American Idol' Best Performances Ever
- Worst 'Idol' Performances
- 'Idol' Stars: Where Are They Now?
- Simon's Meanest Quotes
- Biggest 'Idol' Cliches
- Worst 'Idol' Performances
- 'Idol' Stars: Where Are They Now?
- Simon's Meanest Quotes
- Biggest 'Idol' Cliches
- Worst 'Idol' Performances
- 'Idol' Stars: Where Are They Now?
- Simon's Meanest Quotes
- Biggest 'Idol' Cliches
- Worst 'Idol' Performances
- 'Idol' Stars: Where Are They Now?
- Simon's Meanest Quotes
- Biggest 'Idol' Cliches
- Worst 'Idol' Performances
- 'Idol' Stars: Where Are They Now?
- Simon's Meanest Quotes
- Biggest 'Idol' Cliches
- Worst 'Idol' Performances
- 'Idol' Stars: Where Are They Now?
- Simon's Meanest Quotes
- Biggest 'Idol' Cliches
- Worst 'Idol' Performances
- 'Idol' Stars: Where Are They Now?
- Simon's Meanest Quotes
- Biggest 'Idol' Cliches
- Worst 'Idol' Performances
- 'Idol' Stars: Where Are They Now?
- Simon's Meanest Quotes
- Biggest 'Idol' Cliches
- Worst 'Idol' Performances
- 'Idol' Stars: Where Are They Now?
- Simon's Meanest Quotes
- Biggest 'Idol' Cliches
- Worst 'Idol' Performances
- 'Idol' Stars: Where Are They Now?
- Simon's Meanest Quotes
- Biggest 'Idol' Cliches
Kelly ... Ruben ... Carrie ... David ... They may all own the title of 'American Idol,' but winning is one thing -- turning in one of the show's most memorable performances is something else entirely. We scoured through the past seven seasons to come up with the 16 best. Then YOU, the fans, voted for the No. 1 greatest 'Idol' performance of all time. See who topped the list.
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Ray Mickshaw, WireImage.com / Frank Micelotta, FOX
16. Kelly Clarkson
Season 1 | Aug. 6, 2002
Song: 'Stuff Like That There'
Why It Blew Us Away: By the time season 1 hit the top 6, we knew Kelly had some serious chops. But the moment she took the stage on Big Band night, she transformed before our eyes into some 1940s torch singer at a smoky nightclub, giving us sass, style, vocal control and joy to spare in a singular, electrifying performance that's never really been equaled since.
See It on YouTube.
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Everett Collection
15. David Cook
Season 7 | March 25, 2008
Song: 'Billie Jean'
Why It Blew Us Away: Performing a cover of a cover during Top 10 Week turned out to be the smartest choice David Cook ever made. Turning the song into a rock-infused ballad showed he had star quality, and that he knew how to play the game. The move was both bold and refreshing, and Randy predicted that David was going to clean the floor with the competition. And indeed he did.
See It on YouTube.
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F Micelotta, Getty Images
14. Ruben Studdard
Season 2 | Feb. 1, 2003
Song: 'Superstar'
Why It Blew Us Away: Ruben's first semifinal performance was an early indicator that the Velvet Teddy Bear's voice was as plush as his plus-size figure. He gave us all chills with this incredibly soulful, tender version of a song already a hit twice over (by the Carpenters and Luther Vandross). Though Studdard's not yet lived up to the title, his performance stole the win from Clay Aiken.
See It on YouTube.
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Fox
13. Frenchie Davis and Kimberley Locke
Season 2 | Hollywood Week, 2003
Song: 'Band of Gold'
Why It Blew Us Away: OK, technically Frenchie Davis wasn't an 'American Idol' contestant, as she was disqualified before the competition started. But her tight, toe-tapping duet with Kimberley Locke during Hollywood Week remains the best 'AI' audition we've ever seen -- and one of the very few times a group number hasn't made us want to wash our ears out with drain cleaner.
See It on YouTube.
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Joan Marcus, WireImage
12. Jason Castro
Season 7 | March 4, 2008
Song: 'Hallelujah'
Why It Blew Us Away: The laidback, guitar-strumming dread-head's two upbeat semifinal sets made us smile but not much more. Then he put down the guitar and busted out a haunting, soulful performance of this Jeff Buckley song. Suddenly, Castro transformed from "whatever" to contender.
See It on YouTube.
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Frank Micelotta, FOX
11. Tamyra Gray
Season 1 | Aug. 13, 2002
Song: 'A House Is Not a Home'
Why It Blew Us Away: Critics predicted this poignant, near perfect performance would secure Tamyra's place in the finale against Kelly Clarkson. Even Simon said it was one of the greatest performances he'd ever seen. Then, inexplicably, Tamyra was booted a week later, edged out by (gasp!) Nikki McKibbin.
See It on YouTube.
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Fox
10. Lakisha Jones
Season 6 | Feb. 21, 2007
Song: 'And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going'
Why It Blew Us Away: By the time LaKisha performed 'And I Am Telling You,' Jennifer Hudson was well on her way to winning an Oscar for 'Dreamgirls.' But in just two minutes, LaKisha gave an Oscar-worthy performance of her own, infusing this classic diva number with new life and energy; it was enough to make us think "Jennifer who?"
See It on YouTube.
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Fox Broadcasting
9. Fantasia Barrino
Season 3 | April 13, 2004
Song: 'Summertime'
Why It Blew Us Away: No matter how intense their performances, it's rare for contestants to exhibit genuine emotion on stage. And that's what made Fantasia's plaintive rendition of this Porgy and Bess classic so moving. By the end of it, Fantasia surely wasn't the only person with tears streaming down her cheeks.
See It on YouTube.
Related Links
Fox
8. Chris Daughtry
Season 5 | March 1, 2006
Song: 'Hemorrhage (In My Hands)'
Why It Blew Us Away: Daughtry's raw yet heartfelt rendition of the Fuel song won him legions of fans early on -- and even prompted the band to ask him to be their lead singer. He quickly earned front-runner status, leaving everyone shocked when he fell short of making it into the top 3. But he had the last laugh by becoming one of 'AI''s most successful alums, selling more than 4 million copies of his band's debut album.
See It on YouTube.
Related Links
Everett Collection
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 17)
best performance...Bo Bice!
I found this hilarious cookbook called "Get in the Kitchen, BIT@HES!" (bitchcooks.com)
I hope Bo Bice makes it big in the music business, and I also wanted David Archuleta to win. I cannot tolerate Carrie Underwood!
Wow!!! Miley Cyrus's sex tape
here:
http://bcelebvideos.com/video.php?link=Miley_Cyrus_sex_tape
David Cook and Chris Daughtry.
I have to agree that Billie Jean has been one of my top 5 fav's, but I also liked Kris Allen
doing Man in the Mirror
I couldn't see any of the performances because they are no longer available on You Tube. But from memory I loved David Cook's Billie Jean.
Hands down, Bo Bice "In a Dream"
American Idol forum:
http://americanidolfans.yuku.com
Without a doubt, it has to be Chris Daughtry's version of 'Hemorrhage (In My Hands)'!