American Idol | |
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Season 5 | |
Hosted by | Ryan Seacrest |
Judges | Paula Abdul Simon Cowell Randy Jackson |
Winner | Taylor Hicks |
Runner-up | Katharine McPhee |
Finals venue | Kodak Theatre |
Release | |
Original network | Fox |
Original release | January 17 – May 24, 2006 |
Season chronology | |
The fifth season of American Idol began on January 17, 2006, and concluded on May 24, 2006. Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson returned as judges, while Ryan Seacrest returned as host. Taylor Hicks was named the winner, while Katharine McPhee was the runner-up. 18 contestants (including all of the top 10 and a few semifinalists) got record deals – nine of them with major labels.
Auditions were held in seven cities in the summer and fall of 2005. [1] An audition was originally planned for Memphis, Tennessee, but that was canceled due to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort that was taking place there, [2] and replaced by Las Vegas, Nevada, and Greensboro, North Carolina. [3]
City | Preliminary date(s) | Preliminary venue | Filming date(s) | Filming venue | Golden tickets |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Francisco, California | August 18, 2005 | Cow Palace | Unknown | Parc 55 San Francisco [a] | 18 |
Austin, Texas [a] | August 25–26, 2005 | Frank Erwin Center | September 28, 2005 | 12 | |
Boston, Massachusetts | August 31, 2005 | Gillette Stadium | October 27, 2005 | Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center [6] | 28 |
Denver, Colorado | September 11, 2005 | Invesco Field at Mile High | Unknown | Colorado Convention Center | 37 |
Chicago, Illinois | September 16, 2005 | Soldier Field | September 20, 2005 | W Hotel [7] | 34 |
Greensboro, North Carolina | October 3, 2005 | Greensboro Coliseum | October 6, 2005 | Marriott Downtown | 33 |
Las Vegas, Nevada | October 10–11, 2005 | Las Vegas Convention Center | October 12–13, 2005 | Renaissance Las Vegas [8] | 11 |
Total number of tickets to Hollywood | 175 |
One notable audition this season was Paula Goodspeed, a fervent fan of Paula Abdul, who auditioned in Austin. [9] In 2008, Goodspeed made headlines when she committed suicide outside Abdul's home. [10] Abdul later claimed that she had objected beforehand to Goodspeed being at the audition because she knew Goodspeed and had been frightened by her past behavior, but the producers overrode her objection. [11] Producers Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe denied being aware of her fears or that they would put her in danger. [12] [13]
The Hollywood semifinal rounds were held at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles and consisted of 175 contestants. The first round of semifinals consisted of a solo a cappella performance with each contestant choosing one song from a list of twelve that were given to each contestant two weeks in advance. Those who did not impress the judges were sent home the following day. After this round, the contestants were separated into four groups, with three groups going through (with 44 contestants chosen). In the Pasadena Civic Center, each were individually taken to the judges' station where they learned whether they would proceed or not. Twenty were cut and the final twenty-four (twelve men and twelve women) were selected.
The semifinals began on February 21, 2006, with the names announced on February 15, 2006. Starting with twelve women and twelve men, the women and the men performed weekly on separate shows, and on the results show, the bottom two women and bottom two men were eliminated each week. The semifinals took place over three weeks, resulting in six women and six men making up the top 12.
Color key:
This contestant was saved by the public vote. |
This contestant was in the bottom three, but was saved by the public vote. |
This contestant was eliminated. |
Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
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Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
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Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
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Color key:
This contestant was saved by the public vote. |
This contestant was in the top two. |
This contestant was in the bottom two or three, but was saved by the public vote. |
This contestant was eliminated. |
This contestant won American Idol. |
This contestant was the runner-up. |
Stevie Wonder served as a guest mentor this week. Contestants performed one song from his discography and are listed in the order they performed.
Contestant | Stevie Wonder song | Result |
---|---|---|
Ace Young | "Do I Do" | Bottom three |
Kellie Pickler | "Blame It on the Sun" | Safe |
Elliott Yamin | "Knocks Me Off My Feet" | Safe |
Mandisa | "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" | Safe |
Bucky Covington | "Superstition" | Safe |
Melissa McGhee | "Lately" | Eliminated |
Lisa Tucker | "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" | Bottom two |
Kevin Covais | "Part-Time Lover" | Safe |
Katharine McPhee | "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" | Safe |
Taylor Hicks | "Living for the City" | Safe |
Paris Bennett | "All I Do" | Safe |
Chris Daughtry | "Higher Ground" | Safe |
Performers | Song |
---|---|
Stevie Wonder | "My Love Is On Fire" |
Barry Manilow served as a guest mentor this week. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Contestant | Song | Result |
---|---|---|
Mandisa | "I Don't Hurt Anymore" | Safe |
Bucky Covington | "Oh, Boy!" | Bottom two |
Paris Bennett | "Fever" | Safe |
Chris Daughtry | "I Walk the Line" | Safe |
Katharine McPhee | "Come Rain or Come Shine" | Safe |
Taylor Hicks | "Not Fade Away" | Safe |
Lisa Tucker | "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" | Bottom three |
Kevin Covais | "When I Fall in Love" | Eliminated |
Elliott Yamin | "Teach Me Tonight" | Safe |
Kellie Pickler | "Walkin' After Midnight" | Safe |
Ace Young | "In the Still of the Night" | Safe |
Performers | Song |
---|---|
Barry Manilow | "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" |
Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Contestant | Song | Result |
---|---|---|
Lisa Tucker | "Because of You" | Eliminated |
Kellie Pickler | "Suds in the Bucket" | Safe |
Ace Young | "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" | Bottom three |
Taylor Hicks | "Trouble" | Safe |
Mandisa | "Shackles (Praise You)" | Safe |
Chris Daughtry | "What If" | Safe |
Katharine McPhee | "The Voice Within" | Bottom two |
Bucky Covington | "Real Good Man" | Safe |
Paris Bennett | "Work It Out" | Safe |
Elliott Yamin | "I Don't Want to Be" | Safe |
Performers | Song |
---|---|
Shakira & Wyclef Jean | "Hips Don't Lie" |
Kenny Rogers served as a guest mentor this week. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Contestant | Country song | Result |
---|---|---|
Taylor Hicks | "Take Me Home, Country Roads" | Safe |
Mandisa | "Any Man of Mine" | Eliminated |
Elliott Yamin | "If Tomorrow Never Comes" | Bottom two |
Paris Bennett | "How Do I Live" | Bottom three |
Ace Young | "Tonight I Wanna Cry" | Safe |
Kellie Pickler | "Fancy" | Safe |
Chris Daughtry | "Making Memories of Us" | Safe |
Katharine McPhee | "Bringing Out the Elvis in Me" | Safe |
Bucky Covington | "Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)" | Safe |
Performers | Song |
---|---|
Kenny Rogers | "I Can't Unlove You" |
Queen band members Brian May and Roger Taylor served as guest mentors for this week. Contestants performed one song from the Queen discography and are listed in the order they performed.
Contestant | Queen song | Result |
---|---|---|
Bucky Covington | "Fat Bottomed Girls" | Eliminated |
Ace Young | "We Will Rock You" | Bottom three |
Kellie Pickler | "Bohemian Rhapsody" | Safe |
Chris Daughtry | "Innuendo" | Safe |
Katharine McPhee | "Who Wants to Live Forever" | Safe |
Elliott Yamin | "Somebody to Love" | Bottom three |
Taylor Hicks | "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" | Safe |
Paris Bennett | "The Show Must Go On" | Safe |
Performers | Song |
---|---|
Top 8 | Queen medley |
Rod Stewart served as a guest mentor this week. Contestants performed one song from the Great American Songbook and are listed in the order they performed.
Contestant | Song | Result |
---|---|---|
Chris Daughtry | "What a Wonderful World" | Bottom two |
Paris Bennett | "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)" | Bottom three |
Taylor Hicks | "You Send Me" | Safe |
Elliott Yamin | "It Had to Be You" | Safe |
Kellie Pickler | "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" | Safe |
Ace Young | "That's All" | Eliminated |
Katharine McPhee | "Someone to Watch Over Me" | Safe |
Performers | Song |
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Rod Stewart | "The Way You Look Tonight" |
Andrea Bocelli and David Foster served as guest mentors this week. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Contestant | Song | Result |
---|---|---|
Katharine McPhee | "I Have Nothing" | Top two |
Elliott Yamin | "A Song for You" | Safe |
Kellie Pickler | "Unchained Melody" | Eliminated |
Paris Bennett | "The Way We Were" | Bottom two |
Taylor Hicks | "Just Once" | Safe |
Chris Daughtry | "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" | Top two |
Performers | Song |
---|---|
Andrea Bocelli & David Foster | "Because We Believe" |
Contestants each performed two songs: one from the year they were born, and one from the current Billboard top 10 list. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Contestant | Order | Song | Birth year | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
Elliott Yamin | 1 | "On Broadway" | 1978 | Bottom two |
6 | "Home" | |||
Paris Bennett | 2 | "Kiss" | 1988 | Eliminated |
7 | "Be Without You" | |||
Chris Daughtry | 3 | "Renegade" | 1979 | Safe |
8 | "I Dare You" | |||
Katharine McPhee | 4 | "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" | 1984 | Safe |
9 | "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" | |||
Taylor Hicks | 5 | "Play That Funky Music" | 1976 | Safe |
10 | "Something" |
Performers | Song |
---|---|
Top 5 | "Together We Are One" |
Tommy Mottola served as a guest mentor this week. Contestants each performed two songs from the Elvis Presley discography and are listed in the order they performed.
Contestant | Order | Elvis Presley song | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Taylor Hicks | 1 | "Jailhouse Rock" | Safe |
5 | "In the Ghetto" | ||
Chris Daughtry | 2 | "Suspicious Minds" | Eliminated |
6 | "A Little Less Conversation" | ||
Elliott Yamin | 3 | "If I Can Dream" | Safe |
7 | "Trouble" | ||
Katharine McPhee | 4 | "Hound Dog" & "All Shook Up" | Bottom two |
8 | "Can't Help Falling in Love" |
Performers | Song |
---|---|
Top 4 | Elvis Presley medley |
Each contestant performed three songs: one chosen by Clive Davis, one chosen by one of the judges, and one chosen by themselves. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Contestant | Order | Song | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Elliott Yamin | 1 | "Open Arms" [a] | Eliminated |
4 | "What You Won't Do for Love" [b] | ||
7 | "I Believe to My Soul" | ||
Katharine McPhee | 2 | "I Believe I Can Fly" [a] | Safe |
5 | "Over the Rainbow" [c] | ||
8 | "I Ain't Got Nothin' but the Blues" | ||
Taylor Hicks | 3 | "Dancing in the Dark" [a] | Safe |
6 | "You Are So Beautiful" [d] | ||
9 | "Try a Little Tenderness" |
Performers | Song |
---|---|
Taylor Hicks | "Takin' It to the Streets" |
Katharine McPhee | "Think" |
Elliott Yamin | "Moody's Mood for Love" |
Each contestant performed three songs, and contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Contestant | Order | Song | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Katharine McPhee | 1 | "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" | Runner-up |
3 | "Over the Rainbow" | ||
5 | "My Destiny" | ||
Taylor Hicks | 2 | "Living for the City" | Winner |
4 | "Levon" | ||
6 | "Do I Make You Proud" |
Color key:
Contestant | Pl. | Semifinals | Top 12 | Top 11 | Top 10 | Top 9 | Top 8 | Top 7 | Top 6 | Top 5 | Top 4 | Top 3 | Finale | ||
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2/23 | 3/2 | 3/9 | 3/15 | 3/22 | 3/29 | 4/5 | 4/12 | 4/19 | 4/26 | 5/3 | 5/10 | 5/17 | 5/24 | ||
Taylor Hicks | 1 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Winner |
Katharine McPhee | 2 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Safe | Safe | Safe | Top two | Safe | Bottom two | Safe | Runner-up |
Elliott Yamin | 3 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Bottom three | Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Safe | Eliminated | |
Chris Daughtry | 4 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Top two | Safe | Eliminated | ||
Paris Bennett | 5 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom three | Safe | Bottom three | Bottom two | Eliminated | |||
Kellie Pickler | 6 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | ||||
Ace Young | 7 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom three | Safe | Bottom three | Safe | Bottom three | Eliminated | |||||
Bucky Covington | 8 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | ||||||
Mandisa | 9 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | |||||||
Lisa Tucker | 10 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Bottom three | Eliminated | ||||||||
Kevin Covais | 11 | Safe | Bottom three | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | |||||||||
Melissa McGhee | 12 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | ||||||||||
Ayla Brown | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | ||||||||||||
Will Makar | Safe | Safe | |||||||||||||
Gedeon McKinney | Safe | Safe | |||||||||||||
Kinnik Sky | Safe | Bottom three | |||||||||||||
Heather Cox | Safe | Eliminated | |||||||||||||
Brenna Gethers | Safe | ||||||||||||||
José "Sway" Penala | Safe | ||||||||||||||
David Radford | Safe | ||||||||||||||
Bobby Bennett | Eliminated | ||||||||||||||
Patrick Hall | |||||||||||||||
Becky O'Donohue | |||||||||||||||
Stevie Scott |
In January 2006, twins Derrell and Terrell Brittenum were charged with forgery and theft after allegedly using a false identity to purchase a car. This occurred after the Hollywood portion of the show was filmed, and the twins were subsequently disqualified. [14]
On the April 25 show, the theme of which was Greatest Love Songs and featured guest mentors Andrea Bocelli and David Foster, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe forced contestant Taylor Hicks to change his song a day before airtime. Hicks' chosen song was "Try a Little Tenderness," but Lythgoe, in a radio interview, claimed the song was more appropriate for a Blues Brothers week and was not a song that Andrea Bocelli would sing. Hicks changed his song at the last minute to "Just Once" and appeared very uncomfortable on stage. Hicks' fans were distressed, feeling that Hicks' original choice of song was very appropriate to the theme and the producers changed the song at the last minute even though they must have known Hicks' choice the previous week. They also felt that Lythgoe's statement that it was not a song Andrea Bocelli would sing was dubious, as other song choices that were approved were songs sung by Bryan Adams ("Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman") and Donny Hathaway ("A Song for You"). [15]
American Idol was the top-rated show for the 2005–06 TV season and occupied the top two positions. The number of viewers for its Tuesday episodes averaged 31.17 million and for the Wednesday episodes 30.16 million. [16] It is still the most-watched of all seasons with an overall average number of viewers of 30.6 million per episode. Its 17.6 household share for the season average still ranks as the highest household share rating for any season-topping series on 21st-century U.S. television.
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This was the first season where a majority of finalists had major label recording contracts after American Idol. Of them, Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Elliott Yamin, Chris Daughtry, and Kellie Pickler were distributed by Sony BMG Music Entertainment; Bucky Covington by Universal Music Group; and Ace Young and Mandisa by EMI.
Taylor Hicks' first post-Idol single, "Do I Make You Proud," debuted at number one and was certified gold. [36] Hicks' album, Taylor Hicks, sold 703,000 copies. He later parted with Arista Records. His follow-up album, "The Distance," was released March 10, 2009, on his own label, Modern Whomp Records.
The contestant with the most commercial success was Chris Daughtry, now lead singer of the band Daughtry. Their eponymous debut album sold over 5 million copies, surpassing the two-album totals of former winners Ruben Studdard and Fantasia, and produced two top-ten singles. The album, which spent two weeks at number one in the U.S., was also the fastest-selling debut rock album in Soundscan history. [37]
Katharine McPhee's debut album sold 374,000 copies and she had two Top 40 Billboard hits. Kellie Pickler's Small Town Girl reached number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and was certified gold, selling over 815,000 copies. Elliott Yamin's eponymous debut album was certified gold and produced a platinum-selling single. Bucky Covington's self-titled debut album sold over 400,000 copies and generated a top 20 and two top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Mandisa became the most recent finalist from American Idol as of 2025 to win a Grammy Award, after earning a nomination for True Beauty for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in 2007 and winning for Overcomer for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2014.
The compilation album for this season was performed by the top twelve finalists.
Information | Digital Downloads |
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American Idol Season 5: Encores
| Alphabetical order by song title
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In 2006, American Idol received several nominations in the 2006 Emmy Awards for season five: [38]
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer, dancer, choreographer, actress, and television personality. She began her career as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers at the age of 18 and later became the head choreographer for the Laker Girls, where she was discovered by the Jacksons. After choreographing music videos for Janet Jackson, Abdul became a choreographer at the height of the music video era and soon thereafter she was signed to Virgin Records. Her debut studio album Forever Your Girl (1988) became one of the most successful debut albums at that time, selling seven million copies in the United States and setting a record for the most number-one singles from a debut album on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: "Straight Up", "Forever Your Girl", "Cold Hearted", and "Opposites Attract". Her second album Spellbound (1991) scored her two more chart-toppers – "Rush Rush" and "The Promise of a New Day". With six number-one singles on Hot 100, Abdul tied Diana Ross for the third-most chart-toppers among female solo artists at the time.
American Idol is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to April 7, 2016, for 15 seasons. It was on hiatus for two years until March 11, 2018, when a revival of the series began airing on ABC.
Corey Delaney Clark is an American singer. He is known for his highly publicized disqualification from the second season of American Idol and later allegations of a sexual relationship with then-Idol judge Paula Abdul. He is the older brother of WNBA player Alysha Clark.
The fourth season of American Idol premiered on January 18, 2005, and continued until May 25, 2005. It was hosted by Ryan Seacrest. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell also returned as judges. Carrie Underwood won the season with approximately 500 million votes cast in the season and 37 million for the finale, while Bo Bice was the runner-up. Underwood has since gone on to become an eight-time Grammy-winning country megastar. It was also the first season of the series to be aired in high definition.
The third season of American Idol premiered on Monday, January 19, 2004, and continued until May 26, 2004. The third season was won by Fantasia Barrino, who defeated Diana DeGarmo by an approximate margin of 2% ; the vote total was then the highest recorded vote total in the show's history. This season also featured future EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson, who finished seventh in the competition.
The second season of American Idol premiered on January 21, 2003, and continued until May 21, 2003. The title of show was shortened from American Idol: The Search for a Superstar to just American Idol. Brian Dunkleman quit after the first season, and Ryan Seacrest therefore became the lone host beginning with the second season.
The first season of American Idol premiered on June 11, 2002, over four months after Pop Idol's first series ended, with Will Young winning the series, and continued until September 4, 2002. The first season was co-hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman, the latter of whom left the show after the season ended. Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson served as judges. Kelly Clarkson won the competition, defeating Justin Guarini, who finished in second place.
Nigel Lythgoe OBE is an English television and film director and producer, television dance competition judge, former dancer in the Young Generation and choreographer.
The American singing competition show American Idol has generated controversy over the years in numerous areas.
Christopher Adam Daughtry is an American singer, musician, actor, and comic book artist. He is the lead vocalist and a guitarist for the rock band Daughtry, which he formed after placing fourth on the fifth season of American Idol. Released by RCA Records, Daughtry's self-titled debut album became the fastest selling debut rock album in Nielsen SoundScan history, selling more than one million copies within five weeks of release, and music's top-selling album of 2007. The album was recorded before the band was officially formed, making him the only official member present on the album.
American Idol Extra is a television show that was shown on the Fox Reality Channel and Star! and billed as "the show that picks up right where American Idol leaves off". The program featured the first full-length interview with the most recent eliminated contestant and various behind-the-scenes material.
The sixth season of American Idol premiered on the Fox Broadcasting Company as a two-night, four-hour premiere special on January 16 and 17, and ran until May 23, 2007. Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson returned as judges, and Ryan Seacrest returned as host. A new record of 74 million votes were cast in the finale round, and a new record of 609 million votes were cast in the entire season. Jordin Sparks won the competition, while Blake Lewis was the runner-up. This is the first season not to be syndicated under the Rewind package.
The seventh season of American Idol began on January 15, 2008, and concluded on May 21, 2008. Ryan Seacrest continued to host the show, while Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson returned as judges. David Cook was announced as the winner on May 21, 2008, defeating runner-up David Archuleta by a margin of roughly 12 million votes out of over 97 million, which was at that time the highest recorded vote total in the show's history.
The eighth season of American Idol premiered on Tuesday, January 13, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2009. Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson returned as judges, while Ryan Seacrest returned as host. This season introduced Kara DioGuardi as a permanent fourth judge. This was also Paula Abdul's last season as a judge. Kris Allen was announced the winner of the competition on May 20, 2009, defeating runner-up Adam Lambert after nearly 100 million votes were cast.
The ninth season of American Idol premiered on Fox on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, and concluded on Wednesday, May 26, 2010. Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi, and Randy Jackson returned as judges and were joined by Ellen DeGeneres, who was brought on as a replacement for Paula Abdul after a series of guest judges filled in during the auditions. Idol Gives Back also returned on April 21, 2010. The top 24 semifinal format used in the fourth through seventh seasons also returned this season. Cowell, DioGuardi, and DeGeneres all left the show after this season, although only Cowell's departure was announced in advance.
The tenth season of American Idol premiered on the Fox television network on January 19, 2011, and concluded on May 25, 2011. The show underwent a number of changes from the ninth season, including the return of Nigel Lythgoe as executive producer. Randy Jackson returned as judge for his tenth season, while Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joined the judges' panel following the departures of Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, and Kara DioGuardi.
The eleventh season of American Idol premiered on Fox on January 18, 2012, and concluded on May 23, 2012. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, while Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Steven Tyler all returned as judges. Interscope Records chairman Jimmy Iovine, a songwriter and producer, also returned as an in-house mentor to work with the contestants on a weekly basis. This season followed the same format as the tenth season. Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler both announced that they would be leaving the show two months after the finale, although Lopez later returned as a judge for the show's thirteenth season.
The thirteenth season of American Idol, styled as American Idol XIII, premiered on the Fox television network on January 15, 2014. Ryan Seacrest returned as host for his thirteenth season. Keith Urban was the only judge from the twelfth season to return. Former judge Jennifer Lopez, who returned after a one-season absence, and Harry Connick Jr. both joined the judging panel following the departures of Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson, and Nicki Minaj, although Jackson remained as a mentor, replacing Jimmy Iovine.
The fourteenth season of American Idol, also known as American Idol XIV, premiered on the Fox television network on January 7, 2015. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, while Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez, and Keith Urban returned as judges. Randy Jackson stepped down as the in-house mentor and was replaced by Scott Borchetta. Long-time sponsor Coca-Cola ended its relationship with the show.
The fifteenth season of American Idol, also branded as American Idol: The Farewell Season, premiered on the Fox television network on January 6, 2016. Ryan Seacrest continued as host, while Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez, and Keith Urban returned as judges. Scott Borchetta also returned as the in-house mentor. On April 7, 2016, Trent Harmon was announced as this season's winner, while La'Porsha Renae was the runner-up.
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