Table Of ContentTHE BEST OF
AMERICAN IDOL
FAREWELL TO TV’S GREATEST TALENT SEARCH
“Becoming famous at 19 . . . that’s ridiculous,” Kelly Clarkson told People.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
FOREWORD: ‘IDOL HAS OPENED SO MANY DOORS’
Ryan Seacrest shares personal memories
SEASON ONE
Cocktail waitress Kelly Clarkson becomes a singing sensation
SEASON TWO
Ruben Studdard, the big man from Birmingham, charms all
‘WE KNEW WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE A STAR’
Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul reveal their judging secrets
SEASON THREE
Teenager Fantasia Barrino wows the Queen of Soul
SEASON FOUR
Carrie Underwood becomes Idol’s biggest success story
CARRIE UNDERWOOD TALKS
The star tells People how she adjusted to life after Idol
SEASON FIVE
Taylor Hicks makes the most of his “old-style flavor”
SEASON SIX
The winning voice of 16-year-old Jordin Sparks conquers all
IDOL GIVES BACK
Raising millions for charities
SEASON SEVEN
Simon calls David Cook “amazing”
SEASON EIGHT
Kris Allen captivates fans with a heartfelt approach
VISITING STARS
Rihanna, Gaga and—yes!— the Hoff drop by
SEASON NINE
High school dropout Lee DeWyze finds redemption in song
SEASON TEN
Scotty McCreery works his boyish looks and manly voice
SEASON ELEVEN
Kidney stones can’t stop Phillip Phillips from singing
SEASON TWELVE
After auditioning a third time, Candice Glover wins big
SEASON THIRTEEN
Caleb Johnson’s rough edges break the Idol mold
SEASON FOURTEEN
“Hot guy” Nick Fradiani catches fire with the judges
THEY HATE TO JUDGE, BUT...
Harry Connick Jr., Keith Urban and Jennifer Lopez go behind the scenes with People
IDOL MOGUL
Simon Fuller reveals secrets of his star-making machine
SEASON FIFTEEN
That’s all, folks. The final shows
Credit
Copyright
TRIO WITH BRIO Idol’s initial panel of judges set the tone for 15 seasons of spirited discussions about fame and talent.
RYAN SEACREST LOOKS BACK . . .
“Idol Has Opened So Many
Doors”
REMEMBERING 15 SEASONS OF MUSICAL MAGIC THAT TOUCHED A NATION’S
HEART by RYAN SEACREST
“IT HAS
BEEN AN
INCREDIBLE
RIDE”
Life without American Idol? I can’t imagine it. From the moment I first walked out
onstage 14 years ago with my frosted tips, I was terrified. I had somehow gotten
through the audition and persuaded Mike Darnell, Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick to
take a chance on me, because I’d never hosted a live prime-time show. I just wanted to
walk out, do the show well, have the audience feel comfortable, try to support the
contestants and figure out a way to get under Simon’s skin, of course. I mean, those
were the things that I wanted to do.
The first season was incredibly special—there was a magic about it—maybe because
we didn’t know what we were doing. The chemistry and chaos between Simon, Randy
and Paula was undeniable. There was no script, and we all just sort of winged it. The
culmination of all these ingredients was lightning in a bottle. We soon found success,
and American Idol became a powerful platform for undiscovered, incredibly talented singers
from around the country who otherwise might not have had a chance.
Our live shows have an energy you can feel, and because we are live, truly anything can
happen. When the stage manager would say, “3-2-1,” we were live, and there was no
safety net. I love that rush.
American Idol makes superstars. The show takes singers on an incredible ride, and
viewers get to watch them transform week after week. The contestants have access to
some of the best music producers, choreographers and musicians in the business, who
help support them through the competition. Kelly Clarkson was a waitress from Texas,
Carrie Underwood had never been on an airplane before, Fantasia was a financially
struggling single mom. These are real stories of contestants whose lives were changed
forever.
Idol has opened so many doors, and contestants don’t have to win in order to succeed
after the show. Look at Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson, Clay Aiken, Adam Lambert,
Kellie Pickler. . . . The list goes on.
Our judges and producers have done a terrific job of finding talent on the road. We
have traveled across the country to towns big and small—though I was always blown
away by the number of “entertaining” singers who believed they were the next Kelly
Clarkson! They thought the judges were crazy when they didn’t get a golden ticket, but
people like William Hung found a place in our hearts. Even though he wasn’t the best
singer, you couldn’t help but enjoy watching him.
I hope we’ll always be remembered for some of the amazing things we did along the
way, such as Idol Gives Back. We raised millions of dollars for charity, and we helped
make a global impact. I’m also proud that we put on a show that moms, dads,
grandparents and kids could watch together in their living rooms.
Now that it’s all ending, of course I have mixed emotions. In the practical part of my
brain, I knew this decision was coming at some point. In the heart-and-passion side of
my brain, I never wanted to get that news, because Idol has done so much for me.
Thankfully, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. are the perfect group
to wrap up the farewell season—before they ever were judges, they all were true
American Idol fans.
I still haven’t wrapped my head around the final episode. People ask me all the time if I
think I will cry. I think we all will be crying, but not just because it is the end. There will
be tears of joy to have known that we were part of something that will always play an
integral role in the history of television. The last time I step onto that shiny floor and
ask Kieran to dim the lights, I don’t know how I will feel. It has been an incredible ride
so far, and this show has changed my life forever. I hope that people enjoy this final
celebration and remember this magic doesn’t happen that often in life.
celebration and remember this magic doesn’t happen that often in life.
To the thousands of contestants and millions upon millions of viewers who watched
and voted, I thank you. You helped change so many lives, including mine.
How Idol Changed The World
AMERICAN IDOL PERFORMERS WENT ON TO WIN MULTIPLE GRAMMYS AND AN
OSCAR, TOUR WITH INTERNATIONAL ROCK STARS, LIGHT UP BROADWAY, RUN
FOR OFFICE . . . AND EVEN SING FOR THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
PRESIDENTIAL SWEET Barack Obama thanks Kelly Clarkson for her stirring rendition of “America (My Country ’Tis of
Thee)” at his second Inauguration, on Jan. 21, 2013, as Vice President Joe Biden looks on.
OSCAR OMG! Just seconds after her 2007 Best Supporting Actress Oscar win (for her film debut in Dreamgirls),
Jennifer Hudson can’t contain her disbelief. And yes, that blur in the tux behind her is George Clooney—he’s the one
who handed her that little golden man.
“I’M STILL IN
SHOCK.
DID I REALLY
JUST WIN?”
—JENNIFER HUDSON, backstage after receiving an Academy Award on Feb. 25,
