov | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | BTM3 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM3 | BTM2 | BTM2 | ELIM | ||
| Scott Savol | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | BTM3 | BTM3 | SAFE | ELIM | |||
| Constantine Maroulis | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | ||||
| Anwar Robinson | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | |||||
| Nadia Turner | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | BTM3 | SAFE | ELIM | ||||||
| Nikko Smith | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | ELIM | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | |||||||
| Jessica Sierra | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | BTM3 | SAFE | ELIM | ||||||||
| Mikalah Gordon | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | BTM2 | ELIM | |||||||||
| Lindsey Cardinale | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | ELIM |
NOTE: This Chart does not include semifinalists
Season Five
- Main article: American Idol (Season 5)
Season Five Contestants
The following is a list of Season Five contestants, in order of elimination.
Melissa McGhee
Kevin Covais
Lisa Tucker
Mandisa
Bucky Covington
Ace Young
Kellie Pickler
Paris Bennett
Chris Daughtry
Elliott Yamin
Katharine McPhee (runner-up)
Taylor Hicks (winner)
The following is a Bottom 3 Table. The Contestants written in Pink are female and The Contestants written in Blue are male
| Singer | Semifinals Girls 1 | Semifinals Boys 1 | Semifinals Girls 2 | Semifinals Boys 2 | Semifinals Girls 3 | Semifinals Boys 3 | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Hicks | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WINNER |
| Katharine McPhee | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | LOSE |
| Elliott Yamin | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | BTM3 | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | ELIM | |
| Chris Daughtry | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | ||
| Paris Bennett | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM3 | SAFE | BTM3 | BTM2 | ELIM | |||
| Kellie Pickler | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | ||||
| Ace Young | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | BTM3 | SAFE | BTM3 | ELIM | |||||
| Bucky Covington | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | ||||||
| Mandisa | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | |||||||
| Lisa Tucker | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | BTM2 | BTM3 | ELIM | ||||||||
| Kevin Covais | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | BTM3 | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | |||||||||
| Melissa McGhee | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | ELIM |
NOTE: This Chart does not include semifinalists
Season Six
- Main article: American Idol (Season 6)
Season Six Contestants
The following is a list of Season Six contestants, in order of elimination.
Brandon Rogers
Stephanie Edwards
Chris Sligh
Gina Glocksen
Haley Scarnato
Sanjaya Malakar
Phil Stacey
Chris Richardson
LaKisha Jones
Melinda Doolittle
Blake Lewis (runner-up)
Jordin Sparks (winner)
The following is a Bottom 3 Table. The Contestants written in Pink are female and The Contestants written in Blue are male
| Singer | Semifinals Boys 1 | Semifinals Girls 1 | Semifinals Boys 2 | Semifinals Girls 2 | Semifinals Boys 3 | Semifinals Girls 3 | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordin Sparks | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | N/A | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WINNER |
| Blake Lewis | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM3 | N/A | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | LOSE |
| Melinda Doolittle | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | N/A | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | |
| LaKisha Jones | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | N/A | SAFE | ELIM | ||
| Chris Richardson | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | BTM2 | SAFE | SAFE | BTM3 | SAFE | N/A | ELIM | |||
| Phil Stacey | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | BTM3 | SAFE | BTM3 | BTM3 | BTM2 | SAFE | N/A | ELIM | |||
| Sanjaya Malakar | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | BTM2 | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | |||||
| Haley Scarnato | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM2 | BTM2 | ELIM | ||||||
| Gina Glocksen | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | |||||||
| Chris Sligh | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | ||||||||
| Stephanie Edwards | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | |||||||||
| Brandon Rogers | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | SAFE | Did not Perform | ELIM |
NOTE: This Chart does not include semifinalists
Season Seven
- Main article: American Idol (Season 7)
Season Eight
- Main article: American Idol (Season 8)
Season Nine
- Main article: American Idol (Season 9)
Season Ten
- Main article: American Idol (Season 10)
Season Eleven
- Main article: American Idol (Season 11)
Season Twelve
- Main article: American Idol (Season 12)
Season Thirteen
- Main article: American Idol (Season 13)
Season Fourteen
- Main article: American Idol (Season 14)
Season Fifteen
- Main article: American Idol (Season 15)
World Idol
Kelly Clarkson participated alongside 10 other Idols in the 2 show mini-event World Idol. Kelly placed 2nd place on 97 points. Kelly performed the Aretha Franklin cover - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.
Kelly received the following scores respectively.
UK awarded 9 points
Belgium awarded 9 points
Australia awarded 9 points
USA awarded 12 points (default award)
Pan-Arab Nations awarded 5 points
Poland awarded 8 points
The Netherlands awarded 9 points
Canada awarded 9 points
Germany awarded 9 points
Norway awarded 10 points
South Africa awarded 8 points
Judges and hosts
Judges
- Randy Jackson (2002-2013)
- Paula Abdul (2002-2009)
- Simon Cowell (2002-2010)
Hosts
- Ryan Seacrest (2002-2016)
- Brian Dunkleman (2002)