American Idol ( season 2 ) - wikipedia American Idol ( season 2 ) American Idol Season 2 Broadcast from January 21 -- May 21, 2003 Judges Paula Abdul Simon Cowell Randy Jackson Host ( s ) Ryan Seacrest Broadcaster Fox Broadcasting Company Finals venue Gibson Amphitheatre Winner Ruben Studdard Origin Birmingham, U.S. Song `` Flying Without Wings '' Genre ( s ) Pop, R&B, gospel Runner - up Clay Aiken Chronology ◀ 2003 ▶ 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 of Season 1 to just American Idol. Brian Dunkleman quit after the first season, and Seacrest therefore became the lone host in Season 2 as well as all subsequent seasons. Kristin Holt was a special correspondent. It was won by Ruben Studdard. It was the first season to crown a male winner, and the first season to have a finale with two male contestants, Studdard and Clay Aiken. Studdard released his coronation song `` Flying Without Wings '' after the show and reached number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Aiken also released a single with `` This Is the Night '', written by Chris Braide, Aldo Nova and Gary Burr. It became the first non-winning contestant to have a Billboard Hot 100 number - one. It was also the biggest US single of 2003, selling over one million copies and reaching six times platinum status in Canada as well as number 1 in New Zealand. In addition to Studdard and Aiken, Kimberley Locke, Joshua Gracin, Kimberly Caldwell, and Carmen Rasmusen have signed with various record labels. Contents 1 Regional auditions 2 Hollywood week 3 Semi-finals 3.1 Semi-final Group 1 3.2 Semi-final Group 2 3.3 Semi-final Group 3 3.4 Semi-final Group 4 3.5 Wild Card 4 Finalists 5 Finals 5.1 Top 12 -- Motown 5.2 Top 11 -- Movie Soundtracks 5.3 Top 10 -- Country rock 5.4 Top 8 ( first week ) -- Disco 5.5 Top 8 ( second week ) -- Billboard Number Ones 5.6 Top 7 -- Billy Joel 5.7 Top 6 -- Diane Warren 5.8 Top 5 -- 1960s / Neil Sedaka 5.9 Top 4 -- Bee Gees 5.10 Top 3 -- Random from a bowl of Producers ' picks, Judges ' Choice, Idol 's Choice 5.11 Top 2 -- Finale 6 Elimination chart 7 Other ' Idol ' contestants 7.1 Season 3 Contestants 8 Controversies 9 US Nielsen ratings 10 Releases 10.1 Major releases 10.2 Minor or independent releases 11 External links 12 See also 13 References Regional auditions Auditions were held in the fall of 2002 in the following cities : Episode Air Date Audition City Date Audition Venue Callback Venue Tickets to Hollywood January 21, 2003 New York, New York October 24 -- 28, 2002 Regent Wall Street Hotel Rhiga Royal Hotel 35 Miami, Florida November 2 -- 6, 2002 Fontainebleau Hilton Hotel 20 Austin, Texas November 6 -- 10, 2002 Doubletree Hotel Hyatt Regency 36 January 22, 2003 Los Angeles, California November 18 -- 20, 2002 Rose Bowl Renaissance Hollywood Hotel 45 Detroit, Michigan October 21, 2002 Atheneum Suites Hotel 22 January 28, 2003 Atlanta, Georgia October 27, 2002 AmericasMart Callanwolde Fine Arts Center 46 Nashville, Tennessee October 30, 2002 Nashville Municipal Auditorium Wildhorse Saloon 30 Total Tickets to Hollywood 234 The number of auditioners increased significantly after the success of the first season, and arenas and stadiums started to be used to hold the first auditions from this season onwards when the Rose Bowl in Pasadena was used this season instead of the hotel originally planned. Around 70,000 attended the auditions this season and 234 were selected to proceed on to the Hollywood round. Radio DJ Angie Martinez was originally signed up as a fourth judge, but quit after a few days, stating that `` it became too uncomfortable for me to tell someone else to give up on their dream ''. Paula Abdul was absent from the Atlanta audition. At the Miami auditions, one failed auditioner was Edgar Nova who, after being rejected, tried to get back again and had to be escorted off the premise. Nova then auditioned in Los Angeles, but with a different hairstyle to avoid recognition, and was again unsuccessful. Another auditioner named Bryan Washington auditioned in Atlanta, Georgia, and made it to Hollywood, but did not make it into the top 32. He was also overweight at the time of his American Idol audition, and later became a contestant on The Biggest Loser ( Season 4. ) Auditioner Amber Riley was rejected by producers and did not get to audition for the judges, but later went on to co-star on the television series Glee as Mercedes Jones. Hollywood week The contestants performed in a series of rounds and number of contestants trimmed in each round. In the first round they performed a song, in the second round they were asked to compose a melody for one of five set of lyrics, and 80 remained after this round. In the third round the contestants were separate into the girls and boys and they performed in small groups. They chose a song from `` Superstar '', Seal 's `` Kiss from a Rose '', Barry Manilow 's `` Tryin ' to Get the Feeling Again '', Freda Payne 's `` Band of Gold '', and Dionne Warwick 's `` You 'll Never Get to Heaven ( If You Break My Heart ) ''. During the group performance, Corey Clark, who was later to claim a relationship with Paula Abdul, sang to Paula directly and kissed her hand. 48 contestants were left at the end of this round. In the last round each contestants performed solo. After their performances, the contestants were then divided into three groups of sixteen and placed in separate rooms. One group was eliminated, and 32 contestants proceeded on to the semi-final rounds. Semi-finals The format changed slightly in Season 2 ; instead of three groups of ten, the semi-finalists were grouped into four groups of eight. The singers performed solo in a new improved stage with piano accompaniment by Michael Orland, and the performance pre-taped. There were no live audience although family members of contestants were present in the Red Room where the contestants were placed. The results of the public vote were announced live the next day. From each group, two were selected to proceed on to the top 12, and those selected reprised their performance in the result show. Nine of those who failed at any of previous stages ( including the Hollywood rounds and the initial regional auditions ) were given one more chance to perform again in the wild - card show. Each of the three judges put one contestant from the wild - card group through to the top 12, with the final one selected by the public vote. Semi-final Group 1 Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Kimberly Caldwell `` Come to My Window ( Melissa Etheridge ) Top 3 / Wild Card Patrick Fortson `` Un-Break My Heart '' ( Toni Braxton ) Eliminated J.D. Adams `` All in Love Is Fair '' ( Stevie Wonder ) Eliminated Trenyce `` Love Sneakin ' Up On You '' ( Bonnie Raitt ) Wild Card 5 Meosha Denton `` How Do I Live '' ( LeAnn Rimes ) Eliminated 6 Bettis Richardson `` Thank You '' ( Boyz II Men ) Eliminated 7 Charles Grigsby `` Overjoyed '' ( Stevie Wonder ) Advanced 8 Julia DeMato `` Son of a Preacher Man '' ( Dusty Springfield ) Advanced Semi-final Group 2 Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Clay Aiken `` Open Arms '' ( Journey ) Top 3 / Wild Card Candice Coleman `` Piece of My Heart '' ( Erma Franklin ) Eliminated Rebecca Bond `` Caught Up in the Rapture '' ( Anita Baker ) Eliminated Jacob John Smalley `` Anytime '' ( Brian McKnight ) Eliminated 5 Hadas `` You Light Up My Life '' ( Kasey Cisyk ) Eliminated 6 Ruben Studdard `` Superstar '' ( Delaney & Bonnie ) Advanced 7 Kimberley Locke `` Over the Rainbow '' ( Judy Garland ) Advanced 8 Jennifer Fuentes `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( Whitney Houston ) Eliminated Semi-final Group 3 Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Kimberly Kelsey `` It 's All Coming Back to Me Now '' ( Pandora 's Box ) Eliminated Jordan Segundo `` For Your Love '' ( Stevie Wonder ) Eliminated Vanessa Olivarez `` Out Here On My Own '' ( Irene Cara ) Advanced Rickey Smith `` One Last Cry '' ( Brian McKnight ) Advanced 5 Samantha Cohen `` Something He Can Feel '' ( Aretha Franklin ) Eliminated 6 Louis Gazzara `` How Am I Supposed to Live Without You '' ( Laura Branigan ) Eliminated 7 Equoia Coleman `` The Way We Were '' ( Barbra Streisand ) Top 3 / Eliminated 8 George Trice `` Unchained Melody '' ( Todd Duncan ) Eliminated Semi-final Group 4 Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Sylvia Chibiliti `` Did n't We Almost Have It All '' ( Whitney Houston ) Eliminated Chip Days `` A Song for You '' ( Leon Russell ) Wild Card Juanita Barber `` What About the Children '' ( Yolanda Adams ) Eliminated Patrick Lake `` When I See You Smile '' ( Bad English ) Top 3 / Eliminated 5 Nasheka Siddall `` Open My Heart '' ( Yolanda Adams ) Wild Card 6 Joshua Gracin `` I 'll Be '' ( Edwin McCain ) Advanced 7 Ashley Hartman `` Touch Me in the Morning '' ( Diana Ross ) Eliminated 8 Corey Clark `` Foolish Heart '' ( Steve Perry ) Advanced Wild Card Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Kimberly Caldwell `` I Feel the Earth Move '' ( Carole King ) Selected ( Randy 's choice ) Clay Aiken `` Do n't Let the Sun Go Down on Me '' ( Elton John ) Selected ( Public vote ) Nasheka Siddall `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' ( Mighty Clouds of Joy ) Eliminated Carmen Rasmusen `` Ca n't Fight the Moonlight '' ( LeAnn Rimes ) Selected ( Simon 's choice ) 5 Olivia Mojica `` Because You Loved Me '' ( Celine Dion ) Eliminated 6 Janine Falsone `` We Belong '' ( Pat Benatar ) Eliminated 7 Chip Days `` Rock with You '' ( Michael Jackson ) Eliminated 8 Aliceyn Cooney `` Angel '' ( Sarah McLachlan ) Eliminated 9 Trenyce `` Let 's Stay Together '' ( Al Green ) Selected ( Paula 's choice ) Finalists Back - Joshua Gracin, Clay Aiken, Kimberly Caldwell, Kimberley Locke, Charles Grigsby, Carmen Rusmusen, Trenyce, Ruben Studdard Seated - Julia DeMato, Corey Clark, Vanessa Olivarez, Rickey Smith Ruben Studdard ( born September 12, 1978 in Frankfurt, Germany, 24 years old at the time of the show ) is from Birmingham, Alabama and auditioned in Nashville, Tennessee with Stevie Wonder 's `` Ribbon in the Sky ''. Clay Aiken ( born November 30, 1978 in Raleigh, North Carolina, 24 years old at the time of the show ) auditioned in Atlanta, Georgia with Heatwave 's `` Always and Forever ''. He studied at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he graduated with a degree in special education. Kimberley Locke ( born January 3, 1978 in Hartsville, Tennessee, 25 at the time of the show ) is from Nashville, Tennessee where she auditioned with Judy Garland 's `` Over the Rainbow ''. Joshua Gracin ( born October 18, 1980 in Westland, Michigan, 22 years old at the time of the show ) is from Oceanside, California, where he was stationed while serving in the Marine Corps. He auditioned in Los Angeles with O - Town 's `` All or Nothing ''. Trenyce ( born March 31, 1980 in Memphis, Tennessee, 22 years old at the start of the season ) is from Bartlett, Tennessee and auditioned in Nashville with Whitney Houston 's `` I Learned from the Best ''. She turned down a record deal at 14 and she auditioned using her full name, LaShundra `` Trenyce '' Cobbins. Carmen Rasmusen ( born March 25, 1985, in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada, 17 at the start of the season ) is from Bountiful, Utah and auditioned in Los Angeles. She did not make the semi-final initially but was brought back for the wild card show and put through to the final. Kimberly Caldwell ( born February 25, 1982 in Katy, Texas, 20 at the start of the season ) -- Prior to American Idol, she had appeared on Star Search, where she won five times as a junior vocalist, and in Popstars : USA. Rickey Smith ( May 10, 1979 - May 6, 2016, born in Keene, Texas, 23 at the time of the show ) auditioned in Nashville with Brian McKnight 's `` One Last Cry ''. He worked as a teacher before the show. Smith was killed in a car crash on May 6, 2016, making him the second American Idol finalist to die after seventh season finalist, Michael Johns. Corey Clark ( born July 13, 1980 in San Bernardino, California, 22 at the time of the show ) is from San Bernardino, California, and auditioned in Nashville with Jackson 5 's `` Never Can Say Goodbye ''. He was disqualified hours after the website The Smoking Gun revealed his misdemeanor charges of battery and resisting arrest on March 31, 2003. Julia DeMato ( born March 7, 1979 in Danbury, Connecticut, 23 at the start of the show ) is from Brookfield, Connecticut and auditioned with Toni Braxton 's Un-Break My Heart. Charles Grigsby ( born September 15, 1978 in Oberlin, Ohio, 24 at the time of the show ) auditioned in Detroit. Vanessa Olivarez ( born April 7, 1981, 21 at the start of the season ) is from Atlanta, Georgia and auditioned in Atlanta with Queen 's `` Bohemian Rhapsody ''. Finals In this season, guests were introduced as celebrity judges, some of whom who may also act as a mentor in for the week they were on. During Top 9, it was announced that Corey Clark had been disqualified. In most weeks the bottom vote - getter performed his or her song again after their elimination was announced, but at Top 5 and Top 9 both the bottom 2 vote - getters performed their song. Top 12 -- Motown Guest judge and mentor : Lamont Dozier Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Kimberley Locke `` ( Love Is Like a ) Heat Wave '' ( Martha and the Vandellas ) Bottom 3 Joshua Gracin `` Baby I Need Your Loving '' ( The Four Tops ) Safe Charles Grigsby `` How Sweet It Is ( To Be Loved by You ) '' ( Marvin Gaye ) Safe Kimberly Caldwell `` Nowhere to Run '' ( Martha and the Vandellas ) Safe 5 Rickey Smith `` 1 - 2 - 3 '' ( Len Barry ) Safe 6 Julia DeMato `` Where Did Our Love Go '' ( The Supremes ) Bottom 2 7 Clay Aiken `` I Ca n't Help Myself ( Sugar Pie Honey Bunch ) '' ( The Four Tops ) Safe 8 Vanessa Olivarez `` You Keep Me Hangin ' On '' ( The Supremes ) Eliminated 9 Corey Clark `` This Old Heart of Mine ( Is Weak for You ) '' ( The Isley Brothers ) Safe 10 Carmen Rasmusen `` You Ca n't Hurry Love '' ( The Supremes ) Safe 11 Trenyce `` Come See About Me '' ( The Supremes ) Safe 12 Ruben Studdard `` Baby I Need Your Loving '' ( The Four Tops ) Safe Group performance : `` ( Love Is Like a ) Heat Wave '' ( Martha and the Vandellas ) Top 11 -- Movie Soundtracks Guest judge : Gladys Knight Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Featured film Result Corey Clark `` Against All Odds ( Take a Look at Me Now ) '' ( Phil Collins ) Against All Odds Bottom 2 Ruben Studdard `` A Whole New World '' ( Brad Kane & Lea Salonga ) Aladdin Safe Trenyce `` I Have Nothing '' ( Whitney Houston ) The Bodyguard Safe Clay Aiken `` Somewhere Out There '' ( Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram ) An American Tail Safe 5 Kimberly Caldwell `` The Shoop Shoop Song ( It 's in His Kiss ) '' ( Betty Everett ) Mermaids Safe 6 Joshua Gracin `` I Do n't Want to Miss a Thing '' ( Aerosmith ) Armageddon Safe 7 Carmen Rasmusen `` Hopelessly Devoted to You '' ( Olivia Newton - John ) Grease Safe 8 Charles Grigsby `` You Ca n't Win '' ( Michael Jackson ) The Wiz Eliminated 9 Rickey Smith `` It Might Be You '' ( Stephen Bishop ) Tootsie Safe 10 Julia DeMato `` Flashdance... What a Feeling '' ( Irene Cara ) Flashdance Bottom 3 11 Kimberley Locke `` Home '' ( Stephanie Mills ) The Wiz Safe Group performance : `` Footloose '' ( Kenny Loggins ) and `` ( I 've Had ) the Time of My Life '' ( Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes ) Top 10 -- country rock Guest judge : Olivia Newton - John Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Joshua Gracin `` Ai n't Goin ' Down ( ' Til The Sun Comes Up ) '' ( Garth Brooks ) Safe Trenyce `` I Need You '' ( LeAnn Rimes ) Safe Kimberley Locke `` I Ca n't Make You Love Me '' ( Bonnie Raitt ) Safe Corey Clark `` Drift Away '' ( John Henry Kurtz ) Safe 5 Carmen Rasmusen `` Wild Angels '' ( Martina McBride ) Safe 6 Rickey Smith `` I 've Done Enough Dyin ' Today '' ( Larry Gatlin ) Bottom 3 7 Kimberly Caldwell `` Anymore '' ( Travis Tritt ) Bottom 2 8 Ruben Studdard `` Sweet Home Alabama '' ( Lynyrd Skynyrd ) Safe 9 Julia DeMato `` Breathe '' ( Faith Hill ) Eliminated 10 Clay Aiken `` Someone Else 's Star '' ( Davis Daniel ) Safe Group performance : `` Where the Blacktop Ends '' ( Keith Urban ) and `` God Bless the USA '' ( Lee Greenwood ) Note 1 : Corey Clark was later disqualified due to his controversy. Top 8 ( first week ) -- disco Guest judge : Verdine White Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Rickey Smith `` Let 's Groove '' ( Earth, Wind & Fire ) Safe Carmen Rasmusen `` Turn the Beat Around '' ( Vicki Sue Robinson ) Bottom 2 Kimberly Caldwell `` Knock on Wood '' ( Eddie Floyd ) Safe Clay Aiken `` Everlasting Love '' ( Robert Knight ) Safe 5 Trenyce `` I 'm Every Woman '' ( Chaka Khan ) Bottom 2 6 Ruben Studdard `` Ca n't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe '' ( Barry White ) Safe 7 Kimberley Locke `` It 's Raining Men '' ( The Weather Girls ) Bottom 3 8 Joshua Gracin `` Celebration '' ( Kool & the Gang ) Safe Group performance : `` A Night to Remember '' ( Shalamar ) and `` Boogie Wonderland '' ( Earth, Wind & Fire & The Emotions ) Guest Performance : `` God Bless the USA '' by Lee Greenwood ( video ) ^ Jump up to : Because of Corey Clark 's disqualification the previous week, it was never revealed whether Trenyce or Rasmusen had received the lowest number of votes that week and so both were declared safe. Top 8 ( second week ) -- Billboard Number Ones Guest judge : Lionel Richie Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Clay Aiken `` At This Moment '' ( Billy Vera ) Safe Kimberley Locke `` My Heart Will Go On '' ( Celine Dion ) Bottom 3 Rickey Smith `` Endless Love '' ( Lionel Richie & Diana Ross ) Eliminated Kimberly Caldwell `` ( Everything I Do ) I Do It for You '' ( Bryan Adams ) Bottom 2 5 Joshua Gracin `` Amazed '' ( Lonestar ) Safe 6 Carmen Rasmusen `` Call Me '' ( Blondie ) Safe 7 Trenyce `` The Power of Love '' ( Jennifer Rush ) Safe 8 Ruben Studdard `` Kiss and Say Goodbye '' ( The Manhattans ) Safe Group performance : `` All Night Long ( All Night ) '' ( Lionel Richie ) Guest Performance : Kelly Clarkson - `` Miss Independent '' Top 7 -- Billy Joel Guest judge : Smokey Robinson Order Contestant Song ( original artist when applicable ) Result Kimberly Caldwell `` It 's Still Rock and Roll to Me '' Eliminated Ruben Studdard `` Just the Way You Are '' Safe Kimberley Locke `` New York State of Mind '' Safe Carmen Rasmusen `` And So It Goes '' Bottom 2 5 Joshua Gracin `` Piano Man '' Safe 6 Trenyce `` Baby Grand '' ( Billy Joel & Ray Charles ) Bottom 3 7 Clay Aiken `` Tell Her About It '' Safe Group performance : `` The Longest Time '' ( Billy Joel ) and `` God Bless the USA '' ( Lee Greenwood ) Top 6 -- Diane Warren Guest judge and mentor - Diane Warren Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Kimberley Locke `` If You Asked Me To '' ( Patti LaBelle ) Safe Clay Aiken `` I Could Not Ask for More '' ( Edwin McCain ) Safe Trenyce `` Have You Ever ? '' ( Brandy ) Bottom 3 Joshua Gracin `` That 's When I 'll Stop Loving You '' ( ' N Sync ) Bottom 2 5 Carmen Rasmusen `` Love Will Lead You Back '' ( Taylor Dayne ) Eliminated 6 Ruben Studdard `` Music of My Heart '' ( ' N Sync and Gloria Estefan ) Safe Group performance : `` Shine '' ( Ashanti ) Top 5 -- 1960s / Neil Sedaka Guest judge - Neil Sedaka Order Contestant Song ( original artist when applicable ) Result Ruben Studdard `` Ai n't Too Proud to Beg '' ( The Temptations ) Bottom 2 Trenyce `` Proud Mary '' ( Creedence Clearwater Revival ) Eliminated Joshua Gracin `` Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye '' ( Don Cherry ) Safe Kimberley Locke `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' ( The Miracles ) Safe 5 Clay Aiken `` Build Me Up Buttercup '' ( The Foundations ) Safe 6 Ruben Studdard `` Breaking Up is Hard to Do '' Bottom 2 7 Trenyce `` Love Will Keep Us Together '' Eliminated 8 Joshua Gracin `` Bad Blood '' Safe 9 Kimberley Locke `` Where the Boys Are '' ( Connie Francis ) Safe 10 Clay Aiken `` Solitaire '' Safe Top 5 group performance : 1960 's medley ( Various ) Top 10 group performance without Corey Clark : `` What the World Needs Now Is Love '' by Jackie DeShannon Guest Performance : Justin Guarini - `` I Saw Your Face '' Top 4 -- Bee Gees Guest judge - Robin Gibb Order Contestant Song ( original artist when applicable ) Result Joshua Gracin `` Jive Talkin ' '' Eliminated Clay Aiken `` To Love Somebody '' Safe Kimberley Locke `` I Just Want to Be Your Everything '' ( Andy Gibb ) Bottom 2 Ruben Studdard `` Nights on Broadway '' Safe 5 Joshua Gracin `` To Love Somebody '' Eliminated 6 Clay Aiken `` Grease '' ( Frankie Valli ) Safe 7 Kimberley Locke `` Emotion '' ( Samantha Sang ) Bottom 2 8 Ruben Studdard `` How Can You Mend a Broken Heart '' Safe Group performance : Bee Gees medley Top 3 -- Random from a bowl of Producers ' picks, Judges ' Choice, Idol 's Choice Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Kimberley Locke `` Band of Gold '' ( Freda Payne ) Eliminated Ruben Studdard `` Signed, Sealed, Delivered I 'm Yours '' ( Stevie Wonder ) Safe Clay Aiken `` Vincent '' ( Don McLean ) Safe Kimberley Locke `` Anyone Who Had a Heart '' ( Dionne Warwick ) - Randy Jackson Eliminated 5 Ruben Studdard `` Smile '' ( Charlie Chaplin ) - Simon Cowell Safe 6 Clay Aiken `` Mack the Knife '' ( Louis Armstrong ) - Paula Abdul Safe 7 Kimberley Locke `` Inseparable '' ( Natalie Cole ) Eliminated 8 Ruben Studdard `` If Ever You 're in My Arms Again '' ( Peabo Bryson ) Safe 9 Clay Aiken `` Unchained Melody '' ( Todd Duncan ) Safe Group performance : `` Up Where We Belong '', `` Reunited '', `` Solid '' Guest Performance : Tamyra Gray - `` Somewhere Over The Rainbow '' Guest Performance : Justin Guarini - `` Unchained Melody '' Top 2 -- finale Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Ruben Studdard `` A House is Not a Home '' ( Dionne Warwick ) Winner Clay Aiken `` This Is the Night '' ( Clay Aiken ) Runner - Up Ruben Studdard `` Imagine '' ( John Lennon ) Winner Clay Aiken `` Here, There and Everywhere '' ( The Beatles ) Runner - Up 5 Ruben Studdard `` Flying Without Wings '' ( Westlife ) Winner 6 Clay Aiken `` Bridge Over Troubled Water '' ( Simon & Garfunkel ) Runner - Up Guest Performance : Paul Anka - `` My Way '' Finale result show Performer Song Artist Top 12 and Kelly Clarkson `` One Voice '' Barry Manilow Kelly Clarkson Miss Independent Kelly Clarkson Top 12 Let 's Groove Baby Love Tears of a Clown Midnight Train to Georgia Words Physical That 's Where The Music Takes Me Hello Rhythm of the Night Earth, Wind & Fire The Supremes Smokey Robinson Gladys Knight Bee Gees Olivia Newton - John Neil Sedaka Lionel Richie Debarge Top 3 Superstar ( Ruben ) Over the Rainbow ( Kimberley ) On the Wings of Love ( Clay ) The Carpenters Judy Garland Jeffrey Osborne Ruben Studdard Flying Without Wings Westlife Clay Aiken Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon & Garfunkel Top 2 `` Ai n't No Stoppin ' Us Now '' McFadden & Whitehead Ruben Studdard Flying Without Wings Westlife Note 1 : Corey Clark and Joshua Gracin were absent from the group. The two night season finale was held at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California. Ruben Studdard emerged as the winner with Clay Aiken as a very close runner - up. Out of 24 million votes recorded, Studdard finished just 134,000 votes ahead of Aiken, and the smallness of the margin of victory made this result highly controversial. Elimination chart Top 32 Wild Card Top 12 Winner Did Not Perform Safe Bottom 3 Bottom 2 Eliminated Stage : Semi-Finals Wild Card Finals Week : 2 / 5 2 / 12 2 / 19 2 / 26 3 / 5 3 / 12 3 / 19 3 / 26 4 / 1 4 / 9 4 / 16 4 / 23 4 / 30 5 / 7 5 / 14 5 / 21 Place Contestant Result Ruben Studdard 1st Bottom 2 Winner Clay Aiken 3rd Wild Card 1st Runner - Up Kimberley Locke 2nd Bottom 3 Bottom 3 Bottom 3 Bottom 2 Elim Joshua Gracin 1st Bottom 2 Elim 5 Trenyce Wild Card Top 12 Bottom 2 Bottom 3 Bottom 3 Elim 6 Carmen Rasmusen Top 12 Bottom 2 Bottom 2 Elim 7 Kimberly Caldwell 3rd Wild Card Top 12 Bottom 2 Bottom 2 Elim 8 Rickey Smith 1st Bottom 3 Elim 9 Corey Clark 2nd Bottom 2 Disq 10 Julia DeMato 2nd Bottom 2 Bottom 3 Elim 11 Charles Grigsby 1st Elim 12 Vanessa Olivarez 2nd Elim 13 -- 17 Aliceyn Cooney Elim Chip Days Wild Card Janine Falsone Olivia Mojica Nasheka Wild Card 18 -- 36 Juanita Barber Elim Sylvia Chibiliti Ashley Hartman Patrick Lake 3rd Elim Samantha Cohen Elim Equoia Coleman 3rd Elim Louis Gazzara Elim Kimberly Kelsey Jordan Segundo George Trice Rebecca Bond Elim Candice Coleman Jennifer Fuentes Hadas Jacob John Smalley J.D. Adams Elim Meosha Denton Patrick Fortson Bettis Richardson Jump up ^ None of the bottom 3 were eliminated on the April 2nd results show due to Clark 's disqualification. Other ' Idol ' contestants Rhian and Cara Morgan of The Morgan Twins who auditioned for this season of American Idol but was cut in Hollywood, later auditioned for the fourth season of The Voice. They made it to the battle rounds, but were eliminated. Season 3 contestants Lisa Leuschner - Auditioned in season 2 and did n't make it through to Hollywood. Matthew Metzger - Auditioned in season 2 and made it to the Top 48. Controversies The finale vote had been controversial due to the smallness of the margin. Ryan Seacrest also added fuel by mistakenly announcing the difference in vote count first as 13,000, then 1,335, but eventually revealed later to be around 130,000. There was much discussion in the communication industry about the phone system being overloaded, and that more than 150 million votes were dropped, making the voting results suspect. In an interview prior to the start of the fifth season, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe revealed that Aiken had led the fan voting from the wild card week onward until the finale. A mini-controversy emerged after the finale when Simon Cowell alleged that Clay Aiken knew the results of the show nearly an hour before they were announced on - air because he had snuck a peek at Ryan Seacrest 's handheld cue card backstage. On Larry King Live the next day, Aiken admitted he had indeed seen the card but could not read it in the backstage light ; however, he had seen enough to determine that the name on it was too long to be `` Clay Aiken ''. On the live broadcast, Aiken can be seen turning his body to face Studdard and whispering something in his ear right before the results were announced, a visual clue fans took as confirmation that Aiken had somehow found out he was not the winner. There was controversy when contestant Frenchie Davis was disqualified from the competition after topless photos of her surfaced on the Internet. Shortly afterwards, she landed a role in the Broadway musical Rent. Corey Clark was also disqualified from the show because, according to the Idol producers, Clark had a police record he had not disclosed to the show. However, in 2005, contestant Corey Clark alleged in an interview on ABC 's Primetime Live and in a book, They Told Me to Tell the Truth, So... The Sex, Lies and Paulatics of One of America 's Idols, that he and judge Paula Abdul had an affair while he was on the show and that this contributed to his removal. Clark also alleged that Abdul gave him preferential treatment on the show and tips on song choice. A subsequent investigation by an independent counsel hired by Fox `` could not corroborate the evidence or allegations provided by Mr. Clark or any witnesses ''. Paula Abdul was therefore considered exonerated but an `` enhanced non-fraternization policy '' was put in place after the investigation. Trenyce was also found to have been arrested on felony theft charge ; however, Nigel Lythgoe considered her offense to be minor and one which she has been honest about, therefore `` warranted no concern regarding her participation in the show. '' During the Top 10, a problem with the telephone system resulted in some votes not being registered for Julia DeMato ; however, Fox insisted that the mistake would not have made any difference in Julia DeMato being voted off. During the course of the contest, Studdard became known for wearing 205 Flava jerseys representing his area code ; when asked about them early in the season, Studdard told Seacrest that he was `` just representing 205 ''. Shortly after the end of the contest, Studdard sued 205 Flava, Inc. for $2 Million dollars for using his image for promotional purposes. 205 Flava responded by alleging that Studdard had accepted over $10,000 in return for wearing 205 shirts, and produced eight cashed checks to validate their claim. The allegations, if true, were a clear violation of the American Idol rules. The lawsuit was settled out of court. Some questions were raised about the participation of Joshua Gracin, who was then in the Marine Corps, in American idol during the time of the Iraq War. He later missed both the finale performance night as well as the Idol tour that year after being recalled to duty by the Marines. Some speculation about Vanessa Olivarez ' dismissal and treatment by American Idol surfaced in 2007. During the show, Olivarez took part in a scripted joke where, after Seacrest had asked Olivarez to read a cue card taking the viewers to a commercial, Olivarez would reply by saying, `` Ryan, I 'm a real artist, not a performing monkey like you, so why do n't you read your own script ? '' However, viewers booed, and Olivarez was voted off afterwards, a result of what some thought to be negative public perception of her due to the joke. It was suggested that she was deliberately ousted because she had come out as a lesbian to other contestants. She had also posed nude for an ad campaign for the animal rights group PETA after she was voted off. Olivarez was the only finalist omitted from the Season 2 CD, and she was not chosen for the tour after Joshua Gracin was recalled to the Marines. US nielsen ratings The number of average viewers per episode this season was 21.7 million, an increase of 71 % over season 1. Its Wednesday episodes finished as the third most - watched show of the year averaging 21.93 million, and the Tuesday episodes fifth at 21.56 million. The show ranked second in the coveted 18 / 49 demographic for the 2002 - 2003 season. This season 's finale episode still ranks as the most - watched single episode in Idol history at 38.1 million, the finale night itself averaged 33.7 million when the pre-show special is taken into consideration. The show also helped Fox become the season 's number three network in total viewers for the first time. hide Episode list Show Episode Air date Week rank 18 - 49 rating Viewers ( in millions ) `` New York, Miami & Austin Auditions '' January 21, 2003 12.4 26.5 `` Special : American Idol revisited '' January 21, 2003 7 11.3 23.6 `` Pasadena & Detroit Auditions '' January 22, 2003 5 11.8 24.9 `` Atlanta & Nashville Auditions '' January 28, 2003 11.6 24.1 5 `` Hollywood Week '' January 29, 2003 12.6 26.0 6 `` Top 32 : Group 1 '' February 4, 2003 9 9.7 20.1 7 `` Top 32 : Group 1 results '' February 5, 2003 10 9.4 19.3 8 `` Top 32 : Group 2 '' February 11, 2003 8 9.7 20.0 9 `` Top 32 : Group 2 results '' February 12, 2003 11 9.0 18.7 10 `` Top 32 : Group 3 '' February 18, 2003 9 9.2 19.7 11 `` Top 32 : Group 3 results '' February 19, 2003 19 7.4 12 `` Special : Best of the Worst '' February 19, 2003 11 8.8 19.5 13 `` Top 32 : Group 4 '' February 25, 2003 5 9.7 20.0 14 `` Top 32 : Group 4 results '' February 26, 2003 12 8.7 17.1 15 `` Wildcard Show '' March 4, 2003 8.5 18.7 16 `` Wildcard Results '' March 5, 2003 8.5 18.0 17 `` Top 12 Perform '' March 11, 2003 10.3 22.0 18 `` Top 12 Results '' March 12, 2003 9 8.7 18.3 19 `` Top 11 Perform '' March 18, 2003 10.0 21.1 20 `` Top 11 Results '' March 19, 2003 7.9 17.2 21 `` Top 10 Perform '' March 25, 2003 9.4 19.8 22 `` Top 10 Results '' March 26, 2003 8.7 19.0 23 `` Top 9 Perform '' April 1, 2003 9.6 21.2 24 `` Top 9 Results '' April 2, 2003 9.7 20.3 25 `` Top 8 Perform '' April 8, 2003 9.7 20.1 26 `` Top 8 Results '' April 9, 2003 9.4 19.2 27 `` Top 7 Perform '' April 15, 2003 8.8 20.0 28 `` Top 7 Results '' April 16, 2003 8.4 18.1 29 `` Special : Halfway Home '' April 21, 2003 12 6.2 14.1 30 `` Top 6 Perform '' April 22, 2003 9.6 20.6 31 `` Top 6 Results '' April 23, 2003 6 9.3 19.5 32 `` Top 5 Perform '' April 29, 2003 9.7 20.4 33 `` Top 5 Results '' April 30, 2003 9.0 20.2 34 `` Top 4 Perform '' May 6, 2003 10.1 22.2 35 `` Top 4 Results '' May 7, 2003 10.4 22.7 36 `` Top 3 Perform '' May 13, 2003 10.7 23.4 37 `` Top 3 Results '' May 14, 2003 11.4 25.3 38 `` Top 2 Special '' May 19, 2003 8 7.4 16.9 39 `` Top 2 Showdown '' May 20, 2003 11.2 25.7 40 `` Finale Pre-show Special '' May 21, 2003 13.1 30.4 41 `` American Idol Season 2 Finale '' May 21, 2003 16.8 38.1 A couple of specials were aired later in the year - From Justin To Kelly : The Rise of Two American Idols on June 20, 2003, and American Idol : Christmas Songs on November 25, 2003, the latter of which was ranked number 30 with total viewer number of 10.9 million, and number 28 in the 18 / 49 demo with a 4.1 rating. Releases Major releases American Idol Season 2 : All - Time Classic American Love Songs ( Compilation - CD ) `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' / `` This Is the Night '' ( Clay Aiken - single ) `` Flying Without Wings '' / `` Superstar '' ( Ruben Studdard - single ) Measure of a Man ( Clay Aiken - CD ) Soulful ( Ruben Studdard - CD ) `` Sorry 2004 '' ( Ruben Studdard - single ) `` 8th World Wonder '' ( Kimberley Locke - single ) `` The Way / Solitaire '' ( Clay Aiken - single ) `` Photograph '' ( Carmen Rasmusen - single ) `` What If '' ( Ruben Studdard - single ) One Love ( Kimberley Locke - CD ) Josh Gracin ( Josh Gracin - CD ) Merry Christmas with Love ( Clay Aiken - Holiday CD ) I Need an Angel ( Ruben Studdard - Gospel CD ) Carmen ( EP ) ( Carmen Rasmusen - CD ) Corey Clark ( Corey Clark - CD ) `` Coulda Been '' ( Kimberley Locke - single ) ' `` Favorite State of Mind '' ( Josh Gracin - single ) A Thousand Different Ways ( Clay Aiken - CD ) The Return ( Ruben Studdard - CD ) `` All Is Well '' ( Clay Aiken - Holiday EP ) `` Nothin ' Like the Summer '' ( Carmen Rasmusen - single ) Based on a True Story ( Kimberley Locke - CD ) Nothin ' Like the Summer ( Carmen Rasmusen - CD ) We Were n't Crazy ( Josh Gracin - CD ) On My Way Here ( Clay Aiken - CD ) Tried and True ( Clay Aiken - CD / DVD ) Without Regret ( Kimberly Caldwell - CD ) Minor or independent releases ( This list does not include pre-Idol releases ) The One ( Vanessa Olivarez ) Jordan ( Jordan Segundo ) Charles Grigsby ( Charles Grigsby ) Use Your Gift ( Quiana Parler ) George Trice ( George Trice ) - released in the summer of 2007 Source : Idolsmusic.com External links Official American Idol Contestants Website American Idol ( Season 2 ) on IMDb American Idol ( Season 2 ) at TV.com See also American Idol American Idols LIVE ! Tour 2003 References Jump up ^ ' X Factor ' seeking stars in Newark, but does America need another TV talent show ? Jump up ^ `` Former ' American Idol ' co-host Brian Dunkleman `` breaks his silence '' ``. Realitytvworld.com. February 22, 2006. Retrieved February 24, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Clay Aiken - This Is The Night - Music Charts ''. Acharts.us. Retrieved 2010 - 08 - 25. Jump up ^ `` American Idol 2 '' Auditions Scheduled ^ Jump up to : `` PAULA ABDUL, RANDY JACKSON & SIMON COWELL TO RETURN AS JUDGES ON ' AMERICAN IDOL ' ''. Archived from the original on 2012 - 03 - 26. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 20. Jump up ^ Thousands brave cold in New York for ' Idol ' audition Jump up ^ GW Idol Jump up ^ Hopeful Singers Try For Round 2 Jump up ^ 3 Make Cut For American Idol Jump up ^ Chris Vu Tackles Obstacles Along Way to Idol Stardom Jump up ^ ' IDOL ' DREAMS WISHFUL SINGERS MAKE PITCH FOR SHOW Jump up ^ Teen singer reaches American Idol finals Jump up ^ 10 / 15 : Flashback ! Idol Rewind in the ATL 2002 Jump up ^ Lining Up to Be the Next ' Idol ' Jump up ^ Hoping Overnight Success Follows Overnight Wait Jump up ^ American Idol Searches for Star Jump up ^ Angie Martinez Ready To Take On ' American Idol ' Judge Simon Cowell Jump up ^ Sitting ' Idol ' Jump up ^ Kinney, Aaron., The importance of being humiliated, Salon.com, 2003 - 01 - 22, Retrieved on 2007 - 03 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Glee Star Amber Riley On Idol Rejection : `` I Still Work On Fox And Get Paid '' ``. Accesshollywood.com. September 30, 2009. Retrieved April 22, 2012. Jump up ^ ' American Idol ' Finalist Killed in Car Crash Variety, Retrieved May 6, 2016 Jump up ^ The Fall Of Another `` Idol '' Jump up ^ `` Rating ' Idol ' hopefuls ''. USA Today. March 26, 2003. Jump up ^ American democracy meets American Idolatry Jump up ^ Dreyer, Lindsay ( March 25, 2013 ). `` Who Are The Morgan Twins From The Voice Season 4 ? ''. Wetpaint. Retrieved April 4, 2013. Jump up ^ FOX correction : Ruben Studdard won ' American Idol ' by about 130,000 votes, not by 1,335 or 13,000 Jump up ^ American Idol Outrage : Your Vote Does n't Count, Broadcasting & Cable, May 17, 2004. Jump up ^ Realitynewsonline.com Archived 2008 - 05 - 05 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Foolish Hearts ^ Jump up to : `` After probe, Paula Abdul to remain on ' Idol ' ''. Associated Press. August 24, 2005. Jump up ^ `` American Idol '' Finalist 's Sticky Fingers ^ Jump up to : Fallen ' Idols ' Jump up ^ Reality TV world Jump up ^ Reality TV world Jump up ^ The Joshua Gracin Controversies Archived 2011 - 07 - 28 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Marines Say Josh Gracin Wo n't Tour -- Fans Respond With Petition Archived 2010 - 12 - 26 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ http://www.realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/vanessa-olivarez/biography Jump up ^ Vanessa Olivarez 's Performance on the Top 12 Show of American Idol Season 2 ( March 11, 2003 ) From YouTube. Retrieved on November 19, 2011. Olivarez 's line is frequently misquoted on the Internet as, `` Oh, Ryan... I 'm an artist, not a performing monkey like you ! Read your own script ! '' The video shows that those were not Olivarez 's exact words. Jump up ^ AI Aftermath : 12th place finishers - VIDEOS Jump up ^ Naked ' Idol ' Jump up ^ ' American Idol ' finalist Josh Gracin recalled to Marine duty, leaves live tour Jump up ^ NY Times May 23, 2003 Jump up ^ Top 20 Most - Watched TV Programs in 2002 - 03 Jump up ^ Ruben Studdard becomes second ' American Idol ' winner by razor - thin margin Jump up ^ Fox pulls off a sweeps squeaker Archived 2005 - 11 - 04 at the Wayback Machine. ^ Jump up to : AI week 1 Archived 2012 - 05 - 14 at the Wayback Machine. ^ Jump up to : A1 week 2 ^ Jump up to : A1 week 3 ^ Jump up to : AI week 4 ^ Jump up to : AI week 5 Archived 2007 - 09 - 30 at the Wayback Machine. ^ Jump up to : AI week 6 ^ Jump up to : AI week 7 ^ Jump up to : AI week 8 ^ Jump up to : AI week 9 ^ Jump up to : AI week 10 ^ Jump up to : AI week 11 ^ Jump up to : AI week 12 Archived 2007 - 09 - 30 at the Wayback Machine. ^ Jump up to : AI week 13 Archived 2007 - 09 - 30 at the Wayback Machine. ^ Jump up to : AI week 14 ^ Jump up to : AI week 15 ^ Jump up to : AI week 16 ^ Jump up to : AI week 17 ^ Jump up to : AI week 18 Archived 2009 - 02 - 17 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Big ' Mac ' American Idol season 2 Finalists Ruben Studdard Clay Aiken Kimberley Locke Josh Gracin Trenyce Carmen Rasmusen Kimberly Caldwell Rickey Smith Corey Clark Julia DeMato Charles Grigsby Vanessa Olivarez Other sources Tour `` Flying Without Wings '' `` This Is the Night '' American Idol Episodes Season 1 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 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 Maddie Poppe 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 Caleb Lee Hutchinson Other alumni Josh Gracin Jennifer Hudson Elliott Yamin Chris Daughtry Kellie Pickler Mandisa 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 '' `` Going Going Gone '' Concert tours 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 Related programming Idol ( franchise ) 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 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_Idol_(season_2)&oldid=859242350 '' Categories : American Idol seasons 2003 American television seasons 2003 in American television 2003 in American music Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from July 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links Webarchive template wayback links TV.com template with ID not in Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español فارسی Gaeilge Bahasa Indonesia Italiano 日本 語 Suomi ไทย Edit links This page was last edited on 12 September 2018, at 18 : 42 ( UTC ). 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Question: who did clay aiken lose to in american idol
Answer: Ruben Studdard