The third season of American Idol premiered on January 19 2004 and continued until May 26 2004. It was won by Fantasia Barrino. This season was hosted by Ryan Seacrest.
Live Show Details
Heat 1 (17 February 2004)
| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diana DeGarmo | "I've Got the Music in Me" (Kiki Dee) | Advanced |
| 2 | Marque Lynche | "Wind Beneath My Wings" (Bette Midler) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Ashley Thomas | "Crazy" (Patsy Cline) | Eliminated |
| 4 | Katie Webber | "Orange Colored Sky" (Natalie Cole) | Eliminated |
| 5 | Erskine Walcott | "Open Arms" (Journey) | Eliminated |
| 6 | Jennifer Hudson | "Imagine" (John Lennon) | Eliminated |
| 7 | Matthew Metzger | "Walking in Memphis" (Marc Cohn) | Eliminated |
| 8 | Fantasia Barrino | "Something to Talk About" (Bonnie Raitt) | Advanced |
- Notes
- Fantasia Barrino and Diana DeGarmo advanced to the top 12 of the competition. The other 6 contestants were eliminated.
- Katie Webber, Jennifer Hudson and Matthew Metzger returned for a second chance at the top 12 in the Wildcard Round.
Heat 2 (17 February 2004)
| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Rogers | "Why You Won't Do for Love" (Bobby Caldwell) | Advanced |
| 2 | Briana Ramirez-Rial | "Don't Know Why" (Norah Jones) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Noel Roman | "This I Promise You" (NSYNC) | Eliminated |
| 4 | Kara Master | "I'm Outta Love" (Anastacia) | Eliminated |
| 5 | Lisa Leuschner | "Sweet Thing" (Chaka Khan) | Eliminated |
| 6 | Jesus Roman | "Back at One" (Brian McKnight) | Eliminated |
| 7 | Camile Velasco | "One Last Cry" (Brian McKnight) | Advanced |
| 8 | Marisa Joy | "Some Kind of Wonderful" (Joss Stone) | Eliminated |
- Notes
- Camile Velasco and Matthew Rogers advanced to the top 12 of the competition. The other 6 contestants were eliminated.
- None of the contestants from this round made it into the Wildcard Round, making it the only group to not be represented at that stage.
Heat 3 (24 February 2004)
| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elizabeth LeTendre | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (Whitney Houston) | Eliminated |
| 2 | Eric Yoder | "In the Still of the Night" (The Five Satins) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Amy Adams | "The Power of Love" (Jennifer Rush) | Advanced |
| 4 | Jon Peter Lewis | "Tiny Dancer" (Elton John) | Eliminated |
| 5 | Charly Lowry | "Chain of Fools" (Aretha Franklin) | Eliminated |
| 6 | Jonah Moananu | "I Wish" (Carl Thomas) | Eliminated |
| 7 | Leah LaBelle | "I Have Nothing" (Whitney Houston) | Eliminated |
| 8 | LaToya London | "All By Myself" (Celine Dion) | Advanced |
- Notes
- LaToya London and Amy Adams advanced to the top 12 of the competition. The other 6 contestants were eliminated.
- Elizabeth LeTendre, Jon Peter Lewis and Leah LaBelle returned for a second chance at the top 12 in the Wildcard Round.
Heat 4 (2 March 2004)
| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzy Vulaca | "Un-Break My Heart" (Toni Braxton) | Eliminated |
| 2 | John Preator | "That's What Love Is All About" (Michael Bolton) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Heather Piccinini | "New Attitude" (Patti LaBelle) | Eliminated |
| 4 | John Stevens | "She's Always a Woman" (Billy Joel) | Advanced |
| 5 | Jasmine Trias | "Run to You" (Whitney Houston) | Advanced |
| 6 | George Huff | "Always and Forever" (Heatwave) | Eliminated |
| 7 | Lisa Wilson | "Come to My Window" (Melissa Etheridge) | Eliminated |
| 8 | Tiara Purifoy | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (Whitney Houston) | Eliminated |
- Notes
- John Stevens and Jasmine Trias advanced to the top 12 of the competition. The other 6 contestants were eliminated.
- Suzy Vulaca and George Huff returned for a second chance at the top 12 in the Wildcard Round.
Wildcard round (9 March 2004)
| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jon Peter Lewis | "A Little Less Conversation" (Elvis Presley) | Advanced |
| 2 | Elizabeth LeTendre | "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (Roberta Flack) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Katie Webber | "So Emotional" (Whitney Houston) | Eliminated |
| 4 | George Huff | "Lean on Me" (Bill Withers) | Advanced |
| 5 | Suzy Vulaca | "I Will Survive" (Gloria Gaynor) | Eliminated |
| 6 | Matthew Metzger | "When I See You Smile" (Bad English) | Eliminated |
| 7 | Leah LaBelle | "Let's Stay Together" (Al Green) | Advanced |
| 8 | Jennifer Hudson | "I Believe in You and Me" (Whitney Houston) | Advanced |
- Notes
- The judges selected Jennifer Hudson, Leah LaBelle and George Huff to move on into the Top 12 of the competition. Randy Jackson chose Jennifer, Paula Abdul chose Leah and Simon Cowell chose George. Jon Peter Lewis received most votes, and completed the top 12.
Live Show 1 (16 March 2004)
Theme: Soul
| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LaToya London | "Ain't Nobody" (Chaka Khan) | Safe |
| 2 | Amy Adams | "You Make Me Feel Brand New" (The Stylistics) | Bottom three |
| 3 | Matthew Rogers | "Hard to Handle" (Otis Redding) | Safe |
| 4 | Camile Velasco | "Son of a Preacher Man" (Dusty Springfield) | Safe |
| 5 | Jon Peter Lewis | "Drift Away" (Dobie Gray) | Safe |
| 6 | Fantasia Barrino | "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (Stevie Wonder) | Safe |
| 7 | George Huff | "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" (Otis Redding) | Safe |
| 8 | Jennifer Hudson | "Baby I Love You" (Aretha Franklin) | Bottom two |
| 9 | John Stevens | "Lately" (Stevie Wonder) | Safe |
| 10 | Leah LaBelle | "You Keep Me Hangin' On" (The Supremes) | Eliminated |
| 11 | Jasmine Trias | "Inseparable" (Natalie Cole) | Safe |
| 12 | Diana DeGarmo | "Think" (Aretha Franklin) | Safe |
Live Show 2 (23 March 2004)
Theme: Country
| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diana DeGarmo | "A Broken Wing" (Martina McBride) | Bottom three |
| 2 | George Huff | "I Can Love You Like That" (John Michael Montgomery) | Safe |
| 3 | Fantasia Barrino | "Always on My Mind" (Brenda Lee) | Safe |
| 4 | John Stevens | "King of the Road" (Roger Miller) | Safe |
| 5 | Camile Velasco | "Desperado" (The Eagles) | Bottom two |
| 6 | Jennifer Hudson | "No One Else on Earth" (Wynonna Judd) | Safe |
| 7 | Jon Peter Lewis | "She Believes in Me" (Kenny Rogers) | Safe |
| 8 | Jasmine Trias | "Breathe" (Faith Hill) | Safe |
| 9 | Matthew Rogers | "Amazed" (Lonestar) | Eliminated |
| 10 | LaToya London | "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)" (Garth Brooks) | Safe |
| 11 | Amy Adams | "Sin Wagon" (Dixie Chicks) | Safe |
Live Show 3 (30 March 2004)
Theme: Motown
| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camile Velasco | "For Once in My Life" (Stevie Wonder) | Safe |
| 2 | Jon Peter Lewis | "This Old Heart of Mine" (The Isley Brothers) | Safe |
| 3 | LaToya London | "Ooo Baby Baby" (The Miracles) | Bottom three |
| 4 | Amy Adams | "Dancing in the Street" (Martha & the Vandellas) | Eliminated |
| 5 | John Stevens | "My Girl" (The Temptations) | Safe |
| 6 | Jennifer Hudson | "Heat Wave" (Martha & the Vandellas) | Bottom two |
| 7 | Jasmine Trias | "You're All I Need to Get By" (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) | Safe |
| 8 | Diana DeGarmo | "Do You Love Me" (The Contours) | Safe |
| 9 | Fantasia Barrino | "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (Marvin Gaye) | Safe |
| 10 | George Huff | "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (The Temptations) | Safe |
Live Show 4 (6 April 2004)
Theme: Elton John
| Order | Artist | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fantasia Barrino | "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" | Safe |
| 2 | Jon Peter Lewis | "Rocket Man" | Safe |
| 3 | Jasmine Trias | "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" | Bottom two |
| 4 | John Stevens | "Crocodile Rock" | Safe |
| 5 | Camile Velasco | "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" | Eliminated |
| 6 | George Huff | "Take Me to the Pilot" | Safe |
| 7 | Diana DeGarmo | "I'm Still Standing" | Bottom three |
| 8 | LaToya London | "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" | Safe |
| 9 | Jennifer Hudson | "Circle of Life" | Safe |
Live Show 5 (14 April 2004)
Theme: Movie Soundtracks
| Order | Artist | Song (original artists) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Huff | "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" (Phil Collins) | Safe |
| 2 | Jennifer Hudson | "I Have Nothing" (Whitney Houston) | Safe |
| 3 | Jon Peter Lewis | "Jailhouse Rock" (Elvis Presley) | Eliminated |
| 4 | Diana DeGarmo | "My Heart Will Go On" (Celine Dion) | Bottom three |
| 5 | Fantasia Barrino | "Summertime" (Abbie Mitchell) | Safe |
| 6 | Jasmine Trias | "When I Fall in Love" (Nat King Cole) | Safe |
| 7 | John Stevens | "As Time Goes By" (Dooley Wilson) | Bottom two |
| 8 | LaToya London | "Somewhere" (Reri Grist) | Safe |
Live Show 6 (20 April 2004)
Theme: Barry Manilow
| Order | Artist | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diana DeGarmo | "One Voice" | Safe |
| 2 | George Huff | "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" | Safe |
| 3 | Jennifer Hudson | "Weekend in New England" | Eliminated |
| 4 | Jasmine Trias | "I'll Never Love This Way Again" | Safe |
| 5 | LaToya London | "All the Time" | Bottom three |
| 6 | John Stevens | "Mandy" | Safe |
| 7 | Fantasia Barrino | "It's a Miracle" | Bottom two |
Live Show 7 (27 April 2004)
Theme: Gloria Estefan
| Order | Artist | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fantasia Barrino | "Get on Your Feet" | Safe |
| 2 | George Huff | "Live for Loving You" | Bottom two |
| 3 | LaToya London | "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" | Safe |
| 4 | John Stevens | "Music of My Heart" | Eliminated |
| 5 | Jasmine Trias | "Here We Are" | Bottom three |
| 6 | Diana DeGarmo | "Turn the Beat Around" | Safe |
Halfway Home Special (3 May 2004)
| Artist | Song (original artists) |
|---|---|
| Diana DeGarmo | "Think" (Aretha Franklin) |
| Fantasia Barrino | "Summertime" (Abbie Mitchell) |
| George Huff | "Take Me to the Pilot" (Elton John) |
| Jasmine Trias | "Inseparable" (Natalie Cole) |
| LaToya London | "Somewhere" (Reri Grist) |
Live Show 8 (4 May 2004)
Theme: Big Band
| Order | Artist | First song (original artists) | Second song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diana DeGarmo | "Someone to Watch Over Me" (Gertrude Lawrence) | "Get Happy" (Judy Garland) | Safe |
| 2 | George Huff | "Cheek to Cheek" (Fred Astaire) | "What a Wonderful World" (Louis Armstrong) | Eliminated |
| 3 | LaToya London | "Too Close for Comfort" (Eydie Gormé) | "Don't Rain on My Parade" (Barbra Streisand) | Safe |
| 4 | Jasmine Trias | "The Way You Look Tonight" (Frank Sinatra) | "Almost Like Being in Love" (Frank Sinatra) | Bottom two |
| 5 | Fantasia Barrino | "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (Queen) | "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life" (Julie Andrews) | Safe |
Live Show 9 (11 May 2004)
Theme: Disco
| Order | Artist | First song (original artists) | Second song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jasmine Trias | "Everlasting Love" (Carl Carlton) | "It's Raining Men" (The Weather Girls) | Safe |
| 2 | LaToya London | "Love You Inside Out" (Bee Gees) | "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Thelma Houston) | Eliminated |
| 3 | Fantasia Barrino | "Knock on Wood" (Amii Stewart) | "Holding Out for a Hero" (Bonnie Tyler) | Bottom two |
| 4 | Diana DeGarmo | "This Is It" (Melba Moore) | "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" (Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer) | Safe |
Live Show 10: Semi-final (18 May 2004)
Theme: Idol's Choice, Judge's Choice & Clive Davis' Choice
| Order | Artist | First song (original artists) | Second song | Third song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jasmine Trias | "Saving All My Love for You" (Whitney Houston) | "Mr. Melody" (Natalie Cole) | "All By Myself" (Celine Dion) | Eliminated |
| 2 | Fantasia Barrino | "Chain of Fools" (Aretha Franklin) | "A Fool in Love" (Ike & Tina Turner) | "The Greatest Love of All" (Whitney Houston) | Safe |
| 3 | Diana DeGarmo | "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell) | "Because You Loved Me" (Celine Dion) | "Don't Cry Out Loud" (Melissa Manchester) | Safe |
Live final (25 May 2004)
| Order | Artist | First song (original artists) | Second song | Third song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diana DeGarmo | "I Believe" | "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" (Barbra Streisane & Donna Summer) | "Don't Cry Out Loud" (Melissa Manchester) | Runner-up |
| 2 | Fantasia Barrino | "All My Life" (K-Ci & JoJo) | "Summertime" (Abbie Mitchell) | "I Believe" | Winner |