Conversation so far:
How old was Taylor Hicks when he appeared on American Idol?
Taylor Hicks was 30 years old when he appeared on American Idol in 2006.
What song did Taylor Hicks perform in his audition?
Taylor Hicks is gray-haired and performed A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke at his original audition in Las Vegas.
What did the judges say about Taylor Hicks at his first audition?
At the first audition, the judges were surprised by Taylor Hicks's appearance.
Who did Taylor Hicks go up against in the Finals?
Taylor Hicks edged out Katharine McPhee in the season finale.

Question: How did the audience respond to Taylor Hicks?
Self-contained rewrite: How did the audience respond to Taylor Hicks?