American Idol ( season 3 ) - wikipedia American Idol ( season 3 ) American Idol Season 3 Broadcast from January 19 ( 2004 - 01 - 19 ) -- May 26, 2004 ( 2004 - 05 - 26 ) Judges Paula Abdul Simon Cowell Randy Jackson Host ( s ) Ryan Seacrest Broadcaster Fox Broadcasting Company Finals venue Kodak Theatre Winner Fantasia Barrino Origin High Point, North Carolina, United States Song `` I Believe '' Genre ( s ) R&B, soul, hip hop soul, gospel Runner - up Diana DeGarmo Chronology ◀ ▶ The third season of American Idol premiered on Monday, January 19, 2004 and continued until May 26, 2004. The third season was won by Fantasia Barrino, who defeated Diana DeGarmo by an approximate margin of 2 % ( 1.3 million votes ) ; the vote total ( 65 million votes ) was the highest recorded vote total in the show 's history until the May 23, 2007, finale of the sixth season. This season also featured Jennifer Hudson, who would subsequently win the 2006 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This was the last season to be aired in standard definition, with the only exception being the grand finale. Season 3 wais the first season where both the winner and the runner - up had been in the bottom 2 or 3 prior to the finale. It was the first season to have a finale with two female contestants. It is also the first season where a Wild Card contestant, Leah LaBelle, was eliminated in the first episode of the finals. It was the first season to have a gender imbalance among the finalists, Season 3 had eight female finalists. Both Fantasia and Diana DeGarmo released a single after the finale. Fantasia 's first single, released in June 2004 on the RCA record label, entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number one, making Fantasia the first artist in the history of Billboard to debut at number one with their first single. In addition to Fantasia and DeGarmo, Jasmine Trias, LaToya London, George Huff, Jennifer Hudson, and Camile Velasco have all released albums since the season ended. Leah LaBelle was signed by Epic Records. Contents 1 Changes 2 Regional auditions 3 Hollywood week 4 Semi-finals 4.1 Semi-finalists 4.2 Group 1 4.3 Group 2 4.4 Group 3 4.5 Group 4 4.6 Wild Card round 5 Finals 5.1 Finalists 5.2 Top 12 -- Soul 5.3 Top 11 -- Country 5.4 Top 10 -- Motown 5.5 Top 9 -- Elton John 5.6 Top 8 -- Movie Soundtracks 5.7 Top 7 -- Barry Manilow 5.8 Top 6 -- Gloria Estefan 5.9 Top 5 -- Big Band 5.10 Top 4 -- Disco 5.11 Top 3 -- Idols ' Choice, Judges ' Choice, Clive 's Choice 5.12 Top 2 -- Finale 6 Special performances 7 Elimination chart 8 Contestants who appeared on other seasons / shows 9 Controversy 10 Reception 10.1 U.S. Nielsen ratings 10.2 Critical response 10.3 Awards and nominations 11 Related programming 12 International broadcasts 13 Music releases 14 Concert tour 15 Deaths 16 References 17 External links Changes Unlike previous seasons, this season the semi-finalists performed in front of a small studio audience, with orchestra accompaniment on backing tape. During Top 10 was the first time where are there were five judges when the duo Ashford & Simpson joined as judges. Regional auditions Auditions were held in the following cities : Episode ( s ) City Preliminary Date Preliminary Venue Filming date ( s ) Filming venue Golden tickets New York City, New York August 25, 2003 Jacob K. Javits Convention Center August 29, 2003 Waldorf - Astoria Hotel 29 Atlanta, Georgia August 20, 2003 Georgia Dome September 2003 Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart 24 Houston, Texas August 13, 2003 Minute Maid Park September 4 -- 5, 2003 InterContinental Houston 13 Los Angeles, California August 3, 2003 Rose Bowl September 2003 Renaissance Hollywood Hotel 25 San Francisco, California September 22, 2003 Pac Bell Park September 2003 Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel 10 5 Honolulu, Hawaii September 30, 2003 Aloha Stadium October 4 -- 5, 2003 Sheraton Waikiki Hotel 17 Total number of tickets to Hollywood 118 In this season over 80,000 attended the auditions in 6 cities. Paula Abdul was absent from the Los Angeles audition. A prominent auditioner was William Hung, a University of California, Berkeley student, who became a surprise cult figure following his tuneless rendition of Ricky Martin 's `` She Bangs '' at the San Francisco audition. He was later invited back to perform on a special edition Uncut, Uncensored and Untalented. His appearance on the show landed him a record deal with Koch Records and he released an album soon afterwards. During the audition round in Houston, Texas, auditioner Jonathan Rey threw a cup of water at Simon, who moments earlier commented that he was terrible and `` there 's not a song in the world you could sing. '' Security quickly escorted Jonathan out, and Houston police questioned him, but released him after Simon decided against pressing assault charges on him. Other prominent auditioners that year were `` scooter girl '' Nicole Tieri, and Alan Ritchson who sang to Paula Abdul alone. Hollywood week There were 117 contestants in the first Hollywood round which was held at the Pasadena Civic Center in Pasadena, California. The contestants first came onto the stage in groups but each performed solo and talked briefly about themselves. Simon Cowell was not impressed with their performances. They were also asked to write original lyrics and melody for one of ten song titles given and perform their song the next day. After their performance, they were divided into four groups and one group was eliminated. In the next round, the remaining 87 contestants performed in groups in three. The girls and boys were separate and they were each given 3 different songs to choose -- Girls with The Supremes ' `` You Ca n't Hurry Love '', Vonda Shepard 's `` Tell Him '', Candi Staton 's `` Young Hearts Run Free '', the boys with Billy Joel 's `` Tell Her About It '', Rick Astley 's `` Never Gonna Give You Up '', The Drifters 's `` Up on the Roof ''. 30 contestants were cut and 57 then advanced to the next stage where they performed solo. The contestants were then divided into three groups and placed in separate rooms, with one group sent home. 32 contestants remained for the semi-finals. Semifinals The contestants who reached this stage were referred to in the show as the Top 32 finalists. George Huff replaced Donnie Williams in Semifinal Round 4 after Williams was disqualified following a DUI arrest. Unlike previous seasons, this season the contestants performed in front of a small studio audience, with orchestra accompaniment on backing tape. As with the second season, in these rounds, two from each group were selected by public vote to proceed on to the Top 12, and those who failed at any of the previous stages were given a second chance in the wild - card show. During the wild card show, twelve contestants were invited back to participate. However, after being evaluated during the week in rehearsals, only eight were chosen by the judges to sing that night. Four contestants in the wild card round were eliminated by the judges before they had the chance to sing. They were Lisa Leuschner, Eric Yoder, Tiara Purifoy, and Marque Lynche. Semi-finalists Group 1 Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Diana DeGarmo I 've Got the Music in Me '' ( Kiki Dee ) Advanced Marque Lynche `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' ( Roger Whittaker ) Eliminated Ashley Thomas `` Crazy '' ( Willie Nelson ) Eliminated Katie Webber `` Orange Colored Sky '' ( Nat King Cole ) Wild Card 5 Erskine Walcott `` Open Arms '' ( Journey ) Eliminated 6 Jennifer Hudson `` Imagine '' ( John Lennon ) Wild Card 7 Matthew Metzger `` Walking in Memphis '' ( Marc Cohn ) Top 3 / Wild Card 8 Fantasia Barrino `` Something to Talk About '' ( Bonnie Raitt ) Advanced Group 2 Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Matthew Rogers `` What You Wo n't Do for Love '' ( Bobby Caldwell ) Advanced Briana Ramirez - Rial `` Do n't Know Why '' ( Norah Jones ) Eliminated Noel Roman `` This I Promise You '' ( * NSYNC ) Eliminated Kara Master `` I 'm Outta Love '' ( Anastacia ) Eliminated 5 Lisa Leuschner `` Sweet Thing '' ( Chaka Khan ) Top 3 / Eliminated 6 Jesus Roman `` Back at One '' ( Brian McKnight ) Eliminated 7 Camile Velasco `` One Last Cry '' ( Brian McKnight ) Advanced 8 Marisa Joy `` Some Kind of Wonderful '' ( Soul Brothers Six ) Eliminated Group 3 Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Elizabeth LeTendre `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( Whitney Houston ) Wild Card Eric Yoder `` In the Still of the Night '' ( The Five Satins ) Eliminated Amy Adams `` The Power of Love '' ( Jennifer Rush ) Advanced Jon Peter Lewis `` Tiny Dancer '' ( Elton John ) Top 3 / Wild Card 5 Charly Lowry `` Chain of Fools '' ( Aretha Franklin ) Eliminated 6 Jonah Moananu `` I Wish '' ( Carl Thomas ) Eliminated 7 Leah LaBelle `` I Have Nothing '' ( Whitney Houston ) Wild Card 8 LaToya London `` All By Myself '' ( Eric Carmen ) Advanced Group 4 Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Suzy Vulaca `` Un-Break My Heart '' ( Toni Braxton ) Wild Card John Preator `` That 's What Love Is All About '' ( Michael Bolton ) Eliminated Heather Piccinini `` New Attitude '' ( Patti LaBelle ) Eliminated John Stevens `` She 's Always a Woman '' ( Billy Joel ) Advanced 5 Jasmine Trias `` Run to You '' ( Whitney Houston ) Advanced 6 George Huff `` Always and Forever '' ( Heatwave ) Top 3 / Wild Card 7 Lisa Wilson `` Come to My Window '' ( Melissa Etheridge ) Eliminated 8 Tiara Purifoy `` I Wanna Dance with Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) '' ( Whitney Houston ) Eliminated Wild Card round Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Jon Peter Lewis `` A Little Less Conversation '' ( Elvis Presley ) Public Vote Elizabeth LeTendre `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' ( Peggy Seeger ) Eliminated Katie Webber `` So Emotional '' ( Whitney Houston ) Eliminated George Huff `` Lean on Me '' ( Bill Withers ) Simon 's Choice 5 Suzy Vulaca `` I Will Survive '' ( Gloria Gaynor ) Eliminated 6 Matthew Metzger `` When I See You Smile '' ( Bad English ) Eliminated 7 Leah LaBelle `` Let 's Stay Together '' ( Al Green ) Paula 's Choice 8 Jennifer Hudson `` I Believe in You and Me '' ( Four Tops ) Randy 's Choice Finals In this season, guest judges were introduced in some episodes, and sometimes the mentor joined as judges. In the result shows, the bottom two vote - getters reprised their performances before the elimination was announced, or only the eliminated one performed after the result is revealed, or they performed before and after their elimination as in Top 5 when George Huff reprised both his songs from the performance night. Finalists Back standing -- Leah LaBelle, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia Barrino, John Stevens, Matthews Rogers, Amy Adams, Jon Peter Lewis Seated -- Camile Velasco, Jasmine Trias, LaToya London, Diana DeGarmo, George Huff Fantasia Barrino ( born June 30, 1984, in High Point, North Carolina, aged 19 on the show ) auditioned in Atlanta. Her audition songs were Lauryn Hill 's `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' and Tina Turner 's `` Proud Mary ''. She has performed from a young age with her family who had released a CD. She performed Aretha Franklin 's `` Think '' in the Hollywood rounds. Diana DeGarmo ( born June 16, 1987, in Birmingham, Alabama, age 16 on the show ) is from Snellville, Georgia, and auditioned in Honolulu, Hawaii with Aretha Franklin 's `` Chain of Fools ''. She was on the show America 's Most Talented Kid in 2002 as well as other TV shows. She performed Ike & Tina Turner 's `` A Fool in Love '' in the Hollywood rounds. At 16 years, 7 months and 26 days old, she was the youngest contestant reach into the finals until Thia Megia and Lauren Alaina made to the finals in the tenth season. She was also the youngest Runner - Up in the history of American Idol. Jasmine Trias ( born November 3, 1986, in Honolulu, 17 on the show ) is from Mililani, Hawaii and auditioned in Honolulu. She is the first Filipino - American contestant in American Idol who made it to the final three, followed by Jessica Sanchez in the eleventh season, who was the Runner - Up. LaToya London ( born December 29, 1978, in San Francisco, 25 on the show ) is from Oakland, California and auditioned in San Francisco with Aretha Franklin 's `` Chain of Fools ''. George Huff ( born November 4, 1980, in New Orleans, aged 23 on the show ) auditioned in Houston, Texas with Joe Cocker 's `` You Are So Beautiful ''. He performed Luther Vandross ' `` Here and Now '' in the Hollywood rounds. John Stevens ( born July 28, 1987, in Buffalo, New York, 16 on the show ) is from East Amherst, New York and auditioned in New York City with Fred Astaire 's `` The Way You Look Tonight ''. He performed Tony Bennett 's `` I Left My Heart in San Francisco '' in Hollywood. He was the youngest male contestant to reach into the finals until Daniel Seavey in the fourteenth season. Jennifer Hudson ( born September 12, 1981, in Chicago, aged 22 on the show ) auditioned in Atlanta with Aretha Franklin 's `` Share Your Love with Me ''. Jon Peter Lewis ( born November 7, 1979, in Lincoln, Nebraska, aged 24 on the show ) is from Rexburg, Idaho and auditioned in Honolulu with Van Morrison 's `` Crazy Love ''. He was dubbed the ' pen salesman ' by Simon Cowell. He performed The Jackson 5 's `` I Want You Back ''. Camile Velasco ( born September 1, 1985, in Makati City, Philippines, 18 on the show ) is from Haiku, Maui and auditioned in Honolulu with Fugees ' `` Ready or Not ''. Amy Adams ( born July 25, 1979, in Kansas City, Kansas, aged 24 on the show ) is from Bakersfield, California and auditioned in Atlanta, Georgia with Fontella Bass ' `` Rescue Me ''. She performed Jennifer Rush 's `` The Power of Love '' in Hollywood. Matthew Rogers ( born September 16, 1978, in Rancho Cucamonga, California, 25 on the show ) auditioned in Los Angeles with James Ingram 's `` Just Once ''. Leah LaBelle ( September 8, 1986 - January 31, 2018, born in Toronto, Canada, aged 17 on the show ) is from Seattle and auditioned in New York with Whitney Houston 's `` I Believe in You and Me ''. She auditioned with her birth name Leah Vladowski. Her family was originally from Bulgaria, who immigrated to the United States. She performed Diana Ross ' `` Theme from Mahogany ( Do You Know Where You 're Going To ) '' at the Hollywood rounds. In 2011, LaBelle signed to Epic Records. LaBelle was killed in a car crash alongside her husband Rasual Butler on January 31, 2018, making her the third American Idol finalist to die, following Rickey Smith in 2016 and Michael Johns in 2014. Top 12 -- Soul Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result LaToya London `` Ai n't Nobody '' ( Chaka Khan ) Safe Amy Adams `` You Make Me Feel Brand New '' ( The Stylistics ) Bottom 3 Matthew Rogers `` Hard to Handle '' ( Otis Redding ) Safe Camile Velasco `` Son of a Preacher Man '' ( Dusty Springfield ) Safe 5 Jon Peter Lewis `` Drift Away '' ( John Henry Kurtz ) Safe 6 Fantasia Barrino `` Signed, Sealed, Delivered I 'm Yours '' ( Stevie Wonder ) Safe 7 George Huff `` ( Sittin ' On ) The Dock of the Bay '' ( Otis Redding ) Safe 8 Jennifer Hudson `` Baby I Love You '' ( Aretha Franklin ) Bottom 2 9 John Stevens `` Lately '' ( Stevie Wonder ) Safe 10 Leah LaBelle `` You Keep Me Hangin ' On '' ( The Supremes ) Eliminated 11 Jasmine Trias `` Inseparable '' ( Natalie Cole ) Safe 12 Diana DeGarmo `` Think '' ( Aretha Franklin ) Safe Group performance : Soul Medley Guest performance : Clay Aiken -- `` Solitaire '' Top 11 -- Country Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Diana DeGarmo `` A Broken Wing '' ( Martina McBride ) Bottom 3 George Huff `` I Can Love You Like That '' ( John Michael Montgomery ) Safe Fantasia Barrino `` Always on My Mind '' ( Brenda Lee ) Safe John Stevens `` King of the Road '' ( Roger Miller ) Safe 5 Camile Velasco `` Desperado '' ( The Eagles ) Bottom 2 6 Jennifer Hudson `` No One Else on Earth '' ( Wynonna Judd ) Safe 7 Jon Peter Lewis `` She Believes in Me '' ( Kenny Rogers ) Safe 8 Jasmine Trias `` Breathe '' ( Faith Hill ) Safe 9 Matthew Rogers `` Amazed '' ( Lonestar ) Eliminated 10 LaToya London `` Ai n't Goin ' Down ( ' Til the Sun Comes Up ) '' ( Garth Brooks ) Safe 11 Amy Adams `` Sin Wagon '' ( Dixie Chicks ) Safe Guest performance : Kimberley Locke -- `` 8th World Wonder '' Top 10 -- Motown Guest judges : Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Camile Velasco `` For Once in My Life '' ( Stevie Wonder ) Safe Jon Peter Lewis `` This Old Heart of Mine '' ( The Isley Brothers ) Safe LaToya London `` Ooo Baby Baby '' ( The Miracles ) Bottom 3 Amy Adams `` Dancing in the Street '' ( Martha & the Vandellas ) Eliminated 5 John Stevens `` My Girl '' ( The Temptations ) Safe 6 Jennifer Hudson `` ( Love Is Like a ) Heat Wave '' ( Martha & the Vandellas ) Bottom 2 7 Jasmine Trias `` You 're All I Need to Get By '' ( Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell ) Safe 8 Diana DeGarmo `` Do You Love Me '' ( The Contours ) Safe 9 Fantasia Barrino `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' ( The Miracles ) Safe 10 George Huff `` Ai n't Too Proud to Beg '' ( The Temptations ) Safe Group performance : `` Ai n't No Mountain High Enough '' ( Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell ) Top 9 -- Elton John Guest Mentor : Elton John Order Contestant Song Result Fantasia Barrino `` Something About the Way You Look Tonight '' Safe Jon Peter Lewis `` Rocket Man '' Safe Jasmine Trias `` Do n't Let the Sun Go Down on Me '' Bottom 2 John Stevens `` Crocodile Rock '' Safe 5 Camile Velasco `` Goodbye Yellow Brick Road '' Eliminated 6 George Huff `` Take Me to the Pilot '' Safe 7 Diana DeGarmo `` I 'm Still Standing '' Bottom 3 8 LaToya London `` Someone Saved My Life Tonight '' Safe 9 Jennifer Hudson `` Circle of Life '' Safe Boys : `` Daniel '' Girls : `` Bennie and the Jets '' Group : `` Saturday Night 's Alright for Fighting '' Guest performance : Tamyra Gray -- `` Raindrops Will Fall '' Top 8 -- Movie Soundtracks Guest judge : Quentin Tarantino Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Featured Movie Result George Huff `` Against All Odds ( Take a Look at Me Now ) '' ( Phil Collins ) Against All Odds Safe Jennifer Hudson `` I Have Nothing '' ( Whitney Houston ) The Bodyguard Safe Jon Peter Lewis `` Jailhouse Rock '' ( Elvis Presley ) Jailhouse Rock Eliminated Diana DeGarmo `` My Heart Will Go On '' ( Celine Dion ) Titanic Bottom 3 5 Fantasia Barrino `` Summertime '' ( Abbie Mitchell ) Porgy and Bess Safe 6 Jasmine Trias `` When I Fall in Love '' ( Doris Day ) Sleepless in Seattle Safe 7 John Stevens `` As Time Goes By '' ( Dooley Wilson ) Casablanca Bottom 2 8 LaToya London `` Somewhere '' ( Reri Grist ) West Side Story Safe Guest performance : Christina Christian -- `` Forever and Never '' Top 7 -- Barry Manilow Guest Mentor and Judge : Barry Manilow Order Contestant Song Result Diana DeGarmo `` One Voice '' Safe George Huff `` Tryin ' to Get the Feeling Again '' Safe Jennifer Hudson `` Weekend in New England '' Eliminated Jasmine Trias `` I 'll Never Love This Way Again '' Safe 5 LaToya London `` All the Time '' Bottom 3 6 John Stevens `` Mandy '' Safe 7 Fantasia Barrino `` It 's a Miracle '' Bottom 2 Group performance : `` Let Freedom Ring '' feat. Barry Manilow Top 6 -- Gloria Estefan Mentor and guest judge -- Gloria Estefan Guest band -- Miami Sound Machine Order Contestant Song Result Fantasia Barrino `` Get on Your Feet '' Safe George Huff `` Live for Loving You '' Bottom 2 LaToya London `` Rhythm Is Gonna Get You '' Safe John Stevens `` Music of My Heart '' Eliminated 5 Jasmine Trias `` Here We Are '' Bottom 3 6 Diana DeGarmo `` Turn the Beat Around '' Safe Group performance : Gloria Estefan medley Top 5 -- Big Band Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Diana DeGarmo `` Someone to Watch Over Me '' ( Gertrude Lawrence ) Safe `` Get Happy '' ( Ruth Etting ) George Huff `` Cheek to Cheek '' ( Fred Astaire ) Eliminated `` What a Wonderful World '' ( Louis Armstrong ) 5 LaToya London `` Too Close for Comfort '' ( Eydie Gormé ) Safe 6 `` Do n't Rain on My Parade '' ( Barbra Streisand ) 7 Jasmine Trias `` The Way You Look Tonight '' ( Fred Astaire ) Bottom 2 8 `` Almost Like Being in Love '' ( Nat King Cole ) 9 Fantasia Barrino `` Crazy Little Thing Called Love '' ( Queen ) Safe 10 `` What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life ? ( Julie Andrews ) Top 4 -- Disco Guest judge : Donna Summer Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Jasmine Trias `` Everlasting Love '' ( Carl Carlton ) Safe LaToya London `` Love You Inside Out '' ( The Bee Gees ) Eliminated Fantasia Barrino `` Knock on Wood '' ( Eddie Floyd ) Bottom 2 Diana DeGarmo `` This Is It '' ( Melba Moore ) Safe 5 Jasmine Trias `` It 's Raining Men '' ( The Weather Girls ) Safe 6 LaToya London `` Do n't Leave Me This Way '' ( Thelma Houston ) Eliminated 7 Fantasia Barrino `` Holding Out for a Hero '' ( Bonnie Tyler ) Bottom 2 8 Diana DeGarmo `` No More Tears ( Enough Is Enough ) '' ( Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer ) Safe Group performance : `` Bad Girls '' / `` Hot Stuff '' / `` Heaven Knows '' / `` She Works Hard for the Money '' Guest performance : Donna Summer - `` MacArthur Park '' Top 3 -- Idols ' Choice, Judges ' Choice, Clive 's Choice Guest judge : Clive Davis Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Jasmine Trias `` Saving All My Love for You '' ( Whitney Houston ) Eliminated Fantasia Barrino `` Chain of Fools '' ( Aretha Franklin ) Safe Diana DeGarmo `` Ai n't No Mountain High Enough '' ( Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell ) Safe Jasmine Trias `` Mr. Melody '' ( Natalie Cole ) -- Paula Abdul Eliminated 5 Fantasia Barrino `` A Fool in Love '' ( Ike & Tina Turner ) -- Simon Cowell Safe 6 Diana DeGarmo `` Because You Loved Me '' ( Celine Dion ) -- Randy Jackson Safe 7 Jasmine Trias `` All by Myself '' ( Eric Carmen ) Eliminated 8 Fantasia Barrino `` Greatest Love of All '' ( George Benson ) Safe 9 Diana DeGarmo `` Do n't Cry Out Loud '' ( Melissa Manchester ) Safe Guest performance : Tamyra Gray -- `` Star '', `` Raindrops Will Fall '' Guest performance : Guy Sebastian -- `` Angels Brought Me Here '' Top 2 -- finale Order Contestant Song ( original artist ) Result Diana DeGarmo `` I Believe '' Runner - Up Fantasia Barrino `` All My Life '' ( K - Ci & JoJo ) Winner Diana DeGarmo `` No More Tears ( Enough Is Enough ) '' ( Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer ) Runner - Up Fantasia Barrino `` Summertime '' ( Abbie Mitchell ) Winner 5 Diana DeGarmo `` Do n't Cry Out Loud '' ( Melissa Manchester ) Runner - Up 6 Fantasia Barrino `` I Believe '' Winner Guest performance : Paul Anka -- `` My Way '' Note 1 : The song was rewritten by Paul Anka specially for the episode as a recap for the season. Finale result show Performer Song Artist Tamyra Gray `` The Star - Spangled Banner '' Top 2 with Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard `` The Impossible Dream '' Richard Kiley Kelly Clarkson `` Beautiful Disaster '' Kelly Clarkson Top 12 `` Reach Out I 'll Be There '' `` 1 - 2 - 3 '' `` Heaven Knows '' `` She Works Hard for the Money '' `` Solid '' `` It Do n't Mean a Thing '' `` I 'm Still Standing '' `` I Made It Through the Rain '' The Four Tops Gloria Estefan Donna Summer Donna Summer Ashford & Simpson Duke Ellington Elton John Barry Manilow Ruben Studdard `` What If '' Ruben Studdard Diana DeGarmo `` I Believe '' Fantasia Fantasia Barrino `` Dreams '' Diana DeGarmo Top 2 `` I Knew You Were Waiting ( For Me ) '' Aretha Franklin / George Michael Fantasia Barrino `` I Believe '' Fantasia After a nationwide vote of more than 65 million votes in total -- more than the first two seasons combined -- Fantasia Barrino won the `` American Idol '' title beating out Diana DeGarmo. The third season was also shown in Australia on Network Ten about half a week after episodes were shown in the US. Leah LaBelle is the first contestant to advance to the finals via Wild Card then get eliminated in the first week of the finals. As a nod to the `` Did Clay see the card ? '' controversy in the second season, Ryan Seacrest was instructed to memorize the winner 's name and the vote margin and was given a blank card to hold while reporting the results. However, in a post-show interview with USA Today, Diana DeGarmo admitted that she had figured out that she had not won when the contestants were going over the schedule for the finale and she saw she would be singing `` I Believe '' ( the winner 's single ) before the results were announced. Realizing that she would not be scheduled to sing a song she would have to sing again minutes later if she were announced as the winner, she correctly deduced that she had lost and Fantasia had won. Kelly Clarkson is quoted in the June 14, 2004 People magazine as saying she voted for Fantasia : `` I just hit redial, redial. '' Prior to the results show, the governors of Georgia and North Carolina -- the home states of DeGarmo and Barrino respectively -- announced a friendly bet between them over which state 's resident would prevail, each wagering a VIP NASCAR ticket package and a shipment of his state 's signature fruit. The bet participants were Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, a Republican, and North Carolina Governor Mike Easley, a Democrat. Special performances Elimination chart Legend Did Not Perform Top 32 Wild Card Top 12 Winner Safe Bottom 3 Bottom 2 Eliminated Stage : Semi-Finals Wild Card Finals Week : 2 / 11 2 / 18 2 / 25 3 / 3 3 / 10 3 / 17 3 / 24 3 / 31 4 / 7 4 / 15 4 / 21 4 / 28 5 / 5 5 / 12 5 / 19 5 / 26 Place Contestant Result Fantasia Barrino 1st Bottom 2 Bottom 2 Winner Diana DeGarmo 2nd Bottom 3 Bottom 3 Bottom 3 Runner - Up Jasmine Trias 2nd Bottom 2 Bottom 3 Bottom 2 Elim LaToya London 1st Bottom 3 Bottom 3 Elim 5 George Huff 3rd Wild Card Top 12 Bottom 2 Elim 6 John Stevens 1st Bottom 2 Elim 7 Jennifer Hudson Wild Card Top 12 Bottom 2 Bottom 2 Elim 8 Jon Peter Lewis 3rd Wild Card 1st Elim 9 Camile Velasco 1st Bottom 2 Elim 10 Amy Adams 2nd Bottom 3 Elim 11 Matthew Rogers 2nd Elim 12 Leah LaBelle Wild Card Top 12 Elim 13 -- 16 Elizabeth LeTendre Wild Card Elim Matthew Metzger 3rd Wild Card Suzy Vulaca Wild Card Katie Webber Wild Card 17 -- 32 Heather Piccinni Elim John Preator Tiara Purifoy Lisa Wilson Charly Lowry Elim Jonah Moananu Eric Yoder Lisa Leuschner 3rd Marisa Joy Elim Kara Master Briana Ramirez - Rial Jesus Roman Noel Roman Marque Lynche Elim Ashley Thomas Erskine Walcott Paul Anka made an appearance in the Season Finale. ^ Note 1 : During the week of April 14, the week got delayed for White House press conference on Tuesday, April 13, 2004. The performance show was moved to Wednesday, April 14. Jon Peter Lewis was sent home on Thursday, April 15. Contestants who appeared on other seasons / shows This is the first time that two contestants who previously tried out for American Idol ( Matthew Metzger and Lisa Leuschner ) made it to the top 3 of their semifinals group. Both contestants were eliminated during Hollywood round in the previous season. Finalist Jon Peter Lewis teamed with Ryan Hayes to create the duo `` Midas Whale '' and competed on fourth season of The Voice. They were eliminated in the Knockout Rounds Controversy Both Jennifer Hudson and LaToya London, part of final twelve, were eliminated, despite high praises from the judges. After Hudson was eliminated, Elton John, who was a mentor for that season, criticized the vote as ' incredibly racist ' in a press conference. The elimination of both Hudson and London has been pointed out as a classic demonstration of vote - splitting in the American Idol vote, in which the presence of similar choices reduces the votes for each of the similar choices. Hudson, London and Barrino ( who would eventually go on to win the competition ) were female, African - American, highly praised singers -- all appealing to the same demographic bloc of voters. All three of these previously popular singers ended up in the `` bottom three '' the night Hudson was eliminated -- the three having the lowest individual vote counts. Questions were nevertheless raised about the inadequacy of the phone voting system when it was revealed that the state of Hawaii with a population of just 1.2 million managed to log more calls than every other state apart from New York and California. Jasmine Trias ' and Camile Velasco 's fans from Hawaii, which is on its own time zone, enjoyed a far less crowded calling period and were able to get more of their votes through. Reception US nielsen ratings Live + same day ratings This season the show was ranked second overall in total viewer for the 2003 -- 2004 TV seasons, with its Tuesday episodes taking the top spot, averaging 25.73 million viewers, while the Wednesday episodes ranked third with 24.31 million. It became the top - rated show for the 18 - 49 demographic for the season, a position it has held for all subsequent years up to and including 2011. hide Episode list Show Episode Air date Week rank 18 - 49 rating Viewers ( in millions ) `` Audition : New York '' January 19, 2004 12.9 29.0 `` Audition : Atlanta '' January 20, 2004 12.5 28.6 `` Audition : Houston '' January 21, 2004 12.7 29.4 `` Audition : Los Angeles and San Francisco '' January 27, 2004 13.0 29.6 5 `` Audition : Hawaii '' January 28, 2004 12.0 28.3 6 `` Road to Hollywood, Best and Worst of the Rest '' February 2, 2004 8 9.7 21.1 7 `` Hollywood Week : Part 1 '' February 3, 2004 13.1 30.1 8 `` Hollywood Week : Part 2 '' February 4, 2004 12.6 28.8 9 `` Top 32 : Group 1 '' February 10, 2004 11.1 26.2 10 `` Top 32 : Group 1 Results '' February 11, 2004 10.5 24.5 11 `` Top 32 : Group 2 '' February 17, 2004 10.9 25.2 12 `` Top 32 : Group 2 Results '' February 18, 2004 6 9.8 22.1 13 `` Top 32 : Group 3 '' February 24, 2004 11.3 26.6 14 `` Top 32 : Group 3 Results '' February 25, 2004 5 10.3 23.0 15 `` Special : Uncut, Uncensored and Untalented '' March 1, 2004 6 8.5 19.7 16 `` Top 32 : Group 4 '' March 2, 2004 11.1 25.5 17 `` Top 32 : Group 4 Results '' March 3, 2004 7 8.5 19.3 18 `` Wildcard '' March 9, 2004 10.7 24.6 19 `` Wildcard Results '' March 10, 2004 9.7 22.0 20 `` Top 12 Perform '' March 16, 2004 11.3 26.7 21 `` Top 12 Results '' March 17, 2004 9.7 22.9 22 `` Top 11 Perform '' March 23, 2004 11.5 27.0 23 `` Top 11 Results '' March 24, 2004 8.8 20.4 24 `` Top 10 Perform '' March 30, 2004 8.8 25.9 25 `` Top 10 Results '' March 31, 2004 9.4 21.9 26 `` Top 9 Perform '' April 6, 2004 10.1 23.5 27 `` Top 9 Results '' April 7, 2004 8.9 20.6 28 `` Top 8 Perform '' April 14, 2004 9.7 23.1 29 `` Top 8 Results '' April 15, 2004 8 6.2 15.3 30 `` Top 7 Perform '' April 20, 2004 10.1 23.4 31 `` Top 7 Results '' April 21, 2004 9.3 21.2 32 `` Top 6 Perform '' April 27, 2004 10.4 23.4 33 `` Top 6 Results '' April 28, 2004 9.3 21.2 34 `` Special : The Final Five '' May 3, 2004 22 4.8 11.7 35 `` Top 5 Perform '' May 4, 2004 6 9.0 22.8 36 `` Top 5 Results '' May 5, 2004 7 8.8 21.2 37 `` Top 4 Perform '' May 11, 2004 9.6 23.2 38 `` Top 4 Results '' May 12, 2004 5 10.0 22.3 39 `` Special : The Final Three '' May 3, 2004 4.2 40 `` Top 3 Perform '' May 18, 2004 10.0 23.6 41 `` Top 3 Results '' May 19, 2004 9.8 22.4 42 `` Special : The American Idol Phenomenon '' May 23, 2004 27 3.7 10.8 43 `` Top 2 Perform ( Finale ) '' May 25, 2004 10.6 25.1 44 `` American Idol Season 3 Finale '' May 26, 2004 12.0 28.8 Note 1 : The Top 8 shows were shifted to Wednesday and Thursday due to a presidential address on Tuesday. Live + 7 day ( DVR ) ratings Critical response Awards and nominations Related programming Home For The Holidays : Kelly, Ruben, & Fantasia Home For The Holidays : Kelly, Ruben, & Fantasia was aired in November 2004. American Idol Rewind ( season 3 ) Re-edited episodes of American Idol season 3 were shown in syndication as American Idol Rewind. International broadcasts Music releases Music releases Compilation American Idol Season 3 : Greatest Soul Classics Fantasia Barrino `` I Believe '' Free Yourself Fantasia Back to Me `` Side Effects of You '' `` The Definition Of... Diana DeGarmo `` Dreams '' Blue Skies Jasmine Trias `` Love Ko ' To '' Jasmine Trias LaToya London Love & Life `` Appreciate / Every Part of Me / All By Myself '' George Huff My Christmas EP ! Miracles George Huff John Stevens `` Come Fly with Me '' Red Jennifer Hudson `` And I Am Telling You I 'm Not Going '' `` Spotlight '' Jennifer Hudson `` All Dressed in Love '' Jon Peter Lewis Stories from Hollywood Break the Silence `` If I Go Away '' / `` Man Like Me '' ( single ) Leah LaBelle TBA Lisa Leuschner Sing Me Home Reality John Preator I 'll Be Seeing You Lisa Wilson Sun Shiney Day Donnie Williams Just Like Magic Alan Ritchson This Is Next Time Dina Lopez Str8up Band Kiira Bivens Love, Lipstick and Poetry Lana Phillips Love, Lana Concert tour American Idols LIVE ! Tour 2004 Deaths Leah LaBelle Finalist Leah LaBelle died January 31, 2018 in a car accident. Marque Lynche Semi-finalist Marque Lynche died on December 6, 2015 from alcoholism. References ^ Jump up to : `` News Pharrell Williams & Jermaine Dupri Partner to Launch Leah Labelle ''. Singersroom. 2012 - 04 - 20. Retrieved 2014 - 02 - 25. Jump up ^ `` American Idol auditions ''. idolonfox.msn.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2003. Retrieved September 4, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Idol Chatter ''. Fox News. 2003 - 09 - 03. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Jump up ^ `` Making the cut is ' American Idol ' dream ''. Houston Chronicle. 2003 - 08 - 16. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` ' American Idol ' hopefuls go before Simon, Paula and Randy ''. Houston Chronicle. September 5, 2003. Archived from the original on September 6, 2003. Retrieved September 12, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2011 - 09 - 13. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 04. Jump up ^ ( 2 ) Jump up ^ `` ' Idol 3 ' auditions plan September stop in state ''. The Honolulu Advertiser. 2003 - 07 - 31. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` He 's a loser, baby -- today > entertainment -- Reality TV -- TODAY.com ''. MSNBC. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` William Hung ' Bangs ' Latin Lovers, R. Kelly Cover On Inspiration ''. MTV. 2004 - 03 - 29. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Donnie Williams pulled from ' Idol ' following arrest, replaced by George Huff ''. Reality TV World. 2004 - 02 - 26. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ Natalie Maher ( January 31, 2018 ). `` Leah LaBelle 's Musical History, From Gospel Choir to ' American Idol ' ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ Former NBA player Rasual Butler and wife Leah LaBelle killed in car crash Entertainment Weekly, January 31, 2018 Jump up ^ `` Tarantino Facts ''. Retrieved 17 September 2014. Jump up ^ `` Christina Christian performs Forever or Never on AI3 '' ( Video ). YouTube. American Idol. 6 April 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2014. Jump up ^ `` > News > Features -- Governors place bets on ' American Idol ' winner ''. SignOnSanDiego.com. 2004 - 05 - 25. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ ( 3 ) Archived April 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` American Idol voting the VoteFair way ''. Votefair.org. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Calls Waiting : ' Idol ' Voters Finally Get Through to Fox ''. Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Disney ABC Press ''. Abcmedianet.com. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Jasmine Trias exits ' American Idol ', Fantasia Barrino and Diana DeGarmo to compete in final showdown ''. Reality TV World. 2004 - 05 - 20. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` Wednesday ''. Medialifemagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2011 - 05 - 01. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : Susman, Gary ( 2004 - 02 - 04 ). `` Super Bowl, reality shows dominate ratings race ''. EW.com. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` Wednesday ''. Medialifemagazine.com. 2004 - 02 - 11. Archived from the original on 2011 - 05 - 01. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : Susman, Gary ( 2004 - 02 - 19 ). `` CBS, NBC, ' ' Idol ' ' divvy up ratings pot ''. EW.com. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` Alphabet Scoop ''. EW.com. 2004 - 03 - 12. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` The ' Idol ' of its competitors -- ' American Idol ' continues to lead in the ratings ''. EW.com. 2004 - 03 - 19. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` Wednesday ''. Medialifemagazine.com. 2004 - 03 - 17. Archived from the original on 2011 - 05 - 01. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` Wednesday ''. Medialifemagazine.com. 2004 - 03 - 24. Archived from the original on 2011 - 05 - 01. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : Susman, Gary ( 2004 - 03 - 30 ). `` ' ' Idol, ' ' CBS win reality - driven ratings race ''. EW.com. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` Wednesday ''. Medialifemagazine.com. 2004 - 04 - 07. Archived from the original on 2011 - 05 - 01. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Wednesday ''. Medialifemagazine.com. 2004 - 04 - 14. Archived from the original on 2007 - 09 - 30. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` Wednesday ''. Medialifemagazine.com. 2004 - 04 - 21. Archived from the original on 2011 - 05 - 01. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : Susman, Gary ( 2004 - 04 - 28 ). `` ' ' Idol, ' ' ' ' Friends ' ' top ratings chart ''. EW.com. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` Wednesday ''. Medialifemagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2011 - 05 - 01. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` Wednesday ''. Medialifemagazine.com. 2004 - 05 - 12. Archived from the original on 2011 - 05 - 01. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` Wednesday ''. Medialifemagazine.com. 2004 - 05 - 19. Archived from the original on 2011 - 05 - 01. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : `` Wednesday ''. Medialifemagazine.com. 2004 - 05 - 26. Archived from the original on 2011 - 05 - 01. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. ^ Jump up to : Susman, Gary ( 2004 - 06 - 03 ). `` ' ' Idol ' ' drives Fox to weekly ratings victory ''. EW.com. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ Michele Amabile Angermiller. `` ' American Idol ' Season 3 Alum Marque ' Tate ' Lynche Dead at 34 ''. Billboard. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 09. External links American Idol ( Season 3 ) on IMDb American Idol ( Season 3 ) at TV.com American Idol season 3 Finalists Fantasia Barrino Diana DeGarmo Jasmine Trias LaToya London George Huff John Stevens Jennifer Hudson Jon Peter Lewis Camile Velasco Amy Adams Matthew Rogers Leah LaBelle Other Sources Tour `` I Believe '' `` Dreams '' 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_3)&oldid=851424349 '' Categories : American Idol seasons 2004 American television seasons 2004 in American television 2004 in American music Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from September 2014 Webarchive template wayback links TV.com template with ID not in Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Gaeilge Bahasa Indonesia Suomi ไทย Edit links This page was last edited on 22 July 2018, at 05 : 50 ( UTC ). 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Question: who won american idol the year jennifer hudson
Answer: Fantasia Barrino