# American Idol season 5

The fifth season of American Idol began on January 17, 2006, and concluded on May 24, 2006. Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson returned as judges, while Ryan Seacrest returned as host. Taylor Hicks was named the winner, while Katharine McPhee was the runner-up. 18 contestants (including all of the top 10 and a few semifinalists) got record deals – nine of them with major labels.

## 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 there, and replaced by Las Vegas, Nevada, and Greensboro, North Carolina.
American Idol (season 5) – regional auditions :
| City | Preliminary date(s) | Preliminary venue | Filming date(s) | Filming venue | Golden tickets |
| San Francisco, California | August 18, 2005 | Cow Palace | Unknown | Parc 55 San Francisco | 18 |
| Austin, Texas | August 25–26, 2005 | Frank Erwin Center | September 28, 2005 | Parc 55 San Francisco | 12 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | August 31, 2005 | Gillette Stadium | October 27, 2005 | Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center | 28 |
| Denver, Colorado | September 11, 2005 | Invesco Field at Mile High | Unknown | Colorado Convention Center | 37 |
| Chicago, Illinois | September 16, 2005 | Soldier Field | September 20, 2005 | W Hotel | 34 |
| Greensboro, North Carolina | October 3, 2005 | Greensboro Coliseum | October 6, 2005 | Marriott Downtown | 33 |
| Las Vegas, Nevada | October 10–11, 2005 | Las Vegas Convention Center | October 12–13, 2005 | Renaissance Las Vegas | 11 |
| Total number of tickets to Hollywood | Total number of tickets to Hollywood | Total number of tickets to Hollywood | Total number of tickets to Hollywood | Total number of tickets to Hollywood | 175 |
* 1 2 Later stages of the Austin auditions were held in San Francisco due to Hurricane Katrina, which caused a large number of evacuees to be relocated in Texas. However, the show made no mention of the venue switch and presented the Austin auditions as having taken place entirely in Austin.
One notable audition 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. Producers Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe denied being aware of her fears or that they would put her in danger.

## Hollywood week

The Hollywood semifinal rounds were held at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles and consisted of 175 contestants. The first round of semifinals consisted of a solo a cappella performance with each contestant choosing one song from a list of twelve that were given to each contestant two weeks in advance. Those who did not impress the judges were sent home the following day. After this round, the contestants were separated into four groups, with three groups going through (with 44 contestants chosen). In the Pasadena Civic Center, each were individually taken to the judges' station where they learned whether they would proceed or not. Twenty were cut and the final twenty-four (twelve men and twelve women) were selected.

## Semifinals

The semifinals began on February 21, 2006, with the names announced on February 15, 2006. Starting with twelve women and twelve men, the women and the men performed weekly on separate shows, and on the results show, the bottom two women and bottom two men were eliminated each week. The semifinals took place over three weeks, resulting in six women and six men making up the top 12.
Color key:

### Top 24 (February 21 & 22)

Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Top 24 (Female contestants) :
| Contestant | Song | Result |
| Mandisa | "Never" | Safe |
| Kellie Pickler | "How Far" | Safe |
| Becky O'Donohue | "Because the Night" | Eliminated |
| Ayla Brown | "Reflection" | Safe |
| Paris Bennett | "Midnight Train to Georgia" | Safe |
| Stevie Scott | "To Where You Are" | Eliminated |
| Brenna Gethers | "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" | Safe |
| Heather Cox | "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" | Safe |
| Melissa McGhee | "When the Lights Go Down" | Safe |
| Lisa Tucker | "I Am Changing" | Safe |
| Kinnik Sky | "Get Here" | Safe |
| Katharine McPhee | "Since I Fell for You" | Safe |
Top 24 (Male contestants) :
| Contestant | Song | Result |
| Patrick Hall | "Come to My Window" | Eliminated |
| David Radford | "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" | Safe |
| Bucky Covington | "Simple Man" | Safe |
| Will Makar | "I Want You Back" | Safe |
| Sway Penala | "Reasons" | Safe |
| Chris Daughtry | "Wanted Dead or Alive" | Safe |
| Kevin Covais | "One Last Cry" | Safe |
| Gedeon McKinney | "Shout" | Safe |
| Elliott Yamin | "If You Really Love Me" | Safe |
| Bobby Bennett | "Copacabana" | Eliminated |
| Ace Young | "Father Figure" | Safe |
| Taylor Hicks | "Levon" | Safe |

### Top 20 (February 28 & March 1)

Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Top 20 (Female contestants) :
| Contestant | Song | Result |
| Katharine McPhee | "All in Love Is Fair" | Safe |
| Kinnik Sky | "Here for the Party" | Bottom three |
| Lisa Tucker | "Who's Lovin' You" | Safe |
| Melissa McGhee | "Why Haven't I Heard from You" | Safe |
| Heather Cox | "Hero" | Eliminated |
| Brenna Gethers | "Last Dance" | Eliminated |
| Paris Bennett | "Wind Beneath My Wings" | Safe |
| Ayla Brown | "I Want You to Need Me" | Safe |
| Kellie Pickler | "Something to Talk About" | Safe |
| Mandisa | "Cry" | Safe |
Top 20 (Male contestants) :
| Contestant | Song | Result |
| Taylor Hicks | "Easy" | Safe |
| Elliott Yamin | "Moody's Mood for Love" | Safe |
| Ace Young | "If You're Not the One" | Safe |
| Gedeon McKinney | "A Change Is Gonna Come" | Safe |
| Kevin Covais | "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" | Bottom three |
| Sway Penala | "Overjoyed" | Eliminated |
| Will Makar | "Lady" | Safe |
| Bucky Covington | "The Thunder Rolls" | Safe |
| David Radford | "The Way You Look Tonight" | Eliminated |
| Chris Daughtry | "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" | Safe |

### Top 16 (March 7 & 8)

Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
Top 16 (Female contestants) :
| Contestant | Song | Result |
| Paris Bennett | "Conga" | Safe |
| Lisa Tucker | "Here's Where I Stand" | Safe |
| Melissa McGhee | "What About Love" | Safe |
| Kinnik Sky | "If I Ain't Got You" | Eliminated |
| Katharine McPhee | "Think" | Safe |
| Ayla Brown | "Unwritten" | Eliminated |
| Mandisa | "I'm Every Woman" | Safe |
| Kellie Pickler | "I'm the Only One" | Safe |
Top 16 (Male contestants) :
| Contestant | Song | Result |
| Gedeon McKinney | "When a Man Loves a Woman" | Eliminated |
| Chris Daughtry | "Broken" | Safe |
| Kevin Covais | "Vincent" | Safe |
| Bucky Covington | "Wave on Wave" | Safe |
| Will Makar | "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" | Eliminated |
| Taylor Hicks | "Takin' It to the Streets" | Safe |
| Elliott Yamin | "Heaven" | Safe |
| Ace Young | "Butterflies" | Safe |

## Top 12 finalists

* Taylor Hicks was from Birmingham, Alabama. He performed "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke at his original audition in Las Vegas. He performed Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" in Hollywood.
* Katharine McPhee was from Los Angeles, California. 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 Hollywood, she performed Dionne Warwick's "I'll Never Love This Way Again," "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)," and "My Funny Valentine."
* Elliott Yamin was born in Los Angeles, California, but grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He auditioned in Boston. In Hollywood, he performed Rascal Flatts' "Bless the Broken Road" and "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)."
* Chris Daughtry was from McLeansville, North Carolina. He auditioned in Denver with Joe Cocker's "The Letter." In Hollywood, he performed Samantha Sang's "Emotion."
* Paris Bennett was from Fayetteville, Georgia, and was the granddaughter of Grammy Award winner Ann Nesby. She sang "Cowboy Take Me Away" by the Dixie Chicks at her original audition in Greensboro. In Hollywood, she performed LeAnn Rimes's "Can't Fight the Moonlight" and Samantha Sang's "Emotion."
* Kellie Pickler was from Albemarle, North Carolina. She originally auditioned in Greensboro.
* Ace Young was from Denver, Colorado, where he auditioned. In Hollywood, he performed Shai's "If I Ever Fall in Love" and Samantha Sang's "Emotion."
* Bucky Covington was from Rockingham, North Carolina. He auditioned in Greensboro.
* Mandisa was from Antioch, Tennessee. She had a successful original audition in Chicago, where she performed Alicia Keys's "Fallin'." In Hollywood, she performed Freda Payne's "Band of Gold."
* Lisa Tucker was from Anaheim, California, and auditioned in Denver with Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time."
* Kevin Covais was from Levittown, New York. For his audition in Boston, he sang "You Raise Me Up". In Hollywood, he performed Shai's "If I Ever Fall in Love."
* Melissa McGhee was from Tampa, Florida, but she auditioned in Denver with "Can't Fight the Moonlight" by LeAnn Rimes.

## Finals

Color key:

### Top 12 – Stevie Wonder (March 15)

Stevie Wonder served as a guest mentor this week. Contestants performed one song from his discography and are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Stevie Wonder song | Result |
| Ace Young | "Do I Do" | Bottom three |
| Kellie Pickler | "Blame It on the Sun" | Safe |
| Elliott Yamin | "Knocks Me Off My Feet" | Safe |
| Mandisa | "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" | Safe |
| Bucky Covington | "Superstition" | Safe |
| Melissa McGhee | "Lately" | Eliminated |
| Lisa Tucker | "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" | Bottom two |
| Kevin Covais | "Part-Time Lover" | Safe |
| Katharine McPhee | "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" | Safe |
| Taylor Hicks | "Living for the City" | Safe |
| Paris Bennett | "All I Do" | Safe |
| Chris Daughtry | "Higher Ground" | Safe |
Non-competition performance :
| Performers | Song |
| Stevie Wonder | "My Love Is On Fire" |

### Top 11 – Music from the 1950s (March 22)

Barry Manilow served as a guest mentor this week. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Song | Result |
| Mandisa | "I Don't Hurt Anymore" | Safe |
| Bucky Covington | "Oh, Boy!" | Bottom two |
| Paris Bennett | "Fever" | Safe |
| Chris Daughtry | "I Walk the Line" | Safe |
| Katharine McPhee | "Come Rain or Come Shine" | Safe |
| Taylor Hicks | "Not Fade Away" | Safe |
| Lisa Tucker | "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" | Bottom three |
| Kevin Covais | "When I Fall in Love" | Eliminated |
| Elliott Yamin | "Teach Me Tonight" | Safe |
| Kellie Pickler | "Walkin' After Midnight" | Safe |
| Ace Young | "In the Still of the Night" | Safe |
Non-competition performance :
| Performers | Song |
| Barry Manilow | "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" |

### Top 10 – Music from the 2000s (March 29)

Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Song | Result |
| Lisa Tucker | "Because of You" | Eliminated |
| Kellie Pickler | "Suds in the Bucket" | Safe |
| Ace Young | "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" | Bottom three |
| Taylor Hicks | "Trouble" | Safe |
| Mandisa | "Shackles (Praise You)" | Safe |
| Chris Daughtry | "What If" | Safe |
| Katharine McPhee | "The Voice Within" | Bottom two |
| Bucky Covington | "Real Good Man" | Safe |
| Paris Bennett | "Work It Out" | Safe |
| Elliott Yamin | "I Don't Want to Be" | Safe |
Non-competition performance :
| Performers | Song |
| Shakira & Wyclef Jean | "Hips Don't Lie" |

### Top 9 – Country music (April 5)

Kenny Rogers served as a guest mentor this week. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Country song | Result |
| Taylor Hicks | "Take Me Home, Country Roads" | Safe |
| Mandisa | "Any Man of Mine" | Eliminated |
| Elliott Yamin | "If Tomorrow Never Comes" | Bottom two |
| Paris Bennett | "How Do I Live" | Bottom three |
| Ace Young | "Tonight I Wanna Cry" | Safe |
| Kellie Pickler | "Fancy" | Safe |
| Chris Daughtry | "Making Memories of Us" | Safe |
| Katharine McPhee | "Bringing Out the Elvis in Me" | Safe |
| Bucky Covington | "Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)" | Safe |
Non-competition performance :
| Performers | Song |
| Kenny Rogers | "I Can't Unlove You" |

### Top 8 – Queen (April 12)

Queen band members Brian May and Roger Taylor served as guest mentors for this week. Contestants performed one song from the Queen discography and are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Queen song | Result |
| Bucky Covington | "Fat Bottomed Girls" | Eliminated |
| Ace Young | "We Will Rock You" | Bottom three |
| Kellie Pickler | "Bohemian Rhapsody" | Safe |
| Chris Daughtry | "Innuendo" | Safe |
| Katharine McPhee | "Who Wants to Live Forever" | Safe |
| Elliott Yamin | "Somebody to Love" | Bottom three |
| Taylor Hicks | "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" | Safe |
| Paris Bennett | "The Show Must Go On" | Safe |
Non-competition performance :
| Performers | Song |
| Top 8 | Queen medley |

### Top 7 – Great American Songbook (April 19)

Rod Stewart served as a guest mentor this week. Contestants performed one song from the Great American Songbook and are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Song | Result |
| Chris Daughtry | "What a Wonderful World" | Bottom two |
| Paris Bennett | "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)" | Bottom three |
| Taylor Hicks | "You Send Me" | Safe |
| Elliott Yamin | "It Had to Be You" | Safe |
| Kellie Pickler | "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" | Safe |
| Ace Young | "That's All" | Eliminated |
| Katharine McPhee | "Someone to Watch Over Me" | Safe |
Non-competition performance :
| Performers | Song |
| Rod Stewart | "The Way You Look Tonight" |

### Top 6 – Love songs (April 26)

Andrea Bocelli and David Foster served as guest mentors this week. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Song | Result |
| Katharine McPhee | "I Have Nothing" | Top two |
| Elliott Yamin | "A Song for You" | Safe |
| Kellie Pickler | "Unchained Melody" | Eliminated |
| Paris Bennett | "The Way We Were" | Bottom two |
| Taylor Hicks | "Just Once" | Safe |
| Chris Daughtry | "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" | Top two |
Non-competition performance :
| Performers | Song |
| Andrea Bocelli & David Foster | "Because We Believe" |

### Top 5 – Contestants' birth year & Current Billboard top 10 (May 3)

Contestants each performed two songs: one from the year they were born, and one from the current Billboard top 10 list. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Order | Song | Birth year | Result |
| Elliott Yamin | 1 | "On Broadway" | 1978 | Bottom two |
| Elliott Yamin | 6 | "Home" | 1978 | Bottom two |
| Paris Bennett | 2 | "Kiss" | 1988 | Eliminated |
| Paris Bennett | 7 | "Be Without You" | 1988 | Eliminated |
| Chris Daughtry | 3 | "Renegade" | 1979 | Safe |
| Chris Daughtry | 8 | "I Dare You" | 1979 | Safe |
| Katharine McPhee | 4 | "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" | 1984 | Safe |
| Katharine McPhee | 9 | "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" | 1984 | Safe |
| Taylor Hicks | 5 | "Play That Funky Music" | 1976 | Safe |
| Taylor Hicks | 10 | "Something" | 1976 | Safe |
Non-competition performance :
| Performers | Song |
| Top 5 | "Together We Are One" |

### Top 4 – Elvis Presley (May 10)

Tommy Mottola served as a guest mentor this week. Contestants each performed two songs from the Elvis Presley discography and are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Order | Elvis Presley song | Result |
| Taylor Hicks | 1 | "Jailhouse Rock" | Safe |
| Taylor Hicks | 5 | "In the Ghetto" | Safe |
| Chris Daughtry | 2 | "Suspicious Minds" | Eliminated |
| Chris Daughtry | 6 | "A Little Less Conversation" | Eliminated |
| Elliott Yamin | 3 | "If I Can Dream" | Safe |
| Elliott Yamin | 7 | "Trouble" | Safe |
| Katharine McPhee | 4 | "Hound Dog" & "All Shook Up" | Bottom two |
| Katharine McPhee | 8 | "Can't Help Falling in Love" | Bottom two |
Non-competition performance :
| Performers | Song |
| Top 4 | Elvis Presley medley |

### Top 3 (May 17)

Each contestant performed three songs: one chosen by Clive Davis, one chosen by one of the judges, and one chosen by themselves. Contestants are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Order | Song | Result |
| Elliott Yamin | 1 | "Open Arms" | Eliminated |
| Elliott Yamin | 4 | "What You Won't Do for Love" | Eliminated |
| Elliott Yamin | 7 | "I Believe to My Soul" | Eliminated |
| Katharine McPhee | 2 | "I Believe I Can Fly" | Safe |
| Katharine McPhee | 5 | "Over the Rainbow" | Safe |
| Katharine McPhee | 8 | "I Ain't Got Nothin' but the Blues" | Safe |
| Taylor Hicks | 3 | "Dancing in the Dark" | Safe |
| Taylor Hicks | 6 | "You Are So Beautiful" | Safe |
| Taylor Hicks | 9 | "Try a Little Tenderness" | Safe |
Non-competition performance :
| Performers | Song |
| Taylor Hicks | "Takin' It to the Streets" |
| Katharine McPhee | "Think" |
| Elliott Yamin | "Moody's Mood for Love" |
* 1 2 3 Song chosen by Clive Davis
* ↑ Song chosen by Paula Abdul
* ↑ Song chosen by Simon Cowell
* ↑ Song chosen by Randy Jackson

### Top 2 – Finale (May 24)

Each contestant performed three songs, and contestants are listed in the order they performed.
| Contestant | Order | Song | Result |
| Katharine McPhee | 1 | "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" | Runner-up |
| Katharine McPhee | 3 | "Over the Rainbow" | Runner-up |
| Katharine McPhee | 5 | "My Destiny" | Runner-up |
| Taylor Hicks | 2 | "Living for the City" | Winner |
| Taylor Hicks | 4 | "Levon" | Winner |
| Taylor Hicks | 6 | "Do I Make You Proud" | Winner |
Non-competition performances :
| Performers | Song |
| Top 12 with Carrie Underwood | "Through the Rain" |
| Paris Bennett with Al Jarreau | "We're in This Love Together" |
| Chris Daughtry with Live | "Mystery" |
| Katharine McPhee with Meat Loaf | "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" |
| Taylor Hicks, Elliott Yamin, Chris Daughtry, Ace Young, Bucky Covington & Kevin Covais | "Takin' Care of Business" "Tobacco Road" "Don't Stop" |
| Elliott Yamin with Mary J. Blige | "One" |
| Carrie Underwood | "Don't Forget to Remember Me" |
| Taylor Hicks with Toni Braxton | "In the Ghetto" |
| Katharine McPhee, Paris Bennett, Kellie Pickler, Mandisa, Lisa Tucker & Melissa McGhee | "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" "Trouble" "I'm a Woman" "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" "I'm Every Woman" |
| Michael Sandecki with Clay Aiken | "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" |
| Top 12 with Dionne Warwick | "What the World Needs Now Is Love" "The Look of Love" "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" "I Say a Little Prayer" "Alfie" "A House Is Not a Home" "What's New Pussycat?" "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" "Close to You" "Walk On By" "That's What Friends Are For" |
| Prince | "Lolita" "Satisfied" |
| Taylor Hicks & Katharine McPhee | "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" |

## Elimination chart

Color key:
American Idol (season 5) - Eliminations :
| Contestant | Pl. | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Top 12 | Top 11 | Top 10 | Top 9 | Top 8 | Top 7 | Top 6 | Top 5 | Top 4 | Top 3 | Finale |
| Contestant | Pl. | 2/23 | 3/2 | 3/9 | 3/15 | 3/22 | 3/29 | 4/5 | 4/12 | 4/19 | 4/26 | 5/3 | 5/10 | 5/17 | 5/24 |
| Taylor Hicks | 1 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Winner |
| Katharine McPhee | 2 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Safe | Safe | Safe | Top two | Safe | Bottom two | Safe | Runner-up |
| Elliott Yamin | 3 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Bottom three | Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Safe | Eliminated | |
| Chris Daughtry | 4 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Top two | Safe | Eliminated | | |
| Paris Bennett | 5 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom three | Safe | Bottom three | Bottom two | Eliminated | | | |
| Kellie Pickler | 6 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | | | | |
| Ace Young | 7 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom three | Safe | Bottom three | Safe | Bottom three | Eliminated | | | | | |
| Bucky Covington | 8 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | | | | | | |
| Mandisa | 9 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | | | | | | | |
| Lisa Tucker | 10 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Bottom two | Bottom three | Eliminated | | | | | | | | |
| Kevin Covais | 11 | Safe | Bottom three | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | | | | | | | | | |
| Melissa McGhee | 12 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ayla Brown | | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Will Makar | | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Gedeon McKinney | | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Kinnik Sky | | Safe | Bottom three | Eliminated | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Heather Cox | | Safe | Eliminated | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Brenna Gethers | | Safe | Eliminated | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| José "Sway" Penala | | Safe | Eliminated | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| David Radford | | Safe | Eliminated | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bobby Bennett | | Eliminated | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Patrick Hall | | Eliminated | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Becky O'Donohue | | Eliminated | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Stevie Scott | | Eliminated | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Controversies

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.
On the April 25 show, the theme of which was Greatest Love Songs and featured guest mentors Andrea Bocelli and David Foster, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe forced contestant Taylor Hicks to change his song a day before airtime. Hicks' chosen song was "Try a Little Tenderness," but Lythgoe, in a radio interview, claimed the song was more appropriate for a Blues Brothers week and was not a song that Andrea Bocelli would sing. Hicks changed his song at the last minute to "Just Once" and appeared very uncomfortable on stage. Hicks' fans were distressed, feeling that Hicks' original choice of song was very appropriate to the theme and the producers changed the song at the last minute even though they must have known Hicks' choice the previous week. They also felt that Lythgoe's statement that it was not a song Andrea Bocelli would sing was dubious, as other song choices that were approved were songs sung by Bryan Adams ("Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman") and Donny Hathaway ("A Song for You").

## U.S. 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. Its 17.6 household share for the season average still ranks as the highest household share rating for any season-topping series on 21st-century U.S. television.
Episode list :
| Show | Episode | Air date | Week rank | Rating/Share | 18–49 rating/Share | Viewers (millions) |
| 1 | "Chicago Auditions" | January 17, 2006 | 3 | 19.3 / 28 | 15.3 / 34 | 35.53 |
| 2 | "Denver Auditions" | January 18, 2006 | 4 | 17.8 / 27 | 13.0 / 33 | 31.65 |
| 3 | "Greensboro Auditions" | January 24, 2006 | 1 | 19.6 / 29 | 15.1 / 35 | 34.96 |
| 4 | "San Francisco Auditions" | January 25, 2006 | 2 | 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 | 1 | 17.6 / 26 | 12.9 / 32 | 31.15 |
| 8 | "Hollywood Round 1" | February 8, 2006 | 2 | 16.3 / 24 | 11.4 / 29 | 28.74 |
| 9 | "Hollywood Round 2" | February 14, 2006 | 2 | 16.5 / 25 | 11.4 / 29 | 26.96 |
| 10 | "Hollywood: Top 24 Revealed" | February 15, 2006 | 1 | 15.5 / 24 | 11.9 / 30 | 28.78 |
| 11 | "Top 12 Women Perform" | February 21, 2006 | 2 | 16.9 / 24 | 13.0 / 30 | 30.16 |
| 12 | "Top 12 Men Perform" | February 22, 2006 | 1 | 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 | 2 | 17.0 / 25 | 12.4 / 31 | 30.09 |
| 15 | "Top 10 Men Perform | March 1, 2006 | 4 | 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 | 2 | 16.7 / 25 | 11.8 / 31 | 28.56 |
| 18 | "Top 8 Men Perform" | March 8, 2006 | 1 | 17.2 / 27 | 12.4 / 32 | 30.38 |
| 19 | "Top 12 Revealed" | March 9, 2006 | 4 | 15.4 / 24 | 10.8 / 28 | 26.63 |
| 20 | "Top 12 Perform" | March 14, 2006 | 1 | 18.5 / 27 | 13.7 / 33 | 32.77 |
| 21 | "Top 12 Results" | March 15, 2006 | 1 | 16.3 / 25 | 11.5 / 27 | 28.09 |
| 22 | "Top 11 Perform" | March 21, 2006 | 1 | 19.2 / 28 | 13.6 / 33 | 33.36 |
| 23 | "Top 11 Results" | March 22, 2006 | 2 | 15.9 / 24 | 11.4 / 27 | 27.68 |
| 24 | "Top 10 Perform" | March 28, 2006 | 1 | 18.0 / 27 | 13.0 / 33 | 31.71 |
| 25 | "Top 10 Results" | March 29, 2006 | 2 | 15.9 / 24 | 11.3 / 27 | 27.66 |
| 26 | "Top 9 Perform" | April 4, 2006 | 1 | 16.6 / 23 | 11.6 / 32 | 28.83 |
| 27 | "Top 9 Results" | April 5, 2006 | 2 | 15.7 / 23 | 10.8 / 26 | 26.23 |
| 28 | "Top 8 Perform" | April 11, 2006 | 1 | 14.2 / 22 | 12.0 / 33 | 29.65 |
| 29 | "Top 8 Results" | April 12, 2006 | 3 | 12.0 / 19 | 9.2 / 24 | 22.64 |
| 30 | "Top 7 Perform" | April 18, 2006 | 1 | 16.6 / 26 | 11.4 / 32 | 28.44 |
| 31 | "Top 7 Results" | April 19, 2006 | 2 | 16.5 / 25 | 11.3 / 30 | 27.63 |
| 32 | "Top 6 Perform" | April 25, 2006 | 1 | 16.7 / 26 | 11.5 / 30 | 28.67 |
| 33 | "Top 6 Results" | April 26, 2006 | 2 | 16.6 / 25 | 11.6 / 28 | 28.27 |
| 34 | "Top 5 Perform" | May 2, 2006 | 2 | 16.6 / 26 | 11.4 / 31 | 28.58 |
| 35 | "Top 5 Results" | May 3, 2006 | 1 | 16.9 / 25 | 11.7 / 28 | 29.26 |
| 36 | "Top 4 Perform" | May 9, 2006 | 1 | 16.8 / 26 | 11.6 / 31 | 28.85 |
| 37 | "Top 4 Results" | May 10, 2006 | 2 | 16.1 / 24 | 11.2 / 27 | 27.88 |
| 38 | "Top 3 Perform" | May 16, 2006 | 1 | 16.6 / 26 | 11.0 / 30 | 28.33 |
| 39 | "Top 3 Results" | May 17, 2006 | 2 | 16.6 / 26 | 10.7 / 25 | 27.67 |
| 40 | "Top 2 Perform" | May 23, 2006 | 2 | 18.2/ 29 | 12.3 / 34 | 31.78 |
| 41 | "Season 5 Finale" | May 24, 2006 | 1 | 20.5 / 32 | 14.2 / 35 | 36.38 |

## Post Idol

This was the first season where a majority of finalists had major label recording contracts after American Idol. Of them, Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Elliott Yamin, Chris Daughtry, and Kellie Pickler were distributed by Sony BMG Music Entertainment; Bucky Covington by Universal Music Group; and Ace Young and Mandisa by EMI.
Taylor Hicks' first post-Idol single, "Do I Make You Proud," debuted at number one and was certified gold. Hicks' album, Taylor Hicks, sold 703,000 copies. He later parted with Arista Records. His follow-up album, "The Distance," was released March 10, 2009, on his own label, Modern Whomp Records.
The contestant with the most commercial success was Chris Daughtry, now lead singer of the band Daughtry. Their eponymous debut album sold over 5 million copies, surpassing the two-album totals of former winners Ruben Studdard and Fantasia, and produced two top-ten singles. The album, which spent two weeks at number one in the U.S., was also the fastest-selling debut rock album in Soundscan history.
Katharine McPhee's debut album sold 374,000 copies and she had two Top 40 Billboard hits. Kellie Pickler's Small Town Girl reached number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and was certified gold, selling over 815,000 copies. Elliott Yamin's eponymous debut album was certified gold and produced a platinum-selling single. Bucky Covington's self-titled debut album sold over 400,000 copies and generated a top 20 and two top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Mandisa became the most recent finalist from American Idol as of 2025 to win a Grammy Award, after earning a nomination for True Beauty for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in 2007 and winning for Overcomer for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2014.

## Music releases

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) |

## Emmy nominations

In 2006, American Idol received 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

## Tour

* American Idols Live! Tour 2006