Season 9

The **ninth season** of American Idol premiered on January 12, 2010. Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi all returned as judges. Paula Abdul did not return as a judge. Victoria Beckham, Mary J. Blige, Shania Twain, Kristin Chenoweth, Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry, Neil Patrick Harris, and Joe Jonas were guest judges during the auditions. A new judge was Ellen DeGeneres, who made her first appearance during the first day of Hollywood Week. Before the season started, Simon Cowell announced that season 9 would be his final season. Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi also left the show after the season ended.

This season was won by 24-year-old singer-songwriter Lee DeWyze.

## Auditions

The auditions locations were revealed after Kris Allen was crowned as the next American Idol.

* **Boston, Massachussets: Gillette Stadium** June 14, 2009: 32 tickets
* **Atlanta, Georgia: Georgia Dome** June 18, 2009: 25 tickets
* **Chicago, Illinois: United Center** June 22, 2009: 13 tickets
* **Dallas, Texas: Cowboys Stadium** June 26, 2009: 31 tickets
* **Los Angeles, California: Rose Bowl** June 30, 2009: 23 tickets
* **Orlando, Florida: Amway Arena** July 9, 2009: 31 tickets
* **Denver, Colorado: Invesco Field** July 14, 2009: 26 tickets

Contestants are required to be between the ages 16 and 28, and eligible to work in the United States. Contestants are 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). In season nine, 181 tickets to Hollywood were given out. This is 32 more tickets than the previous season.

### "Pants on the Ground"

During the Atlanta auditions, 62-year-old activist Larry Platt appeared and performed his original song, "Pants on the Ground." The song talks about people who wear pants that sag. Platt was ineligible to continue, due to being well over the show's age limit of 28 years old. His performance has since become a viral hit, and several celebrities performed the song in the days that followed the original airing of his audition in Atlanta, Georgia. Even Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre & his teammates celebrated a victory by singing the song.

## Hollywood Week

Held at the Kodak Theatre for the second straight year, the first day of Hollywood Week featured the 181 contestants from the auditions round (although only 181 contestants were listed on the American Idol website) singing solo with the option of playing an instrument. 181 contestants advanced. The next round required the contestants to split up into groups and perform. 181 advanced to the final round of Hollywood requiring a solo performance. 181 made it to the final round where the judges take contestants one by one and tell them if they made the final 180.

## Semifinals

The semi-final format used through seasons 4–7 has been revived for this season. Starting with 36 women and 36 men, the women and men perform on weekly separate shows and on the result shows, the bottom 2 women and the bottom 2 men are eliminated from the competition. The semi-finals took place over three weeks until there are six women and six men forming the top 12.
From this point on in the show, this season's exit song, "Leave Right Now" by Will Young, was played over eliminations.

The following contestants were Season 9's Top 48

**Males:**

 Michael Lynche | Alex Lambert
Purifory
Aufua
Johnson

**Females:**

## Top 20

The following contestants were Season 9's **Top 20**.
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* Michael Lynche
* John Park
* Casey James
* Alex Lambert
* Todrick Hall
* Jermaine Sellers
* Andrew Garcia
* Aaron Kelly
* Tim Urban
* Lee DeWyze

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* Crystal Bowersox
* Haeley Vaughn
* Lacey Brown
* Katie Stevens
* Didi Benami
* Michelle Delamor
* Lily Scott
* Katelyn Epperly
* Paige Miles
* Siobhan Magnus

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## Top 16

The following contestants were Season 9's **Top 16**.
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* Michael Lynche
* Casey James
* Alex Lambert
* Todrick Hall
* Andrew Garcia
* Aaron Kelly
* Tim Urban
* Lee DeWyze

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* Crystal Bowersox
* Lacey Brown
* Katie Stevens
* Didi Benami
* Lily Scott
* Katelyn Epperly
* Paige Miles
* Siobhan Magnus

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## Top 12

The following contestants were Season 9's **Top 12**.
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Females

* Crystal Bowersox
* Siobhan Magnus
* Katie Stevens
* Didi Benami
* Paige Miles
* Lacey Brown

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 File:American Idol Season 9 Studio Recording Top 12.jpg
Males

* Lee DeWyze
* Casey James
* Michael Lynche
* Aaron Kelly
* Tim Urban
* Andrew Garcia

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## Finals

### Top 12 perform

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

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Lacey Brown.png
**Lacey Brown** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 11 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on March 17, 2010.

#### Top 11

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 11**.
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* Michael Lynche
* Didi Benami
* Casey James
* Andrew Garcia
* Katie Stevens
* Tim Urban *(bottom 3)*

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* Siobhan Magnus
* Lee DeWyze
* Paige Miles *(bottom 3)*
* Aaron Kelly
* Crystal Bowersox

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Michael Lynche - "Miss You"
* Didi Benami - "Play with Fire"
* Casey James - "It's All Over Now"
* Lacey Brown - "Ruby Tuesday"
* Andrew Garcia - "Gimme Shelter"
* Katie Stevens - "Wild Horses"
* Tim Urban - "Under My Thumb"
* Siobhan Magnus - "Paint It, Black"
* Lee DeWyze - "Beast of Burden"
* Paige Miles - "Honky Tonk Women"
* Aaron Kelly - "Angie"
* Crystal Bowersox - "You Can't Always Get What You Want"

### Top 11 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 11 performed a song from *Billboard'*s Number 1 Hits for a spot in the Top 10.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Paige Miles.png
**Paige Miles** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 10 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on March 24, 2010.

#### Top 10

The following contestants were safe from that round and remained in the **Top 10**.
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* Michael Lynche
* Didi Benami
* Casey James
* Andrew Garcia
* Katie Stevens *(bottom 3)*

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* Tim Urban *(bottom 3)*
* Siobhan Magnus
* Lee DeWyze
* Aaron Kelly
* Crystal Bowersox

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Lee DeWyze - "The Letter" by The Box Tops
* Paige Miles - "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" by Phil Collins
* Tim Urban - "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen
* Aaron Kelly - "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith
* Crystal Bowersox - "Me and Bobby McGee" by Roger Miller
* Michael Lynche - "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge
* Andrew Garcia - "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye
* Katie Stevens - "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie
* Casey James - "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News
* Didi Benami - "You're No Good" by Betty Everett
* Siobhan Magnus - "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder

Group Performance:

* "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!

### Top 10 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 10 performed a R&B/Soul song for a spot in the Top 9.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Didi Benami.png
**Didi Benami** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 9 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on March 31, 2010.

#### Top 9

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 9**.
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* Michael Lynche
* Casey James
* Andrew Garcia
* Katie Stevens *(bottom 3)*
* Tim Urban *(bottom 3)*

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* Siobhan Magnus
* Lee DeWyze
* Aaron Kelly
* Crystal Bowersox

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Siobhan Magnus - "Through the Fire" by Chaka Khan
* Casey James - "Hold On, I'm A Comin'" by Sam & Dave
* Michael Lynche - "Ready for Love" by India.Arie
* Didi Benami - "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" by Jimmy Ruffin
* Tim Urban - "Sweet Love" by Anita Baker
* Andrew Garcia - "Forever" by Chris Brown
* Katie Stevens - "Chain of Fools" by Aretha Franklin
* Lee DeWyze - "Treat Her Like a Lady" by Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
* Crystal Bowersox - "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Cissy Houston
* Aaron Kelly - "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers

### Top 9 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 9 performed a song from the Lennon-McCartney Songbook for a spot in the Top 8.

#### Saved Contestant

File:Michael Lynche.png
The judges used their save on **Michael Lynche** who received the lowest amount of votes and the total was kept to 9 remaining contestants.

#### Top 9

The following contestants were safe from that round and remained in the **Top 9**.
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* Michael Lynche *(bottom 3)*
* Casey James
* Andrew Garcia *(bottom 3)*
* Katie Stevens
* Tim Urban

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* Siobhan Magnus
* Lee DeWyze
* Aaron Kelly *(bottom 3)*
* Crystal Bowersox

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Aaron Kelly - "The Long and Winding Road"
* Katie Stevens - "Let It Be"
* Andrew Garcia - "Can't Buy Me Love"
* Michael Lynche - "Eleanor Rigby"
* Crystal Bowersox - "Come Together"
* Tim Urban - "All My Loving"
* Casey James - "Jealous Guy"
* Siobhan Magnus - "Across the Universe"
* Lee DeWyze - "Hey Jude"

Group Performances:

* "Here, There and Everywhere" / "Got to Get You into My Life" / "The Fool on the Hill" / "All You Need Is Love" / "She Loves You" / "The End" by The Beatles

### Top 9 perform (redux)

During this round of the finals, the Top 9 performed a song from Elvis Presley for a spot in the Top 7.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Andrew Garcia.png
**Andrew Garcia** was one of the two eliminated contestants bringing the total down to 7 remaining contestants. He was eliminated on April 14, 2010.

File:Katie Stevens.png

**Katie Stevens** was one of the two eliminated contestants bringing the total down to 7 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on April 14, 2010.

#### Top 7

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 7**.
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* Michael Lynche
* Casey James
* Tim Urban
* Siobhan Magnus

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* Lee DeWyze
* Aaron Kelly
* Crystal Bowersox

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Crystal Bowersox - "Saved"
* Andrew Garcia - "Hound Dog"
* Tim Urban - "Can't Help Falling in Love"
* Lee DeWyze - "A Little Less Conversation"
* Aaron Kelly - "Blue Suede Shoes"
* Siobhan Magnus - "Suspicious Minds"
* Michael Lynche - "In the Ghetto"
* Katie Stevens - "Baby What You Want Me to Do"
* Casey James - "Lawdy Miss Clawdy"

Group Performances:

* "Teddy Bear" / "Burning Love" / "Return to Sender" / "Viva Las Vegas" by Elvis Presley

### Top 7 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 7 performed a song that is inspirational to them for a spot in the Top 6.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Tim Urban.png
**Tim Urban** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 6 remaining contestants. He was eliminated on April 21, 2010.

#### Top 6

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 6**.
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* Michael Lynche
* Casey James *(bottom 3)*
* Siobhan Magnus

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* Lee DeWyze
* Aaron Kelly *(bottom 3)*
* Crystal Bowersox

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Casey James - "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac
* Lee DeWyze - "The Boxer" by Simon & Garfunkel
* Tim Urban - "Better Days" by Goo Goo Dolls
* Aaron Kelly - "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly
* Siobhan Magnus - "When You Believe" by Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston
* Michael Lynche - "Hero" by Chad Kroeger feat. Josey Scott
* Crystal Bowersox - "People Get Ready" by The Impressions

Group Performance:

* "Keeping the Dream Alive"

### Top 6 perform

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

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Siobhan Magnus.png
**Siobhan Magnus** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 5 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on April 28, 2010.

#### Top 5

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 5**.
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* Michael Lynche *(bottom 3)*
* Casey James *(bottom 3)*
* Lee DeWyze
* Aaron Kelly
* Crystal Bowersox

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Lee DeWyze - "You're Still the One"
* Michael Lynche - "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing"
* Casey James - "Don't!"
* Crystal Bowersox - "No One Needs to Know"
* Aaron Kelly - "You've Got a Way"
* Siobhan Magnus - "Any Man of Mine"

### Top 5 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 5 performed a song from Frank Sinatra for a spot in the Top 4.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Aaron Kelly.png
**Aaron Kelly** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 4 remaining contestants. He was eliminated on May 5, 2010.

#### Top 4

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 4**.
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* Michael Lynche *(bottom 2)*
* Casey James
* Lee DeWyze
* Crystal Bowersox

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Aaron Kelly - "Fly Me to the Moon"
* Casey James - "Blue Skies"
* Crystal Bowersox - "Summer Wind"
* Michael Lynche - "The Way You Look Tonight"
* Lee DeWyze - "That's Life"

Group Performances:

* "The Lady Is a Tramp" / "It Was a Very Good Year" / "I've Got the World on a String" / "Night and Day" by Frank Sinatra
* "We Are in Love" / "Come by Me" / "Hear Me in the Harmony" by Harry Connick, Jr.

### Top 4 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 4 performed a song from the Cinema for a spot in the Top 3.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Michael Lynche.png
**Michael Lynche** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 3 remaining contestants. He was eliminated on May 12, 2010.

#### Top 3

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 3**.
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* Casey James
* Lee DeWyze
* Crystal Bowersox

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Lee DeWyze - "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal (Batman Forever)
* Michael Lynche - "Will You Be There" by Michael Jackson (Free Willy)
* Casey James - "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel (The Graduate)
* Crystal Bowersox - "I'm Alright" by Kenny Loggins (Caddyshack)

Group Performances:

* Crystal Bowersox & Lee DeWyze - "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová (Once)
* Casey James & Michael Lynche - "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" by Bryan Adams (Don Juan DeMarco)

### Top 3 perform

During this round of the finals, the Top 3 performed a song of their choice for a spot in the Top 2.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Casey James.png
**Casey James** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 2 remaining contestants. He was eliminated on May 19, 2010.

#### Top 2

The following contestants were safe from that round and advanced on to the **Top 2**.
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* Lee DeWyze
* Crystal Bowersox

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#### Performances

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

* Casey James - "OK, It's Alright with Me" by Eric Hutchinson
* Crystal Bowersox - "Come to My Window" by Melissa Etheridge
* Lee DeWyze - "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
* Casey James - "Daughters" by John Mayer (chosen by Randy Jackson & Kara DioGuardi)
* Crystal Bowersox - "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney (chosen by Ellen DeGeneres)
* Lee DeWyze - "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen (chosen by Simon Cowell)

### Top 2 perform

During the final round of the finals, the Top 2 performed a song picked by Simon Fuller, a song of their choice, and their winner single for a spot as Season 9's **American Idol**.

#### Runner-up

File:Crystal Bowersox.png
**Crystal Bowersox** was the runner-up of Season 9. Lee DeWyze being the winner.

#### Performances

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

* Lee DeWyze - "The Boxer" by Simon & Garfunkel
* Crystal Bowersox - "Me and Bobby McGee" by Roger Miller
* Lee DeWyze - "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M.
* Crystal Bowersox - "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles
* Lee DeWyze - "Beautiful Day" by U2
* Crystal Bowersox - "Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)" by Solomon Burke

### Winner

File:Lee DeWyze.png
**Lee DeWyze** was the winner of American Idol Season 9 on May 26, 2010.

## Results Performances

### Group Performances/Ford Music Video

* **Top 24:** "American Boy" by Estelle and Kanye West
* **Top 20:** "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas
* **Top 16:** "Haven't Met You Yet" by Michael Bublé
* **Top 12:** "Tick Tick Boom" by The Hives (Ford Music Video)
* **Top 11:** "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!; "Our Time Now" by Plain White T's (Ford Music Video)
* **Top 10:** "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas (Ford Music Video)

### Special Guest Performances

#### Top 24

* "Scars" by Allison Iraheta
* "Let it Be" by Kris Allen1

#### Top 20

* "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me" by Danny Gokey

#### Top 16

* "Tell Her About It" by Matt Giraud and Scott MacIntyre2

#### Top 12

* "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by David Cook3
* "According to You" by Orianthi
* "Blah Blah Blah" by Ke$ha and 3OH!3

#### Top 11

* "When I Look At You" by Miley Cyrus
* "Make a Wave" by Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato

#### Top 10

* "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More" by Ruben Studdard
* "OMG" by Usher and will.i.am
* "Hello, Good Morning" by Diddy and Dirty Money

1 Cover of the song by The Beatles. Was made available for digital download on iTunes, with all proceeds going to Haiti charities.

2 Cover of the song by Billy Joel.

3 Cover of the song by The Rolling Stones.

## Controversies

### Top 72 Leak

During the Hollywood week, Michael Lynche's father told the local newspaper that Michael had made the top 72. *Idol* contestants and family members are not allowed to announce whether they made it or not until the show airs. This caused many to think Michael would be disqualified, but he wasn't.

### Chris Golightly

Chris Golightly was originally selected as a semi-finalist. However, Chris was disqualified on February 17, 2010, after already being told he was in the top 24, over an old record contract. The contract had expired by the time the top 24 began to tape, but they disqualified him because he was under contract at the time of the tryouts, in violation of *Idol* rules. He was replaced by Tim Urban at the last minute of the last part of Hollywood Week.

### Ryan Seacrest Twitter post

Lacey Brown's elimination stirred up controversy after host Ryan Seacrest had tweeted the results before the elimination show had aired on the west coast. This caused anger among the fans of the show and as a result, the elimination show may have had lower ratings than usual.

### Siobhan Magnus vote-off

The elimanation of contestant Siobhan Magnus caused a stir among the show's fans when it was discovered that a phone number posted on a Facebook page was not for Magnus as it was intended but for fellow contestant Aaron Kelly. Some wondered if the phone number mix-up had resulted in Magnus' elimination. An unsuccessful petition drive to bring her back onto the show was started by her fans. There have also been conspiracy theories that Magnus had not been the lowest vote-getter during Shania Twain week, considering the fact that she had never been in the bottom 3. Some claim it is unreal,and for her to be eliminated, she would need a 20% vote drop-off, which according to the theorists, seems very unlikely. It was later implied that the reason for the following week's lower ratings, which was the lowest among the 18-49 demographic since 2002, was due to disgruntled fans not tuning in.

## Notable past Idol contestants

* Luke Edgemon, who was cut in Hollywood week, later auditioned for season 4 of *The Voice*in 2013 and got country music superstar Blake Shelton as his mentor after his original mentor, Latin superstar Shakira, had eliminated him in the Battle Rounds. Edgemon ended up being eliminated in the Knockout Rounds.
* Kelsey Ray, who was cut in Hollywood week, later auditioned for season 1 of *The Voice*in 2011 and got R&B star Cee Lo Green as her mentor. She was eliminated in the Battle Rounds.
* Keith Semple, who had auditioned in Chicago but was disqualified due to immigration issues, later auditioned for season 9 of *The Voice* in 2015 and got Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine as his mentor. He finished in the top 24.
* Singer Tori Kelly auditioned for the show and made it all the way to the final day of hollywood before being cut just shy of the top 24. Since her Idol journey, Kelly has gone on to become one of pop music's rising stars with a hit album and two Grammy nominations.
* Jackie Tohn, who finished in the semifinals, is now one of the stars of the hit Netflix series *GLOW.*
* Carvena Jones, who was cut in Hollywood week, later tried out for the Fox competition show *The Four: Battle for Stardom* in 2018, getting eliminated in the seventh week.