Music History Events: American Idol
March 11, 2018 American Idol, which ran for 15 seasons on Fox, returns on ABC just two years later with new judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
April 7, 2016 After 15 years of memorable performances, cringeworthy auditions, and shocking eliminations, the American Idol stage finally goes dark, but not before one more winner is crowned: Trent Harmon.More
January 13, 2009 Season 8 of American Idol debuts, with songwriter Kara DioGuardi added as a fourth judge.
March 12, 2008 American Idol does an all-Beatles episode, somehow securing the rights to the songs after years of negotiations.
August 26, 2006 Taylor Hicks' "Do I Make You Proud?" drops out of the Hot 100 after just eight weeks, establishing a new record for the shortest stay on the chart for a #1 hit. A little perspective: "London Bridge" by Fergie is the 2006 #1 with the next-fewest weeks on the chart, with 21.
July 1, 2006 During the brief time when American Idol Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks is the most popular Taylor in music, his first single, "Do I Make You Proud?," hits #1 in America.More
May 24, 2006 Taylor Hicks wins Season 5 of American Idol, defeating Katharine McPhee.
May 10, 2006 Chris Daughtry gets voted off Season 5 of American Idol in a shocker, as he is favored to win. He finishes fourth, with Taylor Hicks claiming the victory.
May 25, 2005 Carrie Underwood wins Season 4 of American Idol and becomes their most successful alum in terms of sales. Her debut album goes on to sell over 8 million copies in America.
April 21, 2004 Future Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson gets voted off season three of American Idol, where she finishes in seventh place.More
September 22, 2003 Auditioning for the third season of American Idol, William Hung performs a lively, but stupefyingly bad rendition of the Ricky Martin hit "She Bangs."More
June 28, 2003 After Ruben Studdard beats Clay Aiken to win Season 2 of American Idol, their first singles debut at the top of the Hot 100. Aiken takes the top spot, becoming the first new artist to go straight to #1 on the chart.More
September 4, 2002 Kelly Clarkson beats Justin Guarini to become the first winner of American Idol.More
June 11, 2002 American Idol premieres on the FOX network. A singing competition judged by three hosts, it becomes one of the most popular network reality shows and launches a number of careers, with many contestants - and not just winners - becoming stars.More
May 11, 2022 Lionel Richie accepts the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song at a celebration where Gloria Estefan sings "Dancing On The Ceiling," Chris Stapleton does "Say You, Say Me," and his fellow American Idol judge Luke Bryan performs "Lady."
May 23, 2021 Chayce Beckham wins season 19 of American Idol. He's the first winner with a coronation song he wrote himself: "23," which details his battle with alcoholism.
June 28, 2019 Singer/actress Katharine McPhee, 35, marries the 69-year-old super-producer David Foster. They met in 2006 when Foster mentored McPhee on American Idol, and started dating in 2017.
May 14, 2014 On American Idol, The Chainsmokers perform their hit "#Selfie" in a bit where they take selfies with the judges. After the performance, EDM notables trash them.More
November 18, 2008 American Idol winner David Cook releases his self-titled debut album.
May 21, 2008 David Cook seems shocked to become the Season 7 winner of American Idol, beating 17-year-old David Archuleta. Cook got 56% of the record 97.5 million votes.
January 18, 2008 Amid casting sessions for American Idol, Clay Aiken makes his Broadway debut in New York City in Monty Python's Spamalot.
April 10, 2007 Fantasia Barrino becomes the first American Idol winner to star in a Broadway musical when she takes on the role of Celie in The Color Purple. In 2023, she plays the same role in the film adaptation.
April 3, 2007 During a Season 6 episode of American Idol, Ryan Seacrest announces the American Idol Songwriter Competition. The entry fee is $10, and the winning song gets to be the winner's first single. After judges cull the 25,000 entries to 20 finalists, it's put to an online vote and the winner is "This is My Now."More
May 23, 2006 Jordin Sparks wins Season 6 of American Idol.
November 30, 2004 Kelly Clarkson releases her second album, Breakaway. With a string of hits ("Since U Been Gone," "Behind These Hazel Eyes," "Because Of You"), it cements her as superstar and proves American Idol voters were right in choosing her over Justin Guarini.
July 10, 2004 American Idol winner Fantasia's "I Believe" debuts at #1 but drops out of the Top 10 two weeks later. She shows staying power, though, with a million-selling debut album and a lead role in the Broadway production of The Color Purple.
May 26, 2004 Fantasia Barrino wins season 3 of American Idol, becoming the first Black woman to win the competition. She later reveals that she was functionally illiterate at this time, having dropped out of high school in ninth grade.
April 27, 2004 Elton John publicly responds to American Idol's snub of Jennifer Hudson by declaring the call-in voters "incredibly racist."
May 21, 2003 Ruben Studdard wins Season 2 of American Idol, beating out Clay Aiken.
December 22, 1989 Jordin Sparks is born in Phoenix, Arizona. At age 17, she wins the sixth season of American Idol (2007).
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