Season 10

**Season 10** of American Idol premiered on January 19, 2011 on FOX network. Ryan Seacrest returned as the host with Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and singer-actress Jennifer Lopez joining longtime Idol judge Randy Jackson on the judging panel.

This season was won by 17-year-old country singer Scotty McCreery on May 25, 2011.

This season features the most contestants (7) who later tried out for other shows like *The Voice*or *The X-Factor*.

## Changes from Season 9

Contestants as young as 15 were allowed to audition for the first time this season, and this was also the first season Simon Cowell was absent from the judge's panel. On July 29, 2010 Ellen DeGeneres announced that she would not return as a judge for this season. Fellow judge Kara DioGuardi soon left as well in September 2010, but Nigel Lythgoe returned as an executive producer after having been gone for two seasons. Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and singer-actress Jennifer Lopez joined longtime Idol judge Randy Jackson on the judging panel. Ray Chew was hired as the show's musical director, replacing Rickey Minor.

Contestants were required to be at least 15 on this season (and still under 28) and eligible to work in the United States. Contestants were ineligible if they were part of the top 40 from previous seasons (exception being for those who reached the top 50 from season 7), if they hold recording or management contracts, or if they are not U.S. citizens or landed immigrants (i.e. temporary residents).

This season was also the first in which contestants could also audition for the show via MySpace. To audition, they were required to upload a 40-second audition clip of them singing a pre-approved song.

This season's winner was awarded a contract with Universal Music Group's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label after the show's affiliation with Sony Entertainment Group ended after season 9. Interscope-Geffen-A&M chairman Jimmy Iovine served as the show's in-house mentor.

The show began airing on Wednesdays & Thursdays instead of Tuesdays & Wednesdays in Season 10.

This season is also the first in which the Top 11, not the Top 10, will be heading out on the road for the Idols Live! tour, which happened in summer 2011.

## Auditions

File:Season10-auditions2.jpg
The following cities were season 10's audition holders:

* **Nashville, Tennessee: Bridgestone Arena** July 17, 2010
* **Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Bradley Center** July 21, 2010
* **New Orleans, Louisiana: New Orleans Arena** July 26, 2010
* **East Rutherford, New Jersey: IZOD Center** August 3, 2010
* **Austin, Texas: Frank Erwin Center** August 11, 2010
* **San Francisco, California: AT&T Park** August 19, 2010
* **Los Angeles, California: The Forum** September 22, 2010

## Semi-Finals

The semifinals will be much different in season 10. Hollywood week will involve narrowing the contestants down to 60. Those who make the final sixty will then be taken to Las Vegas where they will be asked to sing songs from The Beatles. Forty contestants are to be left in the competition at the end of this round, before the judges place the remaining twenty contestants, in two groups of ten, before the American public, for a semi-final sudden death round to find ten finalists - five girls and five boys - for the live shows in the finals. Additionally, the judges were given wild card picks.

The following contestants were Season 10's **Top 24**.

**Males:**

 Clint Jun Gamboa

**Females:**

 Lauren Turner

### Wild Card Round

After 10 singers advanced on to the Top 13, six contestants were chosen by the judges to compete in the Wild Card Round. The six competing were Ashthon Jones, Stefano Langone, Kendra Chantelle, Jovany Barreto, Naima Adedapo, and Robbie Rosen. In the end the Judges chose, Naima, Stefano and Ashthon to continue on in the competition.

## Top 13

The following contestants were Season 10's **Top 13**.
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Males

* Scotty McCreery
* James Durbin
* Jacob Lusk
* Casey Abrams
* Stefano Langone
* Paul McDonald

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 File:American-idol-top-13-largejpg-1cd6af514a4a85c8.jpg
Females

* Lauren Alaina
* Haley Reinhart
* Pia Toscano
* Naima Adedapo
* Thia Megia
* Karen Rodriguez
* Ashthon Jones

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## Finals

### Top 13 perform

During the first round of the finals, the Top 13 performed a song from their personal idol for a spot in the Top 12.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Ashthon Jones.png
**Ashthon Jones** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 12 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on March 10, 2011.

#### Top 12

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 12**.
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* Casey Abrams
* James Durbin
* Stefano Langone
* Jacob Lusk
* Scotty McCreery
* Paul McDonald

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* Naima Adedapo *(bottom 3)*
* Lauren Alaina
* Thia Megia
* Haley Reinhart
* Pia Toscano
* Karen Rodriguez *(bottom 3)*

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#### Performances

These contestants performed in the following order:

* Lauren Alaina - "Any Man of Mine" by Shaina Twain
* Casey Abrams - "With a Little Help from My Friends" by The Beatles
* Ashthon Jones - "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" by Diana Ross
* Paul McDonald - "Come Pick Me Up" by Ryan Adams
* Pia Toscano - "All by Myself" by Eric Carmen
* James Durbin - "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney
* Haley Reinhart - "Blue" by LeAnn Rimes
* Jacob Lusk - "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly
* Thia Megia - "Smile" by Michael Jackson
* Stefano Langone - "Lately" by Stevie Wonder
* Karen Rodriguez - "I Could Fall in Love" by Selena
* Scotty McCreery - "The River" by Garth Brooks
* Naima Adedapo - "Umbrella" by Rihanna

Group Performance:

* "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" / "Rock with You" / "Black or White" / "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson

### Top 12 perform

During the first round of the finals, the Top 12 performed a song from the year they were born for a spot in the Top 11.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Karen Rodriguez.png
**Karen Rodriguez** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 11 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on March 17, 2011.

#### Top 11

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 11**.
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* Casey Abrams
* James Durbin
* Stefano Langone
* Jacob Lusk
* Scotty McCreery
* Paul McDonald

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* Naima Adedapo *(bottom 3)*
* Lauren Alaina
* Thia Megia
* Haley Reinhart *(bottom 3)*
* Pia Toscano

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#### Performances

These contestants performed in the following order:

* Naima Adedapo - "What's Love Got to Do with It" by Tina Turner (1984)
* Paul McDonald - "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" by Elton John (1984)
* Thia Megia - - "Colors of the Wind" by Judy Kuhn (1995)
* James Durbin - "I'll Be There for You" by Bon Jovi (1989)
* Haley Reinhart - "I'm Your Baby Tonight" by Whitney Houston (1990)
* Stefano Langone - "If You Don't Know Me by Now" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (1989)
* Pia Toscano - "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" by Whitney Houston (1988)
* Scotty McCreery - "Can I Trust You with My Heart" by Travis Tritt (1993)
* Karen Rodriguez - "Love Will Lead You Back" by Taylor Dayne (1989)
* Casey Abrams - "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana (1991)
* Lauren Alaina - "I'm the Only One" by Melissa Etheridge (1994)
* Jacob Lusk - "Alone" by Heart (1987)

Group Performance:

* "Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf / "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga

### Top 11 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 11 performed a song from Motown for a spot in the Top 10.

#### Saved Contestant

File:Casey Abrams.png
**Casey Abrams** was supposed to be the eliminated contestant on March 24, but with the Judges' Save, he stayed which kept the total at 11 contestants. As the result of his save, he will participate in the tour with the other remaining contestants before the elimination of the two contestants in the show.

#### Top 11

The following contestants were safe from that round and remained in the **Top 11**.
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* Casey Abrams *(bottom 3)*
* James Durbin
* Stefano Langone *(bottom 3)*
* Jacob Lusk
* Scotty McCreery
* Paul McDonald

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* Naima Adedapo
* Lauren Alaina
* Thia Megia *(bottom 3)*
* Haley Reinhart
* Pia Toscano

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#### Performances

These contestants performed in the following order:

* Casey Abrams - "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye
* Thia Megia - "(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave" by Martha and the Vandellas
* Jacob Lusk - "You're All I Need to Get By" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
* Lauren Alaina - "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by The Supremes
* Stefano Langone - "Hello" by Lionel Richie
* Haley Reinhart - "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" by The Miracles
* Scotty McCreery - "For Once In My Life" by Jean DuShon
* Pia Toscano - "All in Love is Fair" by Stevie Wonder
* Paul McDonald - "The Track of My Tears" by The Miracles
* Naima Adedapo - "Dancing in the Street" by Martha and the Vandellas
* James Durbin - "Living for the City" by Stevie Wonder

Group Performance:

* "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
* Joe Perry and group - "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", "Happy Birthday to You" (to Steven Tyler)

### Top 11 perform (redux)

During this round of the finals, the Top 11 performed a song from Elton John for a spot in the Top 9. Originally there will be ten contestants performing in the Idol Tour 2011 but prior to the judges' save on Casey Abrams, the remaining contestants will participate in the tour with Abrams as the eleventh performer. However in the results night, two contestants will be eliminated after using the judges' save.

#### Eliminated Contestants

File:Thia Megia.png
**Thia Megia** was one of the two eliminated contestants bringing the total down to 9 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on March 31, 2011.

File:Naima Adedapo.png

**Naima Adedapo** was one of the two the eliminated contestants bringing the total down to 9 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on March 31, 2011.

#### Top 9

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 9**.
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* Casey Abrams
* James Durbin
* Stefano Langone
* Jacob Lusk
* Scotty McCreery

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* Paul McDonald *(bottom 3)*
* Lauren Alaina
* Haley Reinhart
* Pia Toscano

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#### Performances

These contestants performed in the following order:

* Scotty McCreery - "Country Comfort"
* Naima Adedapo - "I'm Still Standing"
* Paul McDonald - "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)"
* Pia Toscano - "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
* Stefano Langone - "Tiny Dancer"
* Lauren Alaina - "Candle in the Wind"
* James Durbin - "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"
* Thia Megia - "Daniel"
* Casey Abrams - "Your Song"
* Jacob Lusk - "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
* Haley Reinhart - "Bennie and the Jets"

Group Performance:

* Lauren Alaina & Scotty McCreery: "I Told You So" by Randy Travis
* Naima Adedapo & Jacob Lusk: "Solid" by Ashford & Simpson
* Thia Megia, Haley Reinhart & Pia Toscano: "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry
* Casey Abrams, James Durbin, Stefano Langone & Paul McDonald: "Band on the Run" by Wings

### Top 9 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 9 performed a song from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for a spot in the Top 8.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Pia Toscano.png
**Pia Toscano** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 8 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on April 7, 2011.

#### Top 8

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 8**.
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* Casey Abrams
* James Durbin
* Stefano Langone *(bottom 3)*
* Jacob Lusk *(bottom 3)*

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* Scotty McCreery
* Paul McDonald
* Lauren Alaina
* Haley Reinhart

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#### Performances

These contestants performed in the following order:

* Jacob Lusk - "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson
* Haley Reinhart - "Piece of My Heart" by Erma Franklin
* Casey Abrams - "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
* Lauren Alaina - "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" by Aretha Franklin
* James Durbin - "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by The Beatles
* Scotty McCreery - "That's All Right" by Arthur Crudup
* Pia Toscano - "River Deep – Mountain High" by Ike & Tina Turner
* Stefano Langone - "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge
* Paul McDonald - "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash

Group Performance:

* "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett / "The Letter" by The Box Tops / "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd

### Top 8 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 8 performed a song from movies for a spot in the Top 7.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Paul McDonald.png
**Paul McDonald** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 7 remaining contestants. He was eliminated on April 14, 2011.

#### Top 7

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 7**.
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* Casey Abrams
* James Durbin
* Stefano Langone *(bottom 3)*
* Jacob Lusk

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* Scotty McCreery
* Lauren Alaina
* Haley Reinhart *(bottom 3)*

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#### Performances

These contestants performed in the following order:

* Paul McDonald - "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger (Risky Business)
* Lauren Alaina - "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana: The Movie)
* Stefano Langone - "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men (Boomerang)
* Scotty McCreery - "I Cross My Heart" by George Strait (Pure Country)
* Casey Abrams - "Nature Boy" by Nat King Cole (The Boy with Green Hair)
* Haley Reinhart - "Call Me" by Blondie (American Gigolo)
* Jacob Lusk - "Bridge over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel (The Pursuit of Happyness)
* James Durbin - "Heavy Metal" by Sammy Hagar (Heavy Metal)

Group Performance:

* Lauren Alaina & Scotty McCreery - "American Honey" by Lady Antebellum
* Casey Abrams & Haley Reinhart - "Moanin'" by Bobby Timmons
* James Durbin, Stefano Langone, Jacob Lusk & Paul McDonald - "The Sound of Silence"/"Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel

### Top 7 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 7 performed a song from the 21st Century for a spot in the Top 6.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Stefano Langone.png
**Stefano Langone** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 6 remaining contestants. He was eliminated on April 21, 2011.

#### Top 6

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 6**.
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* Casey Abrams
* James Durbin
* Jacob Lusk *(bottom 3)*

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* Scotty McCreery
* Lauren Alaina
* Haley Reinhart *(bottom 3)*

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#### Performances

These contestants performed in the following order:

* Scotty McCreery - "Swingin'" by John Anderson
* James Durbin - "Uprising" by Muse
* Haley Reinhart - "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele
* Jacob Lusk - "Dance with My Father" by Luther Vandross
* Casey Abrams - "Harder to Breathe" by Maroon 5
* Stefano Langone - "Closer" by Ne-Yo
* Lauren Alaina - "Born to Fly" by Sara Evans

Group performance on performance night:

* Naima Adedapo, Ashthon Jones, Paul McDonald, Thia Megia, Karen Rodriguez & Pia Toscano - "So What" by Pink

Group performances on results night:

* Lauren Alaina, Stefano Langone, Jacob Lusk & Haley Reinhart - "Hey Soul Sister" by Train
* Casey Abrams, James Durbin & Scotty McCreery - "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay

### Top 6 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 6 performed a song from Carole King for a spot in the Top 5.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Casey Abrams.png
**Casey Abrams** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 5 remaining contestants. He was eliminated on April 28, 2011. On results night, no "bottom three" was announced. Ryan Seacrest stated early in the show that voting results would be announced in "random order". After Haley, James, and Lauren were announced as safe, Jacob, Casey, and Scotty were the last three remaining. Before announcing that Casey was eliminated, Ryan later confirmed that Jacob and Scotty were not necessarily among the bottom three vote-getters that week.

#### Top 5

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 5**.
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* James Durbin
* Jacob Lusk
* Scotty McCreery
* Lauren Alaina
* Haley Reinhart

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#### Performances

These contestants performed in the following order:

* Jacob Lusk - "Oh No Not My Baby"
* Lauren Alaina - "Where You Lead"
* Scotty McCreery - "You've Got a Friend"
* James Durbin - "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"
* Casey Abrams - "That Old Sweet Roll (Hi-De-Ho)"
* Haley Reinhart - "Beautiful"

Group performance on performance night:

* Casey Abrams & Haley Reinhart - "I Feel the Earth Move"
* Lauren Alaina & Scotty McCreery - "Up on the Roof"
* James Durbin & Jacob Lusk - "I'm into Something Good"

Group performances on results night:

* "It Might As Well Rain Until September" by Carole King / "Take Good Care of My Baby" by Bobby Vee / "One Fine Day" by The Chiffons / "Go Away Little Girl" by Steve Lawrence / "It's Too Late" by Carole King

### Top 5 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 5 performed a song from Now & Then for a spot in the Top 4.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Jacob Lusk.png
**Jacob Lusk** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 4 remaining contestants. He was eliminated on May 5, 2011.

#### Top 4

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 4**.
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* James Durbin
* Scotty McCreery
* Lauren Alaina *(bottom 2)*
* Haley Reinhart

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#### Performances

These contestants performed in the following order:

* James Durbin - "Closer to the Edge" by 30 Seconds to Mars
* Jacob Lusk - "No Air" by Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown
* Lauren Alaina - "Flat on the Floor" by Katrina Elam
* Scotty McCreery - "Gone" by Montgomery Gentry
* Haley Reinhart - "You and I" by Lady Gaga
* James Durbin - "Without You" by Badfinger
* Jacob Lusk - "Love Hurts" by The Everly Brothers
* Lauren Alaina - "Unchained Melody" by Todd Duncan
* Scotty McCreery - "Always on My Mind" by Brenda Lee
* Haley Reinhart - "The House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals

Group performance

* "Happy Together" by The Turtles

### Top 4 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 4 performed a song from the Leiber & Stroller Songbook and a song that inspires them for a spot in the Top 3.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:James Durbin.png
**James Durbin** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 3 remaining contestants. He was eliminated on May 12, 2011.

#### Top 3

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 3**.
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* Scotty McCreery
* Lauren Alaina
* Haley Reinhart

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#### Performances

These contestants performed in the following order:

* James Durbin - "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey
* Haley Reinhart - "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson
* Scotty McCreery - "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" by Alan Jackson
* Lauren Alaina - "Anyway" by Martina McBride
* Haley Reinhart - "I (Who Have Nothing)" by Ben E. King
* Scotty McCreery - "Young Blood" by The Coasters
* Lauren Alaina - "Trouble" by Elvis Presley
* James Durbin - "Love Potion No. 9" by The Clovers

Group performances:

* James Durbin & Scotty McCreery - "Start a Band" by Brad Paisley & Keith Urban
* Lauren Alaina & Haley Reinhart - "Gunpowder & Lead" by Miranda Lambert

### Top 3 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 3 performed songs that were the Judges', Jimmy Iovine's, and their own choice for a spot in the Top 2.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Haley Reinhart.png
**Haley Reinhart** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 2 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on May 19, 2011.

#### Top 2

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 2**.
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* Scotty McCreery
* Lauren Alaina

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#### Performances

(The first round of performances was the contestant's choice, the second round was chosen by Jimmy Iovine, and the final round was chosen by the judges). The contestants performed in the following order:

* Scotty McCreery - "Amazed" by Lonestar
* Lauren Alaina - "Wild One" by Zaca Creek
* Haley Reinhart - "What Is and What Should Never Be" by Led Zeppelin
* Scotty McCreery - "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" by Thompson Square
* Lauren Alaina - "If I Die Young" by The Band Perry
* Haley Reinhart - "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac
* Scotty McCreery - "She Believes in Me" by Kenny Rogers
* Lauren Alaina - "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack
* Haley Reinhart - "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette

### Top 2 perform

During the final round of the finals, the Top 2 performed songs that were from their favorite performances, their personal idol's choice, and their winner single for a spot as Season 10's **American Idol**.

#### Runner-up

File:Lauren Alaina.png
**Lauren Alaina** was announced the Runner-up of Season 10 on May 25, 2011.

#### Performances

(The first performance was a song from their favorite performances, the second was a song chosen by their personal idol, and the last was their winner single). The contestants performed in the following order:

* Scotty McCreery - "Gone" by Montgomery Gentry
* Lauren Alaina - "Flat on the Floor" by Katrina Elam
* Scotty McCreery - "Check Yes or No" by George Strait (chosen by George Strait)
* Lauren Alaina - "Maybe It Was Memphis" by Pam Tillis (chosen by Carrie Underwood)
* Scotty McCreery - "I Love You This Big"
* Lauren Alaina - "Like My Mother Does"

### Winner

File:Scotty McCreery.png
**Scotty McCreery** was announced the winner of American Idol Season 10 on May 25, 2011. He is the second youngest contestant to win the competition after Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks.

## Elimination song

The elimination song for this season is season 7 winner David Cook's rendition of the 1985 Simple Minds hit *Don't You (Forget About Me)*. Part of the song premiered on March 10, 2011.

## Judges' Save

On March 24, 2011, the judges used the one save that they have during the season on contestant Casey Abrams when he shockingly wound up in the bottom 3 despite having never been there before.

## Results Performances

### Special Guest Performances

* **Diddy-Dirty Money** (March 10, 2011)
* **Adam Lambert** (March 10, 2011)
* **Lee DeWyze** (March 17, 2011)
* **Black-Eyed Peas** (March 17, 2011)
* **Jennifer Hudson** (March 24, 2011)
* **Sugarland** (March 24, 2011)
* **Fantasia Barrino** (March 31, 2011)
* **will.i.am featuring Jamie Foxx** (March 31, 2011)
* **Iggy Pop** (April 7, 2011)
* **Constantine Maroulis** (April 7, 2011)
* **Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson** (April 14, 2011)
* **Rihanna** (April 14, 2011)
* **David Cook** (April 21, 2011)
* **Katy Perry and Kanye West** (April 21, 2011)
* **Crystal Bowersox** (April 28, 2011)
* **Bruno Mars** (April 28, 2011)

## Controversies

During the first episode of the season, a young girl's breast was exposed while speaking with Seacrest while her relative auditioned. FOX has yet to comment on the situation. On February 1, 2011, host Ryan Seacrest tweeted that a producer's apology would be made during the February 2, 2011 show.

### Pia Toscano elimination shocker

On April 7, 2011, fan favorite Pia Toscano was eliminated following her performance of the Tina Turner classic *River Deep, Mountain High* for Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame week. Due to Toscano having never been in the bottom 3 before, her fans & fans of the show were stunned as was host Ryan Seacrest, judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, & Steven Tyler, and actor Tom Hanks.

The anger & outrage over Toscano's elimination caused her fans to start a petition drive, demanding that she be brought back onto the show.

### Gender voting bias

The first five contestants eliminated from the finals were all female contestants and critics believed that it was because of female viewers who only vote for guys. *Idol* producer Ken Warwick said, "It's no secret that most reality shows are female driven, either by moms or by young girls. It does mean we're going to get a heftier amount of female votes and it's always bent towards the boys, obviously, we are very much aware that the voting can be skewed towards the boys." Due to the response the show had gotten and to correct the bias, the producers were reportedly considering tweaking the voting format for next season, but nothing came of it.

### Judges critique

Online critics from major news sources like Brian Mansfield of USA Today, Craig Berman of MSNBC, Dalton Ross of Entertainment Weekly, Andrea Reiher of Zap2it, and Tom Gliatto of People Magazine have critized the judges for being too nice, not being honest enough, not offering enough constructive criticism towards the contestants, and for not giving any guidance and direction for the viewers and voters in terms of why they should or should not be voting for someone. Many also felt this was one of the main reasons for Pia Toscano's shocking elimination from the show. Executive producer Ken Warwick responded to these criticisms by saying, "The truth of the matter is these kids are very good and I wouldn't influence the judges to say anything they don't absolutely believe ... They are trying to keep things on the straight and narrow. What they feel are genuine feelings, that's all I can ask them to do."Nigel Lythgoe, another executive producer, also responded to these criticisms on his twitter and said, "IT IS NOT ABOUT THE JUDGES OPINION IT'S ABOUT YOURS!! YOU ARE NOT SHEEP!"

### Treatment of Haley Reinhart

Another issue that concerned fans of the show was how the judges treated contestant Haley Reinhart as opposed to how they treated everyone else. Fans complained about how despite delievering amazing performances, the judges, in particular Randy Jackson & Jennifer Lopez, would regularly criticize Reinhart while they praised others for what some would call less then stellar performances. Many believe that the "bussing" of Reinhart on a week to week basis may have led to her finishing in third place due to the devotion of her fans as well as their anger towards the judges for what they consider unfair & bias treatment of her.

## Notable past Idol contestants

* WADE, who made it to the Vegas rounds, later auditioned for season 2 of *The Voice* in 2012 with R&B star Cee Lo Green as his mentor. He was eliminated in the Battle Rounds.
* Alessandra Guercio, who was cut in Hollywood week, later auditioned for season 3 of *The Voice* and got pop superstar Christina Aguilera as her mentor. She was eliminated in the Knockout Rounds.
* Caitlin Koch, who was cut in Hollywood week, later auditioned for season 1 of *The X-Factor*. She made it all the way to Judges' Homes as part of the Girls catagory, but the catagory's mentor, Simon Cowell, didn't choose her for the live shows.
* Paige Thomas, who made the top 90, later auditioned for season 2 of *The X-Factor* in 2012 as part of the Young Adults catagory, mentored by singer-actress Demi Lovato. She finished in 8th place.
* Destinee Quinn, who was cut in Hollywood week, later auditioned for season 5 of *The Voice* in 2013 and got pop superstar Christina Aguilera as her mentor. She was eliminated in the Knockout Rounds.
* Keisha Renee, who finished in the top 40, later tried out for season 13 of *​The Voice,* mentored by country music superstar Blake Shelton. She finished in the top 8.
* Jerome Bell, who was eliminated in the Las Vegas rounds, later tried out for season 15 of *The Voice* as part of the duo OneUp with his boyfriend Adam Bastien. They were eliminated in the Battle Rounds. Their mentor was Kelly Clarkson.

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