Season 15

**Season 15** of *American Idol*, prominently known as *American Idol: The Farewell Season*, premiered January 6, 2016 on Fox and ended April 7, 2016 with Mississippi singer Trent Harmon declared the winner of the show. Host Ryan Seacrest returned as did judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick, Jr. Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta returned as the in-house mentor. Nigel Lythgoe returned as the executive producer during the finale.

This season was the last season for the show on Fox.

## Auditions

 File:S15 Auditions.png
For *American Idol's* last season on FOX, auditions took place in five cities across the nation and stopped in numerous other cities as a Bus Tour. This season is the first time pre-judging is shown live; pre-judging being where contestants audition before they audition in front of the official judges. The pre-judges consisted of past contestants and past winners. Alumni such as Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, and Nick Fradiani made appearances.

### Audition Cities

The following cities held auditions for Season 15, dates of the auditions are also shown.

* **Denver, Colorado** - *July 10, 2015*
* **Atlanta, Georgia** - *July 22, 2015*
* **Philadelphia, Pennsylvania** - *August 2, 2015*
* **Little Rock, Arkansas** - *August 8, 2015*
* **San Francisco, California** - *September 15, 2015*

### Bus Tour

The Season 15 Bus Tour stopped in the following cities between July 9-21, 2015:
Seattle, Washington; Providence, Rhode Island; Baltimore, Maryland; San Diego, California; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Tucson, Arizona; Indianapolis, Indiana; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Athens, Georgia; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Oxford, Mississippi; Wilmington, North Carolina.

### Extras

Notable musician Kanye West made a surprise appearance at auditions in San Francisco as an auditioner where he performed "Gold Digger".

## Hollywood Week

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During Hollywood Week, the contestants performed in front of the judges in hopes of advancing to the next round. These rounds consisted of numerous cuts while the contestants performed in solos and in groups. Only the best contestants advanced.

### Judgement Round

The first judgement round of Hollywood was known as "Lines of Ten". Numerous groups of contestants lined up in sets of ten to perform a song individually. After a line performed, the judges chose the best to advance on while others were cut from the competition. Those who advanced moved on to the group rounds.

### Group Rounds

The group rounds are the ultimate test of the stability and harmony of an artist within a group. Like previous seasons, contestants were required to assemble into gender neutral groups of three or more. Those who failed to assemble a group of three or more, were instantly disqualified due to the three person rule. Groups who gave a quality performance advanced on to the next round. However, groups or certain group members that didn't perform to a good enough extent, were cut from the competition.

### Solo Round

Those who advanced passed the Group Rounds had to perform a solo in front of the judges. After the performances, 51 contestants were chosen to perform in front of a live audience for their Final Judgement.

## Showcase Week

After the Top 51 performed in front of their first full audience, they met with the judges for their Final Judgement. Only 24 were able to advance to the next round while the rest were unfortunately cut from the season.

### Top 24

After the Final Judgement, 24 contestants were chosen to move on to the Semifinals.

**Males:**

 Dalton Rapattoni | Jordan Sasser

**Females:**

 Jenna Renae

## Semifinals

During the Semifinals of Season 15, the Top 24 performed in solos and in duets with *Idol* Alumni. The Top 24 was split into two groups, one group performing one week and the other the following week. After the combination of solos and duets were performed within a group, the judges handpicked only seven out of the twelve to continue to the next round of competition. The remaining five contestants were cut from the season. By the end of the the Top 24's performances, the Top 14 were revealed.

### Mentors

The Mentors for the duet rounds of the Semifinals consisted of numerous *Idol* Alumni. These Alumni would mentor as well as perform with the contestant during their duet round. Alumni such as Lauren Alaina, Nick Fradiani, Ruben Studdard, Scotty McCreery, Caleb Johnson, and Fantasia Barrino were mentors in the first week and Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Constantine Maroulis, Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler, and Haley Reinhart were mentors for the second week.

### Top 14

The following contestants advanced on to the **Top 14**:

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**Males**

* **MacKenzie Bourg**
* **Trent Harmon**
* **Lee Jean**
* **Dalton Rapattoni**
* **Thomas Stringfellow**
* **Manny Torres**

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**Females**

* **Jenn Blosil**
* **Gianna Isabella**
* **Tristan McIntosh**
* **Jeneve Rose Mitchell**
* **La'Porsha Renae**
* **Olivia Rox**
* **Sonika Vaid**
* **Avalon Young**

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### Judges' Picks

Before the Top 14 performed for America's first vote of the season, the Judges hand-picked four contestants for a designated spot within the Top 10. The judges chose Dalton Rapattoni, La'Porsha Renae, Olivia Rox, and Trent Harmon to fill the four designated spots.

## Top 10

The following contestants were Season 15's **Top 10**:

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* Trent Harmon
* La'Porsha Renae
* Dalton Rapattoni
* MacKenzie Bourg
* Sonika Vaid

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 File:Season 15 Top 10.png
* Tristan McIntosh
* Lee Jean
* Avalon Young
* Gianna Isabella
* Olivia Rox

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## Finals

### Top 10 Perform

During the first round of the Finals, the contestants performed a song of their choice for a spot in the Top 8. Kelly Clarkson appeared as a guest judge during this round. On the next week's live results, the bottom three finalists would be revealed and the judges would have the option to save one of the contestants, who delivered the best performance, to advance.

#### Eliminated Contestants

File:Olivia Rox.png
**Olivia Rox** was one of the two eliminated contestants, bringing the total down to 8 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on March 3, 2016.

File:Gianna Isabella.png
**Gianna Isabella** was one of the two eliminated contestants, bringing the total down to 8 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on March 3, 2016.

#### Top 8

The following contestants advanced on to the **Top 8**:
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* MacKenzie Bourg
* Trent Harmon
* Lee Jean
* Tristan McIntosh

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* Dalton Rapattoni
* La'Porsha Renae
* Sonika Vaid
* Avalon Young *(bottom 3)*

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Olivia Rox - "Unconditionally" by Katy Perry
* Gianna Isabella - "Listen" by Beyonce
* Lee Jean - "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver
* Avalon Young - "Stitches" Shawn Mendes
* Dalton Rapattoni - "Hey There Delilah" by Plain White T's
* Tristan McIntosh - "Nothin' Like You" by Dan + Shay
* MacKenzie Bourg - "I See Fire" by Ed Sheeran
* La'Porsha Renae - "Diamonds" by Rihanna
* Sonika Vaid - "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence
* Trent Harmon - "Like I Can" by Sam Smith

### Top 8 Perform

During the Top 8, the contestants performed *Idol* Grammy Hits songs for a spot in the Top 7.

#### Eliminated Contestants

File:Avalon Young.png
**Avalon Young** was one of the two eliminated contestants, bringing the total down to 6 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on March 10, 2016.

File:Lee Jean.png
**Lee Jean** was one of the two eliminated contestants, bringing the total down to 6 remaining contestants. He was eliminated on March 10, 2016.

#### Top 6

The following contestants advanced on to the **Top 6**:
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* MacKenzie Bourg
* Trent Harmon
* Tristan McIntosh

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* Dalton Rapattoni
* La'Porsha Renae
* Sonika Vaid *(bottom 3)*

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Dalton Rapattoni - "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons
* Lee Jean - "Use Somebody" Kings of Leon
* Sonika Vaid - "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson
* MacKenzie Bourg - "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston
* La'Porsha Renae - "Halo" by Beyonce
* Trent Harmon - "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge
* Tristan McIntosh - "Go Rest High on That Mountain" by Vince Gill
* Avalon Young - "Earned It" by The Weekend

Group Performance:

* "Confident" with Demi Lovato

### Top 6 Perform

During the Top 6, the contestants performed songs from the *American Idol* Songbook for a spot in the Top 5.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Tristan McIntosh.png
**Tristan McIntosh** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 5 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on March 17, 2016.

#### Top 4

The following contestants advanced on to the **Top 5**:
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* MacKenzie Bourg
* Trent Harmon
* Dalton Rapattoni
* La'Porsha Renae
* Sonika Vaid *(bottom 2)*

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* La'Porsha Renae - "Come Together" by The Beatles
* MacKenzie Bourg - "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker
* Trent Harmon - "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King
* Tristan McIntosh - "A Broken Wing" by Martina McBride
* Dalton Rapattoni - "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles
* Sonika Vaid - "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston

Group Performances:

* Trent Harmon & La'Porsha Renae - "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
* Sonika Vaid & Avalon Young - "Rise Up" by Andra Day
* MacKenzie Bourg & Dalton Rapattoni - "I Want It That Way" by The Backstreet Boys
* Tristan McIntosh & Lee Jean - "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith

### Top 5 Perform

During the Top 5, the contestants performed songs from America's Twitter for a spot in the Top 4.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Sonika Vaid.png
**Sonika Vaid** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 4 remaining contestants. She was eliminated on March 24, 2016.

#### Top 4

The following contestants advanced on to the **Top 4**:
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* MacKenzie Bourg
* Trent Harmon
* Dalton Rapattoni *(bottom 2)*
* La'Porsha Renae

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Trent Harmon - "Counting Stars" by OneRepublic
* Dalton Rapattoni - "Numb" by Linkin Park
* La'Porsha Renae - "Ready for Love" by India.Arie
* MacKenzie Bourg - "Wild World" by Cat Stevens
* Sonika Vaid - "Let It Go" by Idina Menzel
* Dalton Rapattoni - "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel
* MacKenzie Bourg - "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson
* Trent Harmon - "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
* Sonika Vaid - "Clarity" by Zedd feat. Foxes
* La'Porsha Renae - "No More Drama" by Mary J. Blige

### Top 4 Perform

During the Top 4, the contestants performed a Classic Rock song and a song from the Sia songbook for a spot in the Top 3.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:MacKenzie Bourg.png
**MacKenzie Bourg** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 3 remaining contestants. He was eliminated on March 31, 2016.

#### Top 3

The following contestants advanced on to the **Top 3**:
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* Trent Harmon
* Dalton Rapattoni
* La'Porsha Renae *(bottom 2)*

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* La'Porsha Renae - "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi
* MacKenzie Bourg - "I Want You to Want me" by Cheap Trick
* Trent Harmon - "Sharp Dressed Man" by ZZ Top
* Dalton Rapattoni - "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys
* La'Porsha Renae - "Elastic Heart" by Sia
* MacKenzie Bourg - "Titanium" by David Guetta feat. Sia
* Trent Harmon - "Chandelier" by Sia
* Dalton Rapattoni - "Bird Set Free" by Sia

### Top 3 Perform

During the Top 3, the contestants performed a song of Scott Borchetta's choice, a song of the Judges' Choice, and a song dedicated to their hometown for a spot in the Top 2.

#### Eliminated Contestant

File:Dalton Rapattoni.png
**Dalton Rapattoni** was the eliminated contestant bringing the total down to 2 remaining contestants. He was eliminated on April 6, 2016.

#### Top 3

The following contestants advanced on to the **Top 2**:
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* Trent Harmon
* La'Porsha Renae

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#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Dalton Rapattoni - "Calling You" by Blue October
* Trent Harmon - "Tennessee Whiskey" by George Jones
* La'Porsha Renae - "Glory" by Common feat. John Legend
* Dalton Rapattoni - "Dancing in the Dark" by Bruce Springsteen
* La'Porsha Renae - "Stay with Me" by Lorraine Ellison
* Trent Harmon - "Drink You Away" by Justin Timberlake
* Dalton Rapattoni - "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears
* La'Porsha Renae - "Hello" by Adele
* Trent Harmon - "Waiting Game" by Parson James

### Top 2 Perform

During the Top 2, the contestants performed a song of Simon Fuller's choice for a spot in the Top 2.

#### Runner-Up

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**La'Porsha Renae** was announced as the Runner-Up on April 7, 2016.

#### Performances

The contestants performed in the following order:

* Trent Harmon - "Falling"
* La'Porsha Renae - "Battles"
* Trent Harmon - "If You Don't Know Me by Now" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
* La'Porsha Renae - "A House Is Not a Home" by Dionne Warwick
* Trent Harmon - "Chandelier" by Sia
* La'Porsha Renae - "Diamonds" by Rihanna

#### Winner

File:Trent Harmon.png
**Trent Harmon** was declared the fifteenth winner of the show on April 7, 2016.

## Guest Performances

* Kelly Clarkson - "Piece by Piece" (February 25, 2016)
* Harry Connick, Jr. - "This Is How We Do" (March 3, 2016)
* **Demi Lovato** - "Stone Cold" (March 3, 2016)
* Nick Fradiani - "Get You Home" (March 9, 2016)
* Adam Lambert Feat. Laleh - "Welcome to the Show" (March 16, 2016)
* Adam Lambert - "Mad World" (March 16, 2016)
* **Jussie Smollett** & **Yazz The Greatest** - "Never Let It Die" (March 16, 2016)
* **Sia** - "Cheap Thrills" (March 23, 2016)
* Katharine McPhee - "Over the Rainbow" (March 23, 2016)
* David Cook - "Heartbeat" (March 23, 2016)
* Keith Urban - "Wasted Time" (March 30, 2016)

## Notable Past Contestants

* Anatalia Villaranda, who made the top 51, later tried out for Season 12 of *The Voice* ​with Grammy Award-winning R&B superstar Alicia Keys as her mentor. She finished in the top 20.
* Jordyn Simone, who made the top 51, later tried out for Season 14 of *The Voice* where she was eliminated in the Knockout Rounds. Her mentor was Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine.

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