American Idol ( season 5 ) - wikipedia American Idol ( season 5 ) `` AI5 '' redirects here. For the 1968 Institutional Act Number 5, in Brazil, see AI - 5. American Idol Season 5 Broadcast from January 17 -- May 24, 2006 Judges Paula Abdul Simon Cowell Randy Jackson Host ( s ) Ryan Seacrest Broadcaster Fox Broadcasting Company Finals venue Kodak Theatre Winner Taylor Hicks Hicks performs for troops aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, docked at Coronado, California in December 2006 Origin Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. Song `` Do I Make You Proud '' Genre ( s ) Soul, blues, blues rock Runner - up Katharine McPhee Chronology ◀ 2006 ▶ The fifth season of reality television singing competition American Idol began on January 17, 2006, and concluded on May 24, 2006. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell returned to judge, and Ryan Seacrest returned to host. It is the most successful season to date ratings-wise, and resulted in 18 contestants ( including all of the top 10 and a few semifinalists ) getting record deals -- nine of them with major labels. It was the first season with a male winner ( Taylor Hicks ) and a female runner - up ( Katharine McPhee ), which happened again in seasons 9, 10, 11, 13 and 15. It was also the first season of the series to be aired in high definition. Contents 1 Regional auditions 2 Hollywood week 3 Semifinals 3.1 Female semifinalists 3.2 Male semifinalists 3.3 Top 24 3.4 Top 20 3.5 Top 16 4 Top 12 finalists 5 Finals 5.1 Top 12 -- Stevie Wonder 5.2 Top 11 -- 1950s 5.3 Top 10 -- 2000s 5.4 Top 9 -- Country 5.5 Top 8 -- Queen 5.6 Top 7 -- Great American Songbook 5.7 Top 6 -- Love Songs 5.8 Top 5 -- Year of Birth / Current Billboard Top 10 5.9 Top 4 -- Elvis Presley 5.10 Top 3 -- Clive Davis 's choice / Judges ' choice / Contestants ' choice 5.11 Top 2 -- Previous Song / Another Previous Song / Winning Song 5.12 Performers on results shows 5.13 Elimination song 5.14 The finale 6 Elimination chart 7 DialIdol 8 Controversies 9 Other Idol contestants 10 US Nielsen ratings 11 Post Idol 12 Major releases 12.1 Compilations 12.2 Albums 13 Minor & independent releases 14 Nominations 15 See also 16 References 17 External links Regional auditions Auditions were held in seven cities in the summer and fall of 2005. An audition was originally planned for Memphis, Tennessee but that was canceled due to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort that was taking place in the city, and replaced by Las Vegas, Nevada and Greensboro, North Carolina. Episode Air Date Audition City Date First Audition Venue Callback Date Callback Venue Golden Tickets January 17, 2006 Chicago, Illinois September 16, 2005 Soldier Field September 20, 2005 W Hotel 34 January 18, 2006 Denver, Colorado September 11, 2005 Invesco Field at Mile High Colorado Convention Center 37 January 24, 2006 Greensboro, North Carolina October 3, 2005 Greensboro Coliseum October 6, 2005 Marriott Downtown 33 January 25, 2006 San Francisco, California August 18, 2005 Cow Palace Parc 55 Hotel 18 January 31, 2006 Las Vegas, Nevada October 10 -- 11, 2005 Las Vegas Convention Center October 12 -- 13, 2005 Renaissance Las Vegas 11 February 1, 2006 Austin, Texas August 25 -- 26, 2005 Frank Erwin Center September 28, 2005 Parc 55 Hotel, San Francisco 12 February 7, 2006 Boston, Massachusetts August 31, 2005 Gillette Stadium October 27, 2005 Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center 28 Total Tickets to Hollywood 175 ^ a Later stages of the Austin auditions were held in San Francisco due to Hurricane Katrina which caused large number of evacuees to be relocated in Texas. The show however made no mention of the venue switch and presented the Austin audition as having taken place entirely in Austin. Unlike season four, no guest judges were involved during the auditions. The season used the same rules as season four. One notable auditioner this season was Paula Goodspeed, a fervent fan of Paula Abdul, who auditioned in Austin. In 2008, Goodspeed made headlines when she committed suicide outside Abdul 's home. 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. The producers Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe however denied being aware of her fears or that they would put her in danger. In Las Vegas, an auditioner Tora Woloshin gained a golden ticket to Hollywood but was disqualified just before she was due to go to Hollywood for unspecified reasons. She later appeared on the first season of X-Factor. Hollywood week The Hollywood semi-final rounds were held at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, California consisting of 175 contestants. The first round of semi-finals consisted of solo a cappella performance with each contestant choosing one song out 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 the singles 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 via elevator walking the infamous `` mile '' to the judges station where the verdict if they would be chosen or not was announced. Twenty were cut and the final twenty - four ( 12 men and 12 woman ) were selected. Semifinals This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( March 2016 ) The live show portion of the semifinals began on February 21, 2006, with the names announced on February 15, 2006. There were three live shows each week for the three weeks of the semifinals. There were no format changes from season four which featured 12 male singers and 12 female singers with two of each being eliminated each week. The semifinalists were announced February 15, 2006. The following are semifinalists who did not reach the finals. Female semifinalists Ayla Brown Ayla Brown ( born July 28, 1988 ) is from Wrentham, Massachusetts. She originally auditioned in Boston, singing `` Ai n't No Mountain High Enough ''. Kinnik Sky ( born May 13, 1977 ) is from Duluth, Georgia. She auditioned in Greensboro. She was grouped with Nicole Turk, Celeste Scalone and Tyra Schwartz during the group rounds. Heather Cox ( born November 16, 1983 ) is from Jonesville, North Carolina. She auditioned in Denver. Grouped with Halicia Thompson and Kellie Pickler during Hollywood group performances. Brenna Gethers ( born October 7, 1980 ) is from Mount Vernon, New York. She auditioned in Boston, and was known for her `` catty '' attitude. She became the lead singer for Bomb Squad, a funk - rock band that won an American Music Award for Best New Music in 2003. Stephanie `` Stevie '' Scott ( born May 22, 1986 ) is from Fair Oaks, California. She auditioned in Denver. She sang `` Emotions '' with Hannah Freeman and Paris Bennett during their group performance in Hollywood. She was eliminated on February 23, 2006 along with Becky O'Donohue, Bobby Bennett, and Patrick Hall. She made a cameo appearance on the Top 6 performance show of American Idol on April 25, 2006. In 2014, she became the lead singer of Indie Pop band Machineheart, best known for their debut single, `` Circles. '' Rebecca `` Becky '' O'Donohue ( born July 13, 1980 ) is from Dobbs Ferry, New York. Her original audition was in Boston with her twin sister ( who did not sing due to recent throat surgery ). Simon Cowell praised her looks, but said no to her voice. She was let through to Hollywood by Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul. Male semifinalists Gedeon McKinney ( born October 1, 1988 ) is from Memphis, Tennessee. He intended to audition in Memphis, but the auditions there were canceled due to the city 's role in relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina. He raised funds to travel to the Chicago auditions by putting on a benefit concert. His elimination was a surprise to many, including Simon Cowell, who had criticized him previously. McKinney 's father, Tony McKinney, also a performing artist, died in December 2005 before the show aired. William `` Will '' Makar ( born March 2, 1989, in The Woodlands, Texas ) attended high school at The Woodlands College Park High School. In high school, Will starred in several musical productions, including The Woodlands College Park High School Musical in January 2006, the performance of which began the day after the airing of the his American Idol audition and was covered by local media. He has also performed for Presidents Clinton and Bush and with singer Celine Dion as part of the Houston Children 's Chorus. He has performed the National Anthem at many sporting events and was also a member of the band Last Born. During the Hollywood rounds, he performed Fly Me to the Moon with David Radford and Kevin Covais. Will was signed to Double Deal Brand Records, which also signed fellow Top 16 semifinalist Ayla Brown, and released his debut single titled `` I Wo n't Make It Out '' on iTunes on April 27, 2007. José `` Sway '' Penala ( born January 23, 1978 ) is from South San Francisco, California, where he also had his audition for the show. He was the only Asian - American who made it to the semifinals that season. He has performed with such groups as DnH and 6th Day. When he competed, on stage, Penala often wore a Fedora hat and coat and military dog tags. He developed friendships with Elliott Yamin, Taylor Hicks, and Chris Daughtry during the season. Elliott was also his Hollywood Week group mate and later his roommate. David Radford ( born March 22, 1988, in Crystal Lake, Illinois ) was a high school senior at Crystal Lake Central High School. In addition to singing, David plays the trumpet. He originally auditioned in Chicago. Patrick Hall ( born September 24, 1977 ) is from Gravette, Arkansas, and was seen for the first time in Hollywood, California. During the Hollywood rounds, Simon Cowell called him ' very likeable ', and compared him to Clay Aiken. He received many positive comments during these rounds. To separate himself from the Clay Aiken comparison, however, he chose to perform `` Come to My Window '' in the first week of the Top 24. He was eliminated that week. Bobby Bennett, Jr. ( born June 4, 1986 ) is from Denver, Colorado, where his audition was held. He is most known for his rousing rendition of the song `` Copacabana '' and was named the `` showman '' of the semifinalists. He also made an appearance in the March 21 episode on which Barry Manilow performed. Top 24 Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Mandisa `` Never '' ( Heart ) Safe Kellie Pickler `` How Far '' ( Martina McBride ) Safe Becky O'Donohue `` Because the Night '' ( Patti Smith ) Eliminated Ayla Brown `` Reflection '' ( Christina Aguilera ) Safe 5 Paris Bennett `` Midnight Train to Georgia '' ( Cissy Houston ) Safe 6 Stevie Scott `` To Where You Are '' ( Josh Groban ) Eliminated 7 Brenna Gethers `` You Are the Sunshine of My Life '' ( Stevie Wonder ) Safe 8 Heather Cox `` When You Tell Me That You Love Me '' ( Diana Ross ) Safe 9 Melissa McGhee `` When the Lights Go Down '' ( Faith Hill ) Safe 10 Lisa Tucker `` I Am Changing '' ( Jennifer Holiday ) Safe 11 Kinnik Sky `` Get Here '' ( Oleta Adams ) Safe 12 Katharine McPhee `` Since I Fell for You '' ( Ella Johnson ) Safe Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Patrick Hall `` Come to My Window '' ( Melissa Etheridge ) Eliminated David Radford `` Crazy Little Thing Called Love '' ( Queen ) Safe Bucky Covington `` Simple Man '' ( Lynyrd Skynyrd ) Safe Will Makar `` I Want You Back '' ( The Jackson 5 ) Safe 5 Sway Penala `` Reasons '' ( Earth Wind & Fire ) Safe 6 Chris Daughtry `` Wanted Dead or Alive '' ( Bon Jovi ) Safe 7 Kevin Covais `` One Last Cry '' ( Brian McKnight ) Safe 8 Gedeon McKinney `` Shout '' ( The Isley Brothers ) Safe 9 Elliott Yamin `` If You Really Love Me '' ( Stevie Wonder ) Safe 10 Bobby Bennet `` Copacabana '' ( Barry Manilow ) Eliminated 11 Ace Young `` Father Figure '' ( George Michael ) Safe 12 Taylor Hicks `` Levon '' ( Elton John ) Safe Top 20 Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Katharine McPhee `` All in Love Is Fair '' ( Stevie Wonder ) Safe Kinnik Sky `` Here for the Party '' ( Gretchen Wilson ) Bottom 3 Lisa Tucker `` Who 's Lovin ' You '' ( The Miracles ) Safe Melissa McGhee `` Why Have n't I Heard from You '' ( Reba McEntire ) Safe 5 Heather Cox `` Hero '' ( Mariah Carey ) Eliminated 6 Brenna Gethers `` Last Dance '' ( Donna Summer ) Eliminated 7 Paris Bennett `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' ( Roger Whittaker ) Safe 8 Ayla Brown `` I Want You to Need Me '' ( Celine Dion ) Safe 9 Kellie Pickler `` Something to Talk About '' ( Bonnie Raitt ) Safe 10 Mandisa `` Cry '' ( Angie Aparo ) Safe Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Taylor Hicks `` Easy '' ( The Commodores ) Safe Elliot Yamin `` Moody 's Mood for Love '' ( James Moody ) Safe Ace Young `` If You 're Not the One '' ( Daniel Bedingfield ) Safe Gedeon McKinney `` A Change Is Gonna Come '' ( Sam Cooke ) Safe 5 Kevin Covais `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' ( The Miracles ) Bottom 3 6 Sway Penala `` Overjoyed '' ( Stevie Wonder ) Eliminated 7 Will Makar `` Lady '' ( Kenny Rogers ) Safe 8 Bucky Covington `` The Thunder Rolls '' ( Garth Brooks ) Safe 9 David Radford `` The Way You Look Tonight '' ( Fred Astaire ) Eliminated 10 Chris Daughtry `` Hemorrhage ( In My Hands ) '' ( Fuel ) Safe Top 16 Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Paris Bennett `` Conga '' ( Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine ) Safe Lisa Tucker `` Here 's Where I Stand '' ( Tiffany Taylor ) Safe Melissa McGhee `` What About Love '' ( Heart ) Safe Kinnik Sky `` If I Ai n't Got You '' ( Alicia Keys ) Eliminated 5 Katharine McPhee `` Think '' ( Aretha Franklin ) Safe 6 Ayla Brown `` Unwritten '' ( Natasha Bedingfield ) Eliminated 7 Mandisa `` I 'm Every Woman '' ( Chaka Khan ) Safe 8 Kellie Pickler `` I 'm the Only One '' ( Melissa Etheridge ) Safe Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Gedeon McKinney `` When a Man Loves a Woman '' ( Percy Sledge ) Eliminated Chris Daughtry `` Broken '' ( Seether ) Safe Kevin Covais `` Vincent '' ( Don McLean ) Safe Bucky Covington `` Wave on Wave '' ( Pat Green ) Safe 5 Will Makar `` How Sweet It Is ( To Be Loved By You ) '' ( Marvin Gaye ) Eliminated 6 Taylor Hicks `` Takin ' It to the Streets '' ( The Doobie Brothers ) Safe 7 Elliott Yamin `` Heaven '' ( Bryan Adams ) Safe 8 Ace Young `` Butterflies '' ( Michael Jackson ) Safe Top 12 finalists This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( March 2016 ) Taylor Hicks Taylor Hicks is from Birmingham, Alabama. He is gray - haired and performed `` A Change Is Gonna Come '' by Sam Cooke at his original audition in Las Vegas. At the first audition, the judges were surprised by his appearance. He performed Bill Withers ' `` Ai n't No Sunshine '' in the Hollywood round. He is one of the eight winners in American Idol history to never be in the bottom three. He won the competition on May 24. At 29 years 229 days at the time of the finale, he is the oldest winner in American Idol history. Katharine McPhee Katharine McPhee is from Los Angeles, California. Her mother is a vocal coach. She auditioned in San Francisco with Billie Holiday 's `` God Bless the Child '', and Randy Jackson said her audition was the best he 'd heard yet that season. In the Hollywood round she performed Dionne Warwick 's `` I 'll Never Love This Way Again '', and `` I Ca n't Help Myself '' for the group round, `` My Funny Valentine '' for the last solo. At the end of the first semifinal round, Simon Cowell said that he had heard four very good singers that evening and that McPhee was the best among them. McPhee was the runner - up on American Idol as announced on the May 24 finale. Elliott Yamin Elliott Yamin was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He started singing at the age of five and did not have any formal training. He auditioned for American Idol in Boston. In the Hollywood week, he performed Rascal Flatts ' Bless the Broken Road for the first solo, The Shoop Shoop Song for the group round. After his first semifinal performance, Simon Cowell said that he was potentially the best male vocalist in American Idol history, reprising his praise on Top 6 week after Yamin 's `` A Song for You '', calling it a vocal masterclass ; also, in the second round of the semifinals, Randy Jackson gave Yamin a standing ovation after his rendition of `` Moody 's Mood for Love ''. Yamin finished in third place in one of the closest outcomes in Idol history where less than 1 % separated the votes of all top three contestants. Chris Daughtry Chris Daughtry is a former car service worker from McLeansville, North Carolina. During the audition round, he was profiled as a `` Rocker Dad. '' He originally auditioned in Denver with Joe Cocker 's The Letter ( originally by The Box Tops ). During the Hollywood week, he performed Samantha Sang 's Emotion in the group round. He was eliminated at Top 4 in a surprise result. Paris Bennett, from Fayetteville, Georgia, is the granddaughter of Grammy Award winner Ann Nesby. Her mother and grandmother are a part of the Grammy - winning group, Sounds of Blackness. She sang `` Cowboy Take Me Away '' by The Dixie Chicks at her original audition in Greensboro. In the Hollywood rounds, she performed LeAnn Rimes 's Ca n't Fight the Moonlight for her solo, and Samantha Sang 's Emotion for the group round. Kellie Pickler Kellie Pickler is from Albemarle, North Carolina. She was profiled as a roller - skating waitress. Her mother left when she was two and her father has had numerous legal problems ; he is now free. Pickler lived with her grandfather and originally auditioned in Greensboro. She was never in the bottom three until she was eliminated. Ace Young Ace Young ( who goes by his middle name ) is from Denver where he auditioned. At that time, Randy Jackson called him one of the best he 'd seen so far this season. In the Hollywood week, he performed Shai 's If I Ever Fall in Love for the solo, and with Daughtry in the group round Samantha Sang 's Emotion. After he sang `` Father Figure '' in the semifinals, Simon Cowell said that Young had the ' X-Factor ' ( a reference to another RTL talent show, in the UK ). Young had been singing since age nine and had voice lessons. Bucky Covington Bucky Covington is from Rockingham, North Carolina. He auditioned in Greensboro. He has an identical twin brother named Rocky. Mandisa Mandisa is from Antioch, Tennessee. She had a successful original audition in Chicago, Illinois, where she performed Alicia Keys 's Fallin '. Afterwards Simon Cowell made jokes about her size, but he later apologized after being confronted by Miss Hundley. In the Hollywood week, She performed Freda Payne 's Band of Gold in the group round. Like Pickler, she was never in the bottom 3 until her elimination. Lisa Tucker Lisa Tucker was 16 years old at the time of the show, and was the youngest finalist of this season. She is from Anaheim, California, and she auditioned in Denver with Whitney Houston 's One Moment in Time. Simon Cowell called her the `` best 16 - year - old '' ever to audition on the show at the time of her original Denver audition. She was also a runner - up on Star Search but lost to Tiffany Evans. Kevin Covais Kevin Covais was 16 years old at the time of the show, and is from Levittown, New York. For his audition in Boston, he sang `` You Raise Me Up ''. In the Hollywood round he performed Shai 's If I Ever Fall in Love in the solo. Viewers gave him the nickname `` Chicken Little ''. Melissa McGhee Melissa McGhee is from Tampa, Florida. She auditioned in Denver, Colorado. She sang `` Ca n't Fight the Moonlight '' by LeAnn Rimes for her audition. She had not sung on camera until her first week in the top 24. Finals Top 12 -- Stevie Wonder Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Ace Young `` Do I Do '' Bottom 3 Kellie Pickler `` Blame It on the Sun '' Safe Elliott Yamin `` Knocks Me Off My Feet '' Safe Mandisa `` Do n't You Worry ' bout a Thing '' Safe 5 Bucky Covington `` Superstition '' Safe 6 Melissa McGhee `` Lately '' Eliminated 7 Lisa Tucker `` Signed, Sealed, Delivered I 'm Yours '' Bottom 2 8 Kevin Covais `` Part - Time Lover '' Safe 9 Katharine McPhee `` Until You Come Back to Me '' Safe 10 Taylor Hicks `` Living for the City '' Safe 11 Paris Bennett `` All I Do '' Safe 12 Chris Daughtry `` Higher Ground '' Safe Top 11 -- 1950s Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Mandisa `` I Do n't Hurt Anymore '' ( Hank Snow ) Safe Bucky Covington `` Oh, Boy ! '' ( Buddy Holly ) Bottom 2 Paris Bennett `` Fever '' ( Little Willie John ) Safe Chris Daughtry `` I Walk the Line '' ( Johnny Cash ) Safe 5 Katharine McPhee `` Come Rain or Come Shine '' ( Sy Oliver ) Safe 6 Taylor Hicks `` Not Fade Away '' ( The Crickets featuring Buddy Holly ) Safe 7 Lisa Tucker `` Why Do Fools Fall in Love ? '' Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers Bottom 3 8 Kevin Covais `` When I Fall in Love '' ( Doris Day ) Eliminated 9 Elliott Yamin `` Teach Me Tonight '' ( The DeCastro Sisters ) Safe 10 Kellie Pickler `` Walkin ' After Midnight '' ( Patsy Cline ) Safe 11 Ace Young `` In the Still of the Night '' ( The Five Satins ) Safe Top 10 -- 2000s Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Lisa Tucker `` Because of You '' ( Kelly Clarkson ) Eliminated Kellie Pickler `` Suds in the Bucket '' ( Sara Evans ) Safe Ace Young `` Drops of Jupiter ( Tell Me ) '' ( Train ) Bottom 3 Taylor Hicks `` Trouble '' ( Ray LaMontagne ) Safe 5 Mandisa `` Shackles ( Praise You ) '' ( Mary Mary ) Safe 6 Chris Daughtry `` What If '' ( Creed ) Safe 7 Katharine McPhee `` The Voice Within '' ( Christina Aguilera ) Bottom 2 8 Bucky Covington `` Real Good Man '' ( Tim McGraw ) Safe 9 Paris Bennett `` Work It Out '' ( Beyoncé ) Safe 10 Elliott Yamin `` I Do n't Want to Be '' ( Gavin DeGraw ) Safe Top 9 -- Country Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Taylor Hicks `` Take Me Home, Country Roads '' ( John Denver ) Safe Mandisa `` Any Man of Mine '' ( Shania Twain ) Eliminated Elliott Yamin `` If Tomorrow Never Comes '' ( Garth Brooks ) Bottom 2 Paris Bennett `` How Do I Live '' ( LeAnn Rimes ) Bottom 3 5 Ace Young `` Tonight I Wanna Cry '' ( Keith Urban ) Safe 6 Kellie Pickler `` Fancy '' ( Bobbie Gentry ) Safe 7 Chris Daughtry `` Making Memories of Us '' ( Keith Urban ) Safe 8 Katharine McPhee `` Bringing Out the Elvis in Me '' ( Faith Hill ) Safe 9 Bucky Covington `` Best I Ever Had ( Grey Sky Morning ) '' ( Vertical Horizon ) Safe Top 8 -- Queen Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Bucky Covington `` Fat Bottomed Girls '' Eliminated Ace Young `` We Will Rock You '' Bottom 3 Kellie Pickler `` Bohemian Rhapsody '' Safe Chris Daughtry `` Innuendo '' Safe 5 Katharine McPhee `` Who Wants to Live Forever '' Safe 6 Elliott Yamin `` Somebody To Love '' Bottom 3 7 Taylor Hicks `` Crazy Little Thing Called Love '' Safe 8 Paris Bennett `` The Show Must Go On '' Safe Top 7 -- Great American Songbook Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Chris Daughtry `` What a Wonderful World '' ( Louis Armstrong ) Bottom 2 Paris Bennett `` These Foolish Things '' ( Billie Holiday ) Bottom 3 Taylor Hicks `` You Send Me '' ( Sam Cooke ) Safe Elliott Yamin `` It Had To Be You '' ( Sam Lanin and his Orchestra ) Safe 5 Kellie Pickler `` Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered '' ( Vivienne Segal ) Safe 6 Ace Young `` That 's All '' ( Nat King Cole ) Eliminated 7 Katharine McPhee `` Someone to Watch Over Me '' ( Gertrude Lawrence ) Safe Top 6 -- Love Songs Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Katharine McPhee `` I Have Nothing '' ( Whitney Houston ) Top 2 Elliott Yamin `` A Song for You '' ( Leon Russell ) Safe Kellie Pickler `` Unchained Melody '' ( Todd Duncan ) Eliminated Paris Bennett `` The Way We Were '' ( Barbra Streisand ) Bottom 2 5 Taylor Hicks `` Just Once '' ( James Ingram ) Safe 6 Chris Daughtry `` Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman ? '' ( Bryan Adams ) Top 2 Top 5 -- Year of Birth / Current Billboard Top 10 Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Elliott Yamin `` On Broadway '' ( The Crystals ) Bottom 2 Paris Bennett `` Kiss '' ( Prince and The Revolution ) Eliminated Chris Daughtry `` Renegade '' ( Styx ) Safe Katharine McPhee `` Against All Odds ( Take a Look at Me Now ) '' ( Phil Collins ) Safe 5 Taylor Hicks `` Play That Funky Music '' ( Wild Cherry ) Safe 6 Elliott Yamin `` Home '' ( Michael Bublé ) Bottom 2 7 Paris Bennett `` Be Without You '' ( Mary J. Blige ) Eliminated 8 Chris Daughtry `` I Dare You '' ( Shinedown ) Safe 9 Katharine McPhee `` Black Horse and the Cherry Tree '' ( KT Tunstall ) Safe 10 Taylor Hicks `` Something '' ( The Beatles ) Safe Top 4 -- Elvis Presley Order Contestant Song Result Taylor Hicks `` Jailhouse Rock '' Safe Chris Daughtry `` Suspicious Minds '' Eliminated Elliott Yamin `` If I Can Dream '' Safe Katharine McPhee `` Hound Dog '' / `` All Shook Up '' Bottom 2 5 Taylor Hicks `` In the Ghetto '' Safe 6 Chris Daughtry `` A Little Less Conversation '' Eliminated 7 Elliott Yamin `` Trouble '' Safe 8 Katharine McPhee `` Ca n't Help Falling in Love '' Bottom 2 Top 3 -- Clive Davis 's choice / Judges ' choice / Contestants ' choice Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Elliott Yamin `` Open Arms '' ( Journey ) Eliminated Katharine McPhee `` I Believe I Can Fly '' ( R. Kelly ) Safe Taylor Hicks `` Dancing in the Dark '' ( Bruce Springsteen ) Safe Elliott Yamin `` What You Wo n't Do for Love '' ( Bobby Caldwell ) Eliminated 5 Katharine McPhee `` Over the Rainbow '' ( Judy Garland ) Safe 6 Taylor Hicks `` You Are So Beautiful '' ( Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher ) Safe 7 Elliott Yamin `` I Believe to My Soul '' ( Ray Charles ) Eliminated 8 Katharine McPhee `` I Ai n't Got Nothin ' But the Blues '' ( Duke Ellington ) Safe 9 Taylor Hicks `` Try a Little Tenderness '' ( Val Rosing and The Ray Noble Orchestra ) Safe Note 1 : Paula Abdul chose this song Note 2 : Simon Cowell chose this song Note 3 : Randy Jackson chose this song Top 2 -- Previous Song / Another Previous Song / Winning Song Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Katharine McPhee `` Black Horse and the Cherry Tree '' ( KT Tunstall ) Runner - Up Taylor Hicks `` Living for the City '' ( Stevie Wonder ) Winner Katharine McPhee `` Over The Rainbow '' ( Judy Garland ) Runner - Up Taylor Hicks `` Levon '' ( Elton John ) Winner 5 Katharine McPhee `` My Destiny '' ( Katharine McPhee ) Runner - Up 6 Taylor Hicks `` Do I Make You Proud '' ( Taylor Hicks ) Winner Performers on results shows March 15 -- Stevie Wonder March 22 -- Barry Manilow March 29 -- Shakira and Wyclef Jean -- `` Hips Do n't Lie '' April 5 -- Kenny Rogers April 12 -- Final 8 sing a medley of Queen April 19 -- Rod Stewart April 26 -- Andrea Bocelli and David Foster May 3 -- Top 5 perform `` Together We Are One '' ( originally written and sung by Australian singer Delta Goodrem for the 2006 Commonwealth Games ) May 10 -- Top 4 perform a medley of Elvis songs May 17 -- Each contestant of the Top 3 performs the song they will be singing on the American Idol Season 5 : Encores CD Elimination song A new feature this year, the show now uses a special song to make a tribute to an eliminated contestant 's journey on the show, as opposed to before when various different melodic music compositions were played. This year, the song used for an eliminated contestant 's flashback tribute was `` Bad Day '' by Daniel Powter. The finale On the finale, Carrie Underwood sang `` Do n't Forget to Remember Me '' solo along with the song `` Through the Rain '' with the 12 finalists. Also, the finalists performed two medleys : one medley was for the female finalists and the other for the male finalists. Several special guests performed with one of the top five Idols : Al Jarreau ( Paris Bennett ), Live ( Chris Daughtry ), Meat Loaf ( Katharine McPhee ), Mary J. Blige ( Elliott Yamin ) and Toni Braxton ( Taylor Hicks ). Clay Aiken performed with lookalike auditioner Michael Sandecki, who resembled Aiken c. his 2005 audition. Also, Prince performed without an Idol. Towards the end of the program, the finalists performed `` That 's What Friends Are For '' with Dionne Warwick as well as other songs in the Burt Bacharach canon, with Burt Bacharach playing the piano. Several auditioners from the first round returned to accept `` Golden Idol '' awards, and to sing. A parody of Brokeback Mountain ( though there was no mention of homosexuality ) called `` Brokenote Mountain, '' featuring a group of three failed auditioners ( Layne Johnson, Michael Evans, and Matthew Buckstein ) was replayed from the Hollywood round. The trio `` The Brokenote Cowboys '' then performed the Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson song `` Mammas Do n't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys ''. In a pre-taped segment, finalist Kellie Pickler ate lunch with Wolfgang Puck at his brasserie as a way of making fun of Kellie 's admitted lack of culinary savvy. Finally, just before the results were announced, Hicks and McPhee performed `` ( I 've Had ) The Time of My Life ''. The chairman of TeleScope Inc., the company which manages the American Idol results, came at the end of the show with the result card. 578 million votes were cast for the season with 63.5 million votes in the finale, and Taylor Hicks was named the winner, the second American Idol winner from the city of Birmingham, Alabama ( the first being Ruben Studdard ), and the fourth finalist with close ties to the city. Elimination chart Note : Bottom 2 indicates that the contestant was ' saved ' last. This may or may not indicate his or her actual vote rank. Legend Female Male Top 24 Top 12 Winner Safe Top 2 Safe First Safe Last Eliminated Stage : Semifinals Finals Week : 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 Place Contestant Result Taylor Hicks Winner Katharine McPhee Bottom 2 Top 2 Bottom 2 Runner - Up Elliott Yamin Bottom 2 Bottom 3 Bottom 2 Elim Chris Daughtry Bottom 2 Top 2 Elim 5 Paris Bennett Bottom 3 Bottom 3 Bottom 2 Elim 6 Kellie Pickler Elim 7 Ace Young Bottom 3 Bottom 3 Bottom 3 Elim 8 Bucky Covington Bottom 2 Elim 9 Mandisa Elim 10 Lisa Tucker Bottom 2 Bottom 3 Elim 11 Kevin Covais Bottom 3 Elim 12 Melissa McGhee Elim 13 -- 16 Gedeon McKinney Elim Ayla Brown Will Makar Kinnik Sky Bottom 3 17 -- 20 José `` Sway '' Penala Elim David Radford Heather Cox Brenna Gethers 21 -- 24 Patrick Hall Elim Stevie Scott Bobby Bennett Becky O'Donohue Dialidol Main article : DialIdol DialIdol is both the name of a computer program for Microsoft Windows and its associated website that began tracking contestants during season four and sprang to prominence at the start of season five. The program allows users to automatically vote for the American Idol contestants of their choice using their PC 's phone modem. The program then reports back to the main website, which keeps track of the results based on the percentage of calls for each contestant that result in a busy signal. Based on the data received, the website then predicts which contestants may be eliminated or may be in danger of being eliminated. As of May 25, 2006, its predictions for season five were 87 % accurate. This was the first season in which the free US public service website, Zabasearch.com, started to openly present voting results ( starting with the top 12 and onward ) that it claims are from Cingular and American Idol. It has experienced controversy over the fact that its results change throughout the day until ( and often through ) the results show. Controversies Main article : American Idol controversy 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. Simon Cowell said that he did not like `` last year 's winner '' as much as Kellie Pickler. He has since said that it was a heat of the moment thing, as Carrie Underwood had performed on the show the week before and was not very fond of the performance. In January 2006, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD ) expressed concern about the show 's portrayal of some contestants : `` The real offense here was in the producer 's decision to add insult to injury by turning a contestant 's gender expression into the butt of a joke. '' Damon Romine, Entertainment Media Director, on January 20. In January 2006 The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, NAAFA accused the show of being discriminatory towards its plus sized contestants. In February 2006, it was discovered that José `` Sway '' Penala was reportedly signed to E-Real Record with his band 6th Day, at the time of his audition. Two rumors about finalist Katharine McPhee circulated during early March and throughout the season. The first was that she was quitting the show and would not show up for the March 7th airing. The second was sparked by the loose fitting blouses she had been wearing, leading viewers to suspect she was pregnant. Katharine denied both rumors when interviewed by host Ryan Seacrest on the March 7th show. During the March 28 show while Mandisa Hundley was singing, her name and phone number came up, but changed for a few seconds and showed Taylor Hicks ' name and phone number. At the end of the show the numbers were right. Mandisa Hundley was voted out after country week, whereby her rendition of `` Any Man of Mine '' was not well received as a good song choice. The reason behind her elimination was speculated to be what she said before she began to sing her rendition of `` Shackles ( Praise You ) '' by Mary Mary : `` This song goes out to everybody that wants to be free. Your addiction, lifestyle and situation may be big, but God is bigger. '' Many viewers believed that the `` lifestyle '' stated was regarding the homosexual lifestyle, which she denied, clarifying that the lifestyle she was referring to was her lifestyle of addiction to food. Mandisa is a former employee of the Southern Baptist Convention, having joined the Convention in 2000 as a telephone sales representative for their LifeWay book division, and later in their women 's enrichment events area, and later Beth Moore 's Living Proof Live events. ( Moore 's books are published by LifeWay. ) On the April 25 show, the theme of which was Greatest Love Songs and featured guest coaches Andrea Bocelli and David Foster, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe forced contestant Taylor Hicks to change his song a day before air time ( and the same day as the dress rehearsal ). 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 '' ( James Ingram ) and appeared very uncomfortable on stage. Hicks fans were distressed, feeling that a ) Hicks ' original choice of song was very appropriate to the theme ; b ) The producers changed the song at the last minute even though they must have known Hicks ' choice the previous week as they must obtain clearance for all songs ; c ) 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, '' sung by Chris Daughtry ) and Donny Hathaway ( `` A Song for You, '' sung by Elliott Yamin ). During the East Coast transmission of the May 2 show, Paris Bennett was bleeped while singing Mary J. Blige 's `` Be Without You '' at the exact point where an obscenity appears in the lyrics. However, Fox confirmed that the song was not bleeped when it was broadcast on the West Coast. Forum posters on the West Coast said Bennett sang the radio edit of the song which excludes the obscenity, leaving viewers nationwide wondering why Bennett was precensored during the earlier live transmission. Paris was eliminated in the results show the day after. Following Chris Daughtry 's elimination, many Idol fans claimed calls they dialed to Daughtry 's line during the first few minutes of voting were misdirected. According to them, the first of his two numbers was answered by a recording of Katharine McPhee ( who was also in the bottom two that night ) giving thanks for their vote rather than Daughtry. Others reported similar behavior dialing other lines, such as dialing Elliott Yamin 's line and hearing a recording of Daughtry giving thanks for their vote. On Top 5 night ( May 3 ), Elliott Yamin performed first, with Taylor Hicks going out last. Next week ( May 10, Top 4 night ), Katharine McPhee went out last. Yamin was expected to go out last on Top 3 night ( May 17 ), but he was again the first one to sing, losing what is called the `` pimp spot '', while Hicks was the last one to perform that night. Yamin 's fans were distressed stating it was Yamin 's right to go out last, while Hicks should have been first, and that the show producers ' arranged it to have Yamin eliminated next night ( May 18 ), which actually happened. Other Idol contestants Gina Glocksen, who originally auditioned in Chicago, but she was cut at the last day of Hollywood Week. Glocksen returned in the sixth season and finished in ninth place. Carly Smithson - auditioned in Las Vegas and got cut during the Hollywood rounds. Smithson returned in the seventh season and finished in sixth place. US nielsen ratings 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. It is still the most - watched of all seasons with an overall average number of viewers of 30.6 million per episode. Click on `` show '' below to see the rating details. Episode list Show Episode Air date Week rank Rating / Share 18 -- 49 rating / Share Viewers ( millions ) `` Chicago Auditions '' January 17, 2006 19.3 / 28 15.3 / 34 35.53 `` Denver Auditions '' January 18, 2006 17.8 / 27 13.0 / 33 31.65 `` Greensboro Auditions '' January 24, 2006 19.6 / 29 15.1 / 35 34.96 `` San Francisco Auditions '' January 25, 2006 18.2 / 28 13.0 / 33 32.44 5 `` Las Vegas Auditions '' January 31, 2006 5 17.4 / 27 12.4 / 31 30.18 6 `` Austin Auditions '' February 1, 2006 6 16.9 / 25 12.5 / 32 30.40 7 `` Boston Auditions '' February 7, 2006 17.6 / 26 12.9 / 32 31.15 8 `` Hollywood Round 1 '' February 8, 2006 16.3 / 24 11.4 / 29 28.74 9 `` Hollywood Round 2 '' February 14, 2006 16.5 / 25 11.4 / 29 26.96 10 `` Hollywood : Top 24 Revealed '' February 15, 2006 15.5 / 24 11.9 / 30 28.78 11 `` Top 12 Women Perform '' February 21, 2006 16.9 / 24 13.0 / 30 30.16 12 `` Top 12 Men Perform '' February 22, 2006 18.2 / 27 13.5 / 33 31.69 13 `` Top 24 Results '' February 23, 2006 7 13.3 / 20 9.9 / 24 23.38 14 `` Top 10 Women Perform '' February 28, 2006 17.0 / 25 12.4 / 31 30.09 15 `` Top 10 Men Perform March 1, 2006 16.6 / 26 12.2 / 31 29.64 16 `` Top 20 Results March 2, 2006 5 15.2 / 23 10.9 / 27 26.32 17 `` Top 8 Women Men Perform '' March 7, 2006 16.7 / 25 11.8 / 31 28.56 18 `` Top 8 Men Perform '' March 8, 2006 17.2 / 27 12.4 / 32 30.38 19 `` Top 12 Revealed '' March 9, 2006 15.4 / 24 10.8 / 28 26.63 20 `` Top 12 Perform '' March 14, 2006 18.5 / 27 13.7 / 33 32.77 21 `` Top 12 Results '' March 15, 2006 16.3 / 25 11.5 / 27 28.09 22 `` Top 11 Perform '' March 21, 2006 19.2 / 28 13.6 / 33 33.36 23 `` Top 11 Results '' March 22, 2006 15.9 / 24 11.4 / 27 27.68 24 `` Top 10 Perform '' March 28, 2006 18.0 / 27 13.0 / 33 31.71 25 `` Top 10 Results '' March 29, 2006 15.9 / 24 11.3 / 27 27.66 26 `` Top 9 Perform '' April 4, 2006 16.6 / 23 11.6 / 32 28.83 27 `` Top 9 Results '' April 5, 2006 15.7 / 23 10.8 / 26 26.23 28 `` Top 8 Perform '' April 11, 2006 14.2 / 22 12.0 / 33 29.65 29 `` Top 8 Results '' April 12, 2006 12.0 / 19 9.2 / 24 22.64 30 `` Top 7 Perform '' April 18, 2006 16.6 / 26 11.4 / 32 28.44 31 `` Top 7 Results '' April 19, 2006 16.5 / 25 11.3 / 30 27.63 32 Top 6 Perform '' April 25, 2006 16.7 / 26 11.5 / 30 28.67 33 `` Top 6 Results '' April 26, 2006 16.6 / 25 11.6 / 28 28.27 34 `` Top 5 Perform '' May 2, 2006 16.6 / 26 11.4 / 31 28.58 35 `` Top 5 Results '' May 3, 2006 16.9 / 25 11.7 / 28 29.26 36 `` Top 4 Perform '' May 9, 2006 16.8 / 26 11.6 / 31 28.85 37 `` Top 4 Results '' May 10, 2006 16.1 / 24 11.2 / 27 27.88 38 `` Top 3 Perform '' May 16, 2006 16.6 / 26 11.0 / 30 28.33 39 `` Top 3 Results '' May 17, 2006 16.6 / 26 10.7 / 25 27.67 40 `` Top 2 Perform '' May 23, 2006 18.2 / 29 12.3 / 34 31.78 41 Season 5 Finale '' May 24, 2006 20.5 / 32 14.2 / 35 36.38 Post Idol This is the first season that a majority of finalists have major label recording contracts after Idol. Of them -- Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Elliott Yamin, Chris Daughtry, and Kellie Pickler are distributed by Sony BMG Music Entertainment ; Bucky Covington by Universal Music Group ; Ace Young and Mandisa by EMI. One other contestant that did not even make the top 24 ( Brooke Barrettsmith ) was also picked up by Sony BMG, and Universal also picked up Brianna Taylor who also did not make the top 24. Two finalists have a deal with an independent labels -- Paris Bennett and Lisa Tucker. The remaining two finalists are unsigned -- Kevin Covais, and Melissa McGhee. ( Covais, however, has begun an acting career and McGhee has taken part in charity events for Idol Gives Back ) Also, six semi-finalists have deals and albums with independent labels -- Ayla Brown, Gedeon McKinney, Heather Cox, Patrick Hall, Will Makar, Stevie Scott and David Radford. In addition, at least one contestant who was cut before the semifinals, Bobby Bullard, has also been signed and recorded with a small label. Taylor Hicks first post-Idol single, `` Do I Make You Proud '', would debut at number one and be certified gold. Hicks ' album, Taylor Hicks, has sold 703,000 copies. He later parted with Arista Records. His follow - up album, `` The Distance, '' was released March 10, 2009 on his own record label Modern Whomp Records. The fifth - season contestant with the most commercial success is fourth - place finisher Chris Daughtry, now lead singer of the band Daughtry. Their eponymous debut album has sold over 5 million copies to date -- surpassing former winners Studdard and Fantasia 's respective two - album totals -- and produced two top - ten singles. The album, which spent two weeks at number one in the US, is also the fastest - selling debut rock album in Soundscan history. As of November 2008 : Runner - up Katharine McPhee 's debut album has sold 374,000 copies ; she has two Top 40 Billboard hits. Also notable : sixth - place finisher Kellie Pickler, whose Small Town Girl reached number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and was certified gold. To date it has sold over 815,000 copies. Third - place finisher Elliott Yamin 's eponymous debut album was certified gold and produced a platinum - selling single. Eighth - place finisher Bucky Covington 's self - titled debut album has sold over 400,000 copies and generated a top 20 and two top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Ninth - place finisher Mandisa 's True Beauty album earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop / Contemporary Gospel Album in 2007. Season five is the season from the first ten seasons of American Idol with the most number of finalists who have made it onto the Billboard charts. Major Releases Compilations The compilation album for this season was performed by the top twelve finalists. Information Digital Downloads American Idol Season 5 : Encores Released : May 23, 2006 Label : RCA Records Chart Positions : -- 3 ( US ) RIAA Certification : -- Gold U.S. sales : -- 381,075 Alphabetical order by song title `` Father Figure '' ( 108 US ) `` Midnight Train to Georgia '' ( 52 US Pop ) `` Moody 's Mood for Love '' ( 73 US Pop, 76 US Digital ) `` Takin ' It to the Streets '' ( 69 US, 42 US Digital ) `` Think '' ( 121 US, 90 US Pop ) `` Wanted Dead or Alive '' ( 43 US, 11 US Digital, 37 US Pop ) Albums Artist Information Chris Daughtry Daughtry Released : November 21, 2006 Label : RCA Records Chart Positions : 1 ( US ), 1 ( Rock ), 1 ( Digital ), 1 ( Comprehensive ), 1 ( Internet ) RIAA Certification : 4x Platinum U.S. sales : 4,813,000 Kellie Pickler Small Town Girl Released : October 31, 2006 Label : BNA Records Chart Positions : 1 ( US Top Country ), 9 ( Billboard 200 ), 12 ( Canada Top Country Albums ) RIAA Certification : Gold U.S. sales : 854,000 Taylor Hicks Taylor Hicks Released : December 12, 2006 Label : Arista Records Chart Positions : 2 ( US Billboard 200 ), 43 ( Canada ) RIAA Certification : Platinum U.S. sales : 704,000 Elliott Yamin Elliott Yamin Released : March 20, 2007 Label : Hickory Records Sony RED Distribution Chart Positions : 3 ( Billboard 200 ), 1 ( Top Independent Albums ), 11 ( Top R&B albums ) RIAA Certification : Gold U.S. sales : 527,000 Bucky Covington Bucky Covington Released : April 17, 2007 Label : Lyric Street Records Hollywood Records Chart Positions : 4 ( Billboard 200 ), 1 ( US Top Country ) RIAA Certification : Uncertified U.S. sales : 405,000 Katharine McPhee Katharine McPhee Released : January 30, 2007 Label : RCA Records Chart Positions : 2 ( US Billboard 200 ), 23 ( Canada ) RIAA Certification : Uncertified U.S. sales : 381,000 Mandisa True Beauty Released : July 31, 2007 Label : Sparrow Records Chart Positions : 43 ( Billboard 200 ), 1 ( Hot Christian Albums ) RIAA Certification : Uncertified U.S. sales : 219,000 Mandisa It 's Christmas Released : October 14, 2008 Label : Sparrow Records Chart Positions : 64 ( Billboard Hot 200 ) 1 ( Billboard Top Christmas Albums ) 5 ( Billboard Top Christian Albums ) RIAA Certification : not certified U.S. sales : 26,000 Mandisa Freedom Released : March 24, 2009 Label : Sparrow Records Chart Positions : 83 ( US Billboard 200 ), 4 ( US Billboard Top Christian Albums ) RIAA Certification : Uncertified U.S. sales : 132,000 Elliott Yamin Fight for Love Released : May 5, 2009 Label : Hickory Records Chart Positions : 26 ( US Billboard 200 ), 4 ( US Billboard Independent Albums ) RIAA Certification : Uncertified U.S. sales : 49,000 Chris Daughtry Leave This Town Released : July 14, 2009 Label : RCA Records Chart Positions : 1 ( US Billboard 200 ), 1 ( Rock ) RIAA Certification : Platinum U.S. sales : 1,307,000 Chris Daughtry Break the Spell Released : November 21, 2011 Label : RCA Records Chart Positions : 8 ( US Billboard 200 ), 2 ( Rock ) RIAA Certification : Gold U.S. sales : 520,000 Chris Daughtry ' Baptized Released : November 18, 2014 Label : RCA Records Chart Positions : 6 ( US Billboard 200 ), 2 ( Rock ) RIAA Certifications : Gold U.S. sales : 532,000 Minor & independent releases Artist Information Bobby `` Bluu Suede '' Bullard The Bluu Suede Project Released : 2007 Label : Stres Entertainment Inc. Ayla Brown Forward ( LP ) Released : October 17, 2006 Label : Double Deal Brand Records U.S. sales : 3,200 Paris Bennett Princess P ( LP ) Released : May 8, 2007 Label : 306 Entertainment U.S. sales : 22,000 Ace Young `` Scattered '' ( digital download ) Released : October 20, 2006 Label : Freeman Records U.S. sales : -- Elliott Yamin `` This Christmas '' ( digital download ) Released : December 6, 2006 Label : Pulse Recording and Three Ring Projects Chart Positions : 167 ( Hot Digital Songs ) U.S. sales : -- 87,000 Katharine McPhee `` I Lost You '' / `` Dangerous '' ( Wal - Mart ) Released : December 19, 2006 Label : RCA Records U.S. sales : -- Patrick Hall One for the Ages ( LP ) Released : February 2007 Label : Ni - Fi Records U.S. sales : -- Josh Royse Memories Released : 2009 Label : Independent David Radford Swing on By ( LP ) Released : 2007 Label : independent Stevie Scott Stevie Scott ( EP ) Released : July 29, 2008 Label : Heat Rocc Entertainment U.S. sales : -- Brianna Taylor Brianna Taylor ( EP ) Released : June 3, 2008 Label : Chamberlain Records U.S. sales : 60,000 Stephanie White Knee Deep InSanity ( CD Baby ) Released : October 12, 2007 Label : independent U.S. sales : -- 1,000 + as of April 2008 Notes : lead singer of her band, Stephanie White and the New Jersey Philth Harmonic Ace Young Ace Young Released : July 15, 2008 Label : Pazzo Music U.S. sales : 10,000 Nominations In 2006, American Idol also became the most nominated unscripted show ever, and has several nominations in the 2006 Emmy Awards for season five : Outstanding Reality - Competition Program Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety, Music Program or Special -- Episode # 519 Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program -- Bruce Gowers Outstanding Picture Editing for Nonfiction Programming ( Large team entries -- Primarily Multi-Camera Productions ) -- `` Audition City : Greensboro '' Outstanding Lighting Direction -- `` American Classics Songbook with Rod Stewart '' Outstanding Lighting Direction -- `` Finale '' Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or Special or Animation -- `` American Classics Songbook with Rod Stewart '' Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Series -- Episode # 530 See also American Idols LIVE ! Tour 2006 References Jump up ^ `` Fox announces ' American Idol 5 ' audition dates and locations ''. Reality TV World. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ These auditions included many who returned to later seasons, such as Melissa Sgambelluri. Jump up ^ `` ' American Idol 5 ' auditions in Memphis canceled due to relief efforts ''. Reality TV World. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` ' American Idol 5 ' adds audition sites in Las Vegas and Las Vegas ''. Reality TV World. 2005 - 09 - 20. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ September 21, 2005 ( 2005 - 09 - 21 ). `` Chicago ' Idol ' ''. Articles.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Columnist John Katsilometes : One hotel GM 's Vegas renaissance - thanks to ' Idol ' - Las Vegas Sun News ''. Lasvegassun.com. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Idol in Austin ? Not quite ''. The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on February 4, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2011. Jump up ^ mtv ( 2006 - 05 - 19 ). `` Think You Know Everything About ' American Idol ' ? Part 3 ''. MTV. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original on 2006 - 11 - 03. Retrieved 2010 - 09 - 23. CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown ( link ) Jump up ^ `` Paula Goodspeed Myspace ! ''. News.lalate.com. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Obsessive Fan of Paula Abdul Commits Suicide - ABC News ''. Abcnews.go.com. 2008 - 11 - 13. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ Dagostino, Mark. `` Paula Abdul Lashes Out at Idol Producers - Paula Abdul ''. People.com. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ Vary ( 2008 - 12 - 15 ). `` ' Idol ' : Producer responds to Paula 's claims, previews new season EW.com ''. Insidetv.ew.com. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Nigel Lythgoe Responds To Paula Abdul 's ' Idol ' Allegations ''. Access Hollywood. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` The X Factor Wetpaint, Inc ''. Wetpaint.com. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Idol 's Almost Famous - THE LITTLE DIVA ''. People.com. 2007 - 01 - 23. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` machineheart ''. Facebook. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ Webb, Matt ( 2006 - 02 - 22 ). `` Who 's Who on American Idol ? - Today 's News : Our Take ''. TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Telescope Inc ''. Telescope.tv. Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Measuring the busy signal ''. DialIdol.com. 2007 - 03 - 25. Archived from the original on 2016 - 06 - 02. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` ' Idol ' Twins Booted for Alleged ID Theft ''. Fox News. 2006 - 01 - 27. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` GLAAD 's Resources for Press ''. GLAAD. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on April 27, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2006. 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Archived from the original on July 17, 2006. Retrieved July 7, 2006. External links Official American Idol Contestants Website American Idol ( Season 5 ) on IMDb American Idol ( Season 5 ) at TV.com American Idol season 5 Finalists Taylor Hicks Katharine McPhee Elliott Yamin Chris Daughtry Paris Bennett Kellie Pickler Ace Young Bucky Covington Mandisa Lisa Tucker Kevin Covais Melissa McGhee Other sources Tour `` Do I Make You Proud '' `` My Destiny '' American Idol Season 5 : Encores American Idol Episodes Season 1 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Finalists Winners Kelly Clarkson Ruben Studdard Fantasia Barrino Carrie Underwood Taylor Hicks Jordin Sparks David Cook Kris Allen Lee DeWyze Scotty McCreery Phillip Phillips Candice Glover Caleb Johnson Nick Fradiani Trent Harmon Runners - up Justin Guarini Clay Aiken Diana DeGarmo Bo Bice Katharine McPhee Blake Lewis David Archuleta Adam Lambert Crystal Bowersox Lauren Alaina Jessica Sanchez Kree Harrison Jena Irene Clark Beckham La'Porsha Renae Winners ' singles `` A Moment Like This '' `` Flying Without Wings '' `` I Believe '' `` Inside Your Heaven '' `` Do I Make You Proud '' `` This Is My Now '' `` The Time of My Life '' `` No Boundaries '' `` Beautiful Day '' `` I Love You This Big '' `` Home '' `` I Am Beautiful '' `` As Long as You Love Me '' `` Beautiful Life '' `` Falling '' Concert tours 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Related programming Idol ( series ) American Juniors Idol Christmas Idol Extra Idol Gives Back Idol Rewind World Idol Related articles Alumni album sales Alumni awards and nominations Alumni in film, television and theater Alumni single sales Compilation series Controversies Discography Finalists Hot 100 singles `` Judge Me Tender '' The American Idol Experience Video game Nielsen Media Research top - rated United States network television show 1950s 50 -- 51 : Texaco Star Theater 51 -- 52 : Arthur Godfrey 's Talent Scouts 52 -- 53, 53 -- 54, 54 -- 55 : I Love Lucy 55 -- 56 : The $64,000 Question 56 -- 57 : I Love Lucy 57 -- 58, 58 -- 59, 59 -- 60 : Gunsmoke 1960s 60 -- 61 : Gunsmoke 61 -- 62 : Wagon Train 62 -- 63, 63 -- 64 : The Beverly Hillbillies ( S1, S2 ) 64 -- 65, 65 -- 66, 66 -- 67 : Bonanza 67 -- 68 : The Andy Griffith Show ( S8 ) 68 -- 69, 69 -- 70 : Rowan & Martin 's Laugh - In 1970s 70 -- 71 : Marcus Welby, M.D. 71 -- 72, 72 -- 73, 73 -- 74, 74 -- 75, 75 -- 76 : All in the Family ( S2, S3, S4, S5, S6 ) 76 -- 77 : Happy Days ( S4 ) 77 -- 78, 78 -- 79 : Laverne & Shirley ( S3, S4 ) 79 -- 80 : 60 Minutes 1980s 80 -- 81, 81 -- 82 : Dallas ( S4, S5 ) 82 -- 83 : 60 Minutes 83 -- 84 : Dallas ( S7 ) 84 -- 85 : Dynasty 85 -- 86, 86 -- 87, 87 -- 88, 88 -- 89 : The Cosby Show ( S2, S3, S4, S5 ) 89 -- 90 : Roseanne ( S2 ) / The Cosby Show ( S6 ) 1990s 90 -- 91 : Cheers ( S9 ) 91 -- 92, 92 -- 93, 93 -- 94 : 60 Minutes 94 -- 95 : Seinfeld ( S6 ) 95 -- 96, 96 -- 97 : ER ( S2, S3 ) 97 -- 98 : Seinfeld ( S9 ) 98 -- 99 : ER ( S5 ) 99 -- 2000 : Who Wants to Be a Millionaire 2000s 00 -- 01 : Survivor ( S2 - AO ) 01 -- 02 : Friends ( S8 ) 02 -- 03, 03 -- 04, 04 -- 05, : CSI : Crime Scene Investigation ( S3, S4, S5 ) 05 -- 06, 06 -- 07, 07 -- 08, 08 -- 09, 09 -- 10 : American Idol ( S5, S6, S7, S8, S9 ) 2010s 10 -- 11 : American Idol ( S10 ) 11 - 12 : NBC Sunday Night Football 12 - 13 : NCIS ( S10 ) 13 - 14, 14 - 15, 15 - 16, 16 -- 17 : NBC Sunday Night Football Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_Idol_(season_5)&oldid=815096632 '' Categories : 2006 in American television American Idol seasons 2006 American television seasons 2006 in American music Hidden categories : CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from October 2016 Articles with permanently dead external links Articles with dead external links from April 2016 Articles needing additional references from March 2016 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Gaeilge Bahasa Indonesia 日本 語 Русский Suomi Tiếng Việt Edit links This page was last edited on 12 December 2017, at 19 : 16. 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Question: who won chris daughtry's american idol season
Answer: Taylor Hicks