Season 5

Taylor Hicks

The **fifth season** of **American Idol** began on January 17, 2006 and concluded on May 24, 2006. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell returned to judge, and Ryan Seacrest returned to host. It is the most successful season to date ratings-wise and also with 17 contestants (including all of the top 9) getting record deals - nine of them with major labels. It became the first season with a male winner (Taylor Hicks) and a female runner-up (Katharine McPhee).

## Auditions

Auditions were held in seven cities in the summer and early fall of 2005 in the following order:

* Chicago, Illinois
* Denver, Colorado
* Greensboro, North Carolina
* San Francisco, California
* Las Vegas, Nevada
* Austin, Texas (later stages of auditions were held in San Francisco because of Hurricane Katrina and the number of evacuees in Texas)
* Foxborough, Massachusetts (Greater Boston)

Unlike Season 4, no guest judges were involved during the auditions.

## Hollywood

The Hollywood semi-final rounds were held at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, California consisting of 175 contestants. The first round of semi-finals consisted of solo a cappella performance with each contestant choosing one song out of twelve that were given to each contestant two weeks in advance. Those who did not impress the judges were sent home the following day. After the singles round, the contestants were separated into four groups, with three groups going through (with 44 contestants chosen). In the Pasadena Civic Center, each were individually taken via elevator walking the infamous "mile" to the judges station where the verdict if they would be chosen or not was announced. Twenty were cut and the final twenty-four (12 men and 12 woman) were selected.

## Semi-finals

The live show portion of the semifinals began on February 21, 2006, with the names announced on February 15, 2006. There were three live shows each week for the three weeks of the semifinals. There were no format changes from season four which featured 18 male singers and 18 female singers with two of each being eliminated each week.
The semifinalists were announced February 15, 2006. The following are semifinalists who did not reach the finals.

**Females:**

 Jessica Santos
 Brenna Gethers

**Males:**

 Kevin Covais | Gedeon McKinney

## Top 12

The following contestants were Season 5's Top 12
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Females

* Katharine McPhee
* Paris Bennett
* Kellie Pickler
* Mandisa
* Lisa Tucker
* Melissa McGhee

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 File:American-idol19.jpg
Males

* Taylor Hicks
* Elliott Yamin
* Chris Daughtry
* Ace Young
* Bucky Covington
* Kevin Covais

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## Finals

### Top 12 perform

During the first round of the finals, the Top 12 performed a song from Stevie Wonder for a spot in the Top 11.

#### Eliminated Contestant

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**Melissa McGhee** was the first contestant to be eliminated on March 15, 2006 bringing the total down to 11 remaining contestants.

#### Top 11

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 11**.
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* Paris Bennett
* Lisa Tucker *(bottom 3)*
* Katharine McPhee
* Mandisa
* Kellie Pickler
* Chris Daughtry

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* Kevin Covais
* Bucky Covington
* Taylor Hicks
* Elliott Yamin
* Ace Young *(bottom 3)*

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Ace Young - "Do I Do"
* Kellie Pickler - "Blame It on the Sun"
* Elliott Yamin - "Knocks Me Off My Feet"
* Mandisa - "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing"
* Bucky Covington - "Superstition"
* Melissa McGhee - "Lately"
* Lisa Tucker - "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
* Kevin Covais - "Part-Time Lover"
* Katharine McPhee - "Until You Come Back to Me"
* Taylor Hicks - "Living for the City"
* Paris Bennett - "All I Do"
* Chris Daughtry - "Higher Ground"

### Top 11 perform

During the first round of the finals, the Top 10 performed a song from the year 1950 for a spot in the Top 10.

#### Eliminated Contestant

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**Kevin Covais** was the second contestant to be eliminated on March 22, 2006 bringing the total down to 10 remaining contestants.

#### Top 10

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 10**.
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* Paris Bennett
* Lisa Tucker *(bottom 3)*
* Katharine McPhee
* Mandisa
* Kellie Pickler

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* Chris Daughtry
* Bucky Covington *(bottom 3)*
* Taylor Hicks
* Elliott Yamin
* Ace Young

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Mandisa - "I Don't Hurt Anymore" by Hank Snow
* Bucky Covington - "Oh, Boy!" by Buddy Holly
* Paris Bennett - "Fever" by Little Willie John
* Chris Daughtry - "I Walk the Line" by Johnny Cash
* Katharine McPhee - "Come Rain or Come Shine" by Sy Oliver
* Taylor Hicks - "Not Fade Away" by The Crickets featuring Buddy Holly
* Lisa Tucker - "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers
* Kevin Covais - "When I Fall in Love" by Doris Day
* Elliott Yamin - "Teach Me Tonight" by The DeCastro Sisters
* Kellie Pickler - "Walkin' After Midnight" by Patsy Cline
* Ace Young - "In the Still of the Night" by The Five Satins

### Top 10 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 10 performed a song from the year 2000 for a spot in the Top 9.

#### Eliminated Contestant

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**Lisa Tucker** was the eliminated contestant on March 29, 2006, bringing the total down to 9 remaining contestants.

#### Top 9

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 9**.
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* Paris Bennett
* Katharine McPhee *(bottom 3)*
* Mandisa
* Kellie Pickler
* Chris Daughtry

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* Bucky Covington
* Taylor Hicks
* Elliott Yamin
* Ace Young *(bottom 3)*

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Lisa Tucker - "Because of You" by Kelly Clarkson
* Kellie Pickler - "Suds in the Bucket" by Sara Evans
* Ace Young - "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" by Train
* Taylor Hicks - "Trouble" by Ray LaMontagne
* Mandisa - "Shackles (Praise You)" by Mary Mary
* Chris Daughtry - "What If" by Creed
* Katharine McPhee - "The Voice Within" by Christina Aguilera
* Bucky Covington - "Real Good Man" by Tim McGraw
* Paris Bennett - "Work It Out" by Beyoncé
* Elliott Yamin - "I Don't Want to Be" by Gavin DeGraw

### Top 9 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 9 performed a song from Country music for a spot in the Top 8.

#### Eliminated Contestant

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**Mandisa** was the eliminated contestant on April 5, 2006, bringing the total down to 8 remaining contestants.

#### Top 8

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 8**.
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* Paris Bennett *(bottom 3)*
* Katharine McPhee
* Kellie Pickler
* Chris Daughtry

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* Bucky Covington
* Taylor Hicks
* Elliott Yamin *(bottom 3)*
* Ace Young

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Taylor Hicks - "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver
* Mandisa - "Any Man of Mine" by Shania Twain
* Elliott Yamin - "If Tomorrow Never Comes" by Garth Brooks
* Paris Bennett - "How Do I Live" by LeAnn Rimes
* Ace Young - "Tonight I Wanna Cry" by Keith Urban
* Kellie Pickler - "Fancy" by Bobbie Gentry
* Chris Daughtry - "Making Memories of Us" by Keith Urban
* Katharine McPhee - "Bringing Out the Elvis in Me" by Faith Hill
* Bucky Covington - "Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)" by Vertical Horizon

### Top 8 perform

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

#### Eliminated Contestant

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**Bucky Covington** was the eliminated contestant on April 12, 2006, bringing the total down to 7 remaining contestants.

#### Top 7

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 7**.
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* Paris Bennett
* Katharine McPhee
* Kellie Pickler
* Chris Daughtry

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* Taylor Hicks
* Elliott Yamin *(bottom 3)*
* Ace Young *(bottom 3)*

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Bucky Covington - "Fat Bottomed Girls"
* Ace Young - "We Will Rock You"
* Kellie Pickler - "Bohemian Rhapsody"
* Chris Daughtry - "Innuendo"
* Katharine McPhee - "Who Wants To Live Forever"
* Elliott Yamin - "Somebody To Love"
* Taylor Hicks - "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"
* Paris Bennett - "The Show Must Go On"

### Top 7 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 7 performed a song from the Great American Songbook for a spot in the Top 6.

#### Eliminated Contestant

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**Ace Young** was the eliminated contestant on April 19, 2006, bringing the total down to 6 remaining contestants.

#### Top 6

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 6**.
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* Paris Bennett *(bottom 3)*
* Katharine McPhee
* Kellie Pickler

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* Chris Daughtry *(bottom 3)*
* Taylor Hicks
* Elliott Yamin

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Chris Daughtry - "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong
* Paris Bennett - "These Foolish Things" by Billie Holiday
* Taylor Hicks - "You Send Me" by Sam Cooke
* Elliott Yamin - "It Had To Be You" by Sam Lanin and his Orchestra
* Kellie Pickler - "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" by Vivienne Segal
* Ace Young - "That's All" by Nat King Cole
* Katharine McPhee - "Someone to Watch Over Me" by Gertrude Lawrence

### Top 6 perform

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

#### Eliminated Contestant

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**Kellie Pickler** was the eliminated contestant on April 26, 2006, bringing the total down to 5 remaining contestants.

#### Top 5

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 5**.
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* Paris Bennett *(bottom 2)*
* Katharine McPhee
* Chris Daughtry
* Taylor Hicks
* Elliott Yamin

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Katharine McPhee - "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston
* Elliott Yamin - "A Song for You" by Leon Russell
* Kellie Pickler - "Unchained Melody" by Todd Duncan
* Paris Bennett - "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand
* Taylor Hicks - "Just Once" by James Ingram
* Chris Daughtry - "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" by Bryan Adams

### Top 5 perform

During this round of the Finals, the Top 5 contestants performed a song from the year they were born in and a song from the current Billboard Top 10 for a spot in the Top 4.

#### Eliminated Contestant

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**Paris Bennett** was the eliminated contestant on May 3, 2006, bringing the total down to 4 remaining contestants.

#### Top 4

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 4**.
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* Katharine McPhee
* Chris Daughtry
* Taylor Hicks
* Elliott Yamin *(bottom 2)*

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Elliott Yamin - "On Broadway" by The Crystals (1978)
* Paris Bennett - "Kiss" by Prince and The Revolution (1987)
* Chris Daughtry - "Renegade" by Styx (1979)
* Katharine McPhee - "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" by Phil Collins (1984)
* Taylor Hicks - "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry (1976)
* Elliott Yamin - "Home" by Michael Bublé
* Paris Bennett - "Be Without You" by Mary J. Blige
* Chris Daughtry - "I Dare You" by Shinedown
* Katharine McPhee - "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" by KT Tunstall
* Taylor Hicks - "Something" by The Beatles

### Top 4 perform

During this round of the Finals, each contestant will perform two songs from Elvis Presley for a spot in the Top 3.

#### Eliminated Contestant

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**Chris Daughtry** was the eliminated contestant on May 10, 2006, bringing the total down to 3 remaining contestants.

#### Top 3

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* Katharine McPhee *(bottom 2)*
* Taylor Hicks
* Elliott Yamin

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Taylor Hicks - "Jailhouse Rock"
* Chris Daughtry - "Suspicious Minds"
* Elliott Yamin - "If I Can Dream"
* Katharine McPhee - "Hound Dog" / "All Shook Up"
* Taylor Hicks - "In the Ghetto"
* Chris Daughtry - "A Little Less Conversation"
* Elliott Yamin - "Trouble"
* Katharine McPhee - "Can't Help Falling in Love"

### Top 3 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 3 performed a song picked by Clive Davis, a song picked by the judges and a song of their choice for a spot in the Top 2.

#### Eliminated Contestant

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**Elliott Yamin** was the eliminated contestant on May 17, 2006, bringing the total down to 2 remaining contestants.

#### Top 2

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 2**.
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* Katharine McPhee
* Taylor Hicks

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#### Performances

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

* Elliott Yamin - "Open Arms" by Journey
* Katharine McPhee - "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly
* Taylor Hicks - "Dancing in the Dark" by Bruce Springsteen
* Elliott Yamin - "What You Won't Do for Love" by Bobby Caldwell (chosen by Paula Abdul)
* Katharine McPhee - "Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland (chosen by Simon Cowell)
* Taylor Hicks - "You Are So Beautiful" by Billy Preston and Dennis Wilson (chosen by Randy Jackson)
* Elliott Yamin - "I Believe to My Soul" by Ray Charles
* Katharine McPhee - "I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues" by Duke Ellington
* Taylor Hicks - "Try a Little Tenderness" by Val Rosing and The Ray Noble Orchestra

### Top 2 perform

During the final round of the finals, the Top 2 performed two of their previous song from the past round and their first winning single for a spot as Season 5's **American Idol**.

#### Runner-up

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**Katharine McPhee** was the runner-up of Season 5. Taylor Hicks being the winner.

#### Performances

(The first and second performance were two songs from their favorite performances, the last was their winner single). The contestants performed in the following order:

* Katharine McPhee - "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" by KT Tunstall
* Taylor Hicks - "Living for the City" by Stevie Wonder
* Katharine McPhee - "Over The Rainbow" by Judy Garland
* Taylor Hicks - "Levon" by Elton John
* Katharine McPhee - "My Destiny"
* Taylor Hicks - "Do I Make You Proud"

### Winner

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**Taylor Hicks** was the winner of American Idol Season 5 on May 24, 2006. He is the eldest contestant to win the competition at the age of 29.

## Controversy

The biggest controversy to come out of this season was the May 10, 2006 elimination of fan favorite Chris Daughtry. Some voters claimed that phone calls dialed for Daughtry during the first few minutes of voting were misrouted to contestant Katherine McPhee's lines, resulting in the voter hearing McPhee's recorded message thanking them for voting instead of his. An unsuccessful petition drive to bring Daughtry back to the show was started by his fans and garnered attention by the media. It also brought the show's voting system back into question with some fans and several critics claiming that the show's voting is rigged. Rigged voting would gain even more attention in Season 10 when contestant Pia Toscano was eliminated, and in Season 12 when contestant Angie Miller was eliminated.