American Idol (season 3)
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The third season of American Idol premiered on January 19, 2004 and continued until May 26, 2004. The third season was won by Fantasia Barrino, who defeated Diana DeGarmo by an approximate margin of 2% (1.3 million votes); the vote total (65 million votes) is the highest recorded vote total in the show's history. This season also featured Jennifer Hudson, who was controversially voted off in an early round but went on to become an Academy Award-winning actress.
[edit] Auditions
Auditions were held in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, and Honolulu.
The early part of the season became well-known for the introduction of William Hung, a University of California, Berkeley student, who became popular following his rendition of Ricky Martin's "She Bangs". His performance as well as his attitude facing judge Simon Cowell's criticisms (which was a stark contrast to other contestants' confrontational, angry reactions) made him instantly popular, and landed him a record deal with Koch Records.[1]
[edit] Semi-finals
| American Idol Season 3 Winner | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Birthname | Fantasia Monique Barrino | |
| Years as winner | May 26, 2004 - May 25, 2005 | |
| Genres | Contemporary R&B, Soul
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| Succeded by | Carrie Underwood | |
| Predecessor | Ruben Studdard | |
[edit] American Idol 3 Scoreboard
[edit] Semifinal Group 1
Diana DeGarmo - I've Got The Music In Me (by Kiki Dee)
Marque Lynche - Wind Beneath My Wings (by Bette Midler)
Ashley Thomas - Crazy (by Patsy Cline)
Katie Webber - Orange-Colored Sky (by Nat King Cole)
Erskine Walcott - Open Arms (by Journey)
Jennifer Hudson - Imagine (by John Lennon)
Matthew Metzger - Walking In Memphis (by Marc Cohn)
Fantasia Barrino - Something To Talk About (by Bonnie Raitt)
Top 3: Fantasia, Diana, Matthew
Advancing to the Top 12: Fantasia, Diana
[edit] Semifinal Group 2
Matt Rogers - What You Won't Do For Love (by Bobby Caldwell)
Briana Ramirez-Rial - Don't Know Why (by Norah Jones)
Noel Roman - This I Promise You (by N Sync)
Kara Master - I'm Outta Love (by Anastacia)
Lisa Leuschner - Sweet Thing (by Rufus & Chaka Khan)
Jesus Roman - Back At One (by Brian McKnight)
Camile Velasco - One Last Cry (by Brian McKnight)
Marisa Joy - Some Kind Of Wonderful (by Grand Funk Railroad)
Top 3: Lisa, Camile, Matt
Advancing to the Top 12: Camile, Matt
[edit] Semifinal Group 3
Elizabeth LeTendre - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (by Whitney Houston)
Eric Yoder - In The Still Of The Night (by The Five Satins)
Amy Adams - Power Of Love (by Celine Dion)
Jon Peter Lewis - Tiny Dancer (by Elton John)
Charly Lowry - Chain Of Fools (by Aretha Franklin)
Jonah Moananu - I Wish (by Carl Thomas)
Leah LaBelle - I Have Nothing (by Whitney Houston)
LaToya London - All By Myself (by Eric Carmen)
Top 3: LaToya, Amy, Jon Peter
Advancing to the Top 12: LaToya, Amy
[edit] Semifinal Group 4
Suzy Vulaca - Unbreak My Heart (by Toni Braxton)
John Preator - That's What Love Is All About (by Michael Bolton)
Heather Piccinini - New Attitude (by Patti LaBelle)
John Stevens - She's Always A Woman (by Billy Joel)
Jasmine Trias - Run To You (by Whitney Houston)
George Huff - Always And Forever (by Heatwave)
Lisa Wilson - Come To My Window (by Melissa Ethridge)
Tiara Purifoy - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (by Whitney Houston)
Top 3: George, Jasmine, John
Advancing to the Top 12: John, Jasmine
[edit] Wild Card
Eliminated before the show: Lisa Leuschner, Marque Lynche, Tiara Purifoy, Eric Yoder
Jon Peter Lewis - A Little Less Conversation (by Elvis Presley)
Elizabeth LeTendre - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (by Roberta Flack)
Katie Webber - So Emotional (by Whitney Houston)
George Huff - Lean On Me (by Bill Withers)
Suzy Vulaca - I Will Survive (by Gloria Gaynor)
Matthew Metzger - When I See You Smile (by Bad English)
Leah LaBelle - Let's Stay Together (by Al Green)
Jennifer Hudson - I Believe In You And Me (by Whitney Houston)
Advancing to the Top 12: Jennifer (Randy's choice), Leah (Paula's choice),
George (Simon's choice), Jon Peter (public vote)
[edit] Top 12 (Soul)
LaToya London - Ain't Nobody (by Rufus & Chaka Khan)
Amy Adams - You Make Me Feel Brand New (by The Stylistics)
Matt Rogers - Hard To Handle (by Otis Redding)
Camile Velasco - Son Of A Preacher Man (by Dusty Springfield)
Jon Peter Lewis - Drift Away (by Dobie Gray)
Fantasia Barrino - Signed, Sealed, Delivered (by Stevie Wonder)
George Huff - Dock Of The Bay (by Otis Redding)
Jennifer Hudson - Baby I Love You (by Aretha Franklin)
John Stevens - Lately (by Stevie Wonder)
Leah LaBelle - You Keep Me Hanging On (by The Supremes)
Jasmine Trias - Inseparable (by Natalie Cole)
Diana DeGarmo - Think (by Aretha Franklin)
Result show - Soul medley
Bottom 3: Leah, Amy, Jennifer
Bottom 2: Leah, Jennifer
Eliminated: Leah
[edit] Top 11 (Country)
Diana DeGarmo - A Broken Wing (by Martina McBride)
George Huff - I Can Love You Like That (by John Michael Montgomery)
Fantasia Barrino - Always On My Mind (by Willie Nelson)
John Stevens - King Of The Road (by Roger Miller)
Camile Velasco - Desperado (by The Eagles)
Jennifer Hudson - No One Else On Earth (by Wynonna)
Jon Peter Lewis - She Believes In Me (by Kenny Rogers)
Jasmine Trias - Breathe (by Faith Hill)
Matt Rogers - Amazed (by Lonestar)
LaToya London - Ain't Goin' Down Till The Sun Goes Up (by Garth Brooks)
Amy Adams - Sin Wagon (by The Dixie Chicks)
Bottom 3: Matt, Camile, Diana
Bottom 2: Matt, Camile
Eliminated: Matt
[edit] Top 10 (Motown)
Camile Velasco - For Once In My Life (by Stevie Wonder)
Jon Peter Lewis - This Old Heart Of Mine (by The Isley Brothers)
LaToya London - Ooh, Baby Baby (by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles)
Amy Adams - Dancing In The Street (by Martha & the Vandellas)
John Stevens - My Girl (by The Temptations)
Jennifer Hudson - Heatwave (by Martha & the Vandellas)
Jasmine Trias - You're All I Need To Get By (by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell)
Diana DeGarmo - Do You Love Me (by The Contours)
Fantasia Barrino - I Heard It Through The Grapevine (by Marvin Gaye)
George Huff - Ain't Too Proud To Beg (by The Temptations)
Result show - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell)
Bottom 3: Amy, Jennifer, LaToya
Bottom 2: Amy, Jennifer
Eliminated: Amy
[edit] Top 9 (Elton John)
Fantasia Barrino - Something About The Way You Look Tonight
Jon Peter Lewis - Rocket Man
Jasmine Trias - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
John Stevens - Crocodile Rock
Camile Velasco - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
George Huff - Take Me To The Pilot
Diana DeGarmo - I'm Still Standing
LaToya London - Someone Saved My Life Tonight
Jennifer Hudson - Circle Of Life
Result show - Elton John Medley
Bottom 3: Jasmine, Camile, Diana
Bottom 2: Jasmine, Camile
Eliminated: Camile
[edit] Top 8 (Movie Night)
George Huff - Against All Odds (from Against All Odds, by Phil Collins)
Jennifer Hudson - I Have Nothing (from The Bodyguard, by Whitney Houston)
Jon Peter Lewis - Jailhouse Rock (from Jailhouse Rock, by Elvis Presley)
Diana DeGarmo - My Heart Will Go On (from Titanic, by Celine Dion)
Fantasia Barrino - Summertime (from Porgy & Bess)
Jasmine Trias - When I Fall In Love (from Sleepless In Seattle, by Nat King Cole)
John Stevens - As Time Goes By (from Casablanca)
LaToya London - Somewhere (from West Side Story)
Bottom 3: Jon Peter, John, Diana
Bottom 2: Jon Peter, John
Eliminated: Jon Peter
[edit] Top 7 (Barry Manilow)
Diana DeGarmo - One Voice
George Huff - Trying To Get That Feeling Again
Jennifer Hudson - Weekend In New England
Jasmine Trias - I'll Never Love This Way Again
LaToya London - All The Time
John Stevens - Mandy
Fantasia Barrino - It's A Miracle
Result show - Let Freedom Ring (with Barry Manilow)
Bottom 3: Jennifer, LaToya, Fantasia
Bottom 2: Jennifer, Fantasia
Eliminated: Jennifer
[edit] Top 6 (Gloria Estefan)
Fantasia Barrino - Get On Your Feet
George Huff - Live For Loving You
LaToya London - Rhythm Is Gonna Get You
John Stevens - Music Of My Heart
Jasmine Trias - Here We Are
Diana DeGarmo - Turn The Beat Around
Result show - Gloria Estefan Medley
Bottom 3: John, Jasmine, George
Bottom 2: John, George
Eliminated: John
[edit] Top 5 (Big Band)
Diana DeGarmo - Someone To Watch Over Me (by Ella Fitzgerald)
Diana DeGarmo - Come On Get Happy (by Judy Garland)
George Huff - Cheek To Cheek (by Fred Astaire)
George Huff - What A Wonderful World (by Louis Armstrong)
LaToya London - Too Close For Comfort (by Natalie Cole)
LaToya London - Don't Rain On My Parade (by Barbra Streisand)
Jasmine Trias - The Way You Look Tonight (by Tony Bennett)
Jasmine Trias - Almost Like Being In Love (by Nat King Cole)
Fantasia Barrino - Crazy Little Thing Called Love (by Queen)
Fantasia Barrino - What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life (by Barbra Streisand)
Bottom 2: George, Jasmine
Eliminated: George
[edit] Top 4 (Disco)
Jasmine Trias - Everlasting Love (by Carl Carlton)
LaToya London - Love You Inside And Out (by The Bee Gees)
Fantasia Barrino - Knock On Wood (by Amii Stewart)
Diana DeGarmo - This Is It (by Melba Moore)
Jasmine Trias - It's Raining Men (by The Weather Girls)
LaToya London - Don't Leave Me This Way (by Thelma Houston)
Fantasia Barrino - Holding Out For A Hero (by Bonnie Tyler)
Diana DeGarmo - No More Tears (by Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand)
Result show - Donna Summer Medley
Bottom 2: Fantasia, LaToya
Eliminated: LaToya
[edit] Top 3 (Idols' Choice, Judges' Choice, Clive's Choice)
Jasmine Trias - Saving All My Love For You (by Whitney Houston)
Fantasia Barrino - Chain Of Fools (by Aretha Franklin)
Diana DeGarmo - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell)
Jasmine Trias - Mr. Melody (by Natalie Cole)
Fantasia Barrino - Fool In Love (by Ike & Tina Turner)
Diana DeGarmo - Because You Loved Me (by Celine Dion)
Jasmine Trias - All By Myself (by Eric Carmen)
Fantasia Barrino - Greatest Love Of All (by Whitney Houston)
Diana DeGarmo - Don't Cry Out Loud (by Melissa Manchester)
Eliminated: Jasmine
[edit] Top 2 (Finale)
Diana DeGarmo - I Believe
Fantasia Barrino - All My Life (by K-Ci & Jo-Jo)
Diana DeGarmo - No More Tears (by Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand)
Fantasia Barrino - Summertime (from Porgy & Bess)
Diana DeGarmo - Don't Cry Out Loud (by Melissa Manchester)
Fantasia Barrino - I Believe
Result Show - The Impossible Dream (with Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard); Theme Medley;
I Knew You Were Waiting For Me
Winner: Fantasia
[edit] Finals
After a nationwide vote of more than 65 million votes in total--more than the first two seasons combined--Fantasia Barrino won the "American Idol" title beating out Diana DeGarmo. The third season was also shown in Australia on Network Ten about half a week after episodes were shown in the US.
As a nod to the "Did Clay see the card?" controversy in AI2, Ryan Seacrest was instructed to memorize the winner's name and the vote margin and was given a blank card to hold while reporting the results. However, in a post-show interview with USA Today, Diana DeGarmo admitted that she had figured out that she had not won when the contestants were going over the schedule for the finale and she saw she would be singing "I Believe" (the winner's single) before the results were announced; realizing that she would not be scheduled to sing a song she would have to sing again minutes later when the results were announced, she determined that she had lost and Fantasia had won.
At the time of the finale many celebrities voiced their support for Fantasia: Frankie Muniz, Sharon Osbourne, Ray Romano, Amy Yasbeck, Nicole Kidman, Lori Loughlin, Kate Hudson, Andy Richter, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Holly Robinson Peete, Giuliana DePandi, Ben Stiller, Redman (TV Guide), Method Man (TV Guide) Richard Schiff, Kate Hudson (On the Tonight Show), Lea Thompson and Mo'nique.
Henry Winkler said "You've got incredible judges, Simon speaks the truth, I always agree with him. And Ryan is really good at what he does , but Fantasia," he smiles, "there's something in her that is bigger than anything. We voted for her about 250 times!"
Kelly Clarkson is quoted in the June 14th, 2004 People Magazine as saying she voted for Fantasia: "I just hit redial, redial."
[edit] Bottom Three Chart
| Date | Theme | Guest Judge(s) | Bottom Three | ||
| March 17 | Soul | Leah LaBelle | Jennifer Hudson | Amy Adams | |
| March 24 | Country | Matthew Rogers | Camile Velasco | Diana DeGarmo | |
| March 31 | Motown | Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson |
Amy Adams (2) | Jennifer Hudson (2) | LaToya London |
| April 7 | Elton John | Camile Velasco (2) | Jasmine Trias | Diana DeGarmo (2) | |
| April 15 | Movies | Quentin Tarantino | Jon Peter Lewis | John Stevens | Diana DeGarmo (3) |
| April 21 | Barry Manilow | Barry Manilow | Jennifer Hudson (3) | Fantasia Barrino | LaToya London (2) |
| April 28 | Gloria Estefan | Gloria Estefan | John Stevens (2) | George Huff | Jasmine Trias (2) |
| Bottom Two | |||||
| May 5 | Big Band | George Huff (2) | Jasmine Trias (3) | ||
| May 12 | Disco | Donna Summer | LaToya London (3) | Fantasia Barrino (2) | |
| Final Three | |||||
| May 19 | Clive Davis | Jasmine Trias (4) | |||
| May 26 | Diana DeGarmo (4) | Fantasia Barrino | |||
Paul Anka made an appearance in the Season Finale.
[edit] Releases
[edit] Major releases
- American Idol Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics
- "I Believe" (Fantasia Barrino)
- "Dreams" (Diana DeGarmo)
- Free Yourself (Fantasia Barrino)
- Blue Skies (Diana DeGarmo)
- My Christmas EP! (George Huff)
- "Come Fly With Me" (John Stevens)
- Red (John Stevens)
- Jasmine Trias (Jasmine Trias)
- Love & Life (LaToya London)
- "Appreciate/Every Part of Me/All By Myself" (Latoya London)
- Miracles (George Huff)
[edit] Minor or independent releases
(This list does not include pre-Idol releases)
- Love, Lipstick and Poetry (Kiira Bivens)
- Love, Lana (Lana Phillips)
- Sing Me Home (Lisa Leuschner)
- Str8up Band (Dina Lopez)
- I'll Be Seeing You (John Preator)
- This is Next Time (Alan Ritchson)
- Sun Shiney Day (Lisa Wilson)
- "If I Go Away" / "Man Like Me" (single) (Jon Peter Lewis)
Sources: Idolsmusic.com, CD Baby
[edit] Controversy
Both Jennifer Hudson and LaToya London, part of final twelve, were eliminated, despite high praises from the judges. After Hudson was eliminated; Sir Elton John, who was a guest judge for that season criticized the vote as 'incredibly racist' in a press conference.[2]
The elimination of both Hudson and London relatively early in the competition has been pointed out as a classic demonstration of vote-splitting in the American idol vote, in which the presence of similar choices reduces the votes for each of the similar choices. Hudson, London and Barrino (who would eventually go on to win the competition) were female, African-American, highly praised singers - all appealing to the same demographic bloc of voters. All three of these previously popular singers ended up in the 'bottom three' the night Hudson was eliminated - the three having the lowest individual vote counts.[3]
[edit] Trivia
- Fantasia Barrino, the winner of this season, was considered for the role of Effie White in the film version of Dreamgirls. However, the producers preferred Jennifer Hudson, who went on to win several major awards including an Oscar for her performance as Effie.
- Many contestants in this season went on and performed in musicals, both on Broadway and elsewhere. LaToya London was in the Chicago cast of The Color Purple, which is about to begin a national tour. Diana DeGarmo has starred as Penny Pingleton in the musical Hairspray and Brooklyn in Brooklyn the Musical. Katie Webber is currently playing the Witch's Mother in the New York production of Wicked. Fantasia is due to start in April in the title role of Celie in the Broadway version of The Color Purple, originated by Tony Award-winning actress LaChanze.
[edit] References
[edit] External Links
[edit] See also
| Preceded by Season 2 (2003) |
American Idol Season 3 (2004) |
Succeeded by Season 4 (2005) |
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| Seasons | 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 |
| Hosts and judges | Ryan Seacrest · Randy Jackson · Paula Abdul · Simon Cowell · Brian Dunkleman |
| Winners | Kelly Clarkson · Ruben Studdard · Fantasia Barrino · Carrie Underwood · Taylor Hicks |
| Runner-ups | Justin Guarini · Clay Aiken · Diana DeGarmo · Bo Bice · Katharine McPhee |
| Other notable alumni | Chris Daughtry · Jennifer Hudson · Josh Gracin · Kellie Pickler · Tamyra Gray · Kimberley Locke · William Hung · Elliott Yamin |
| Spin-offs | From Justin to Kelly · American Juniors · An American Idol Christmas · American Idol Extra · American Idol Rewind |
| Other | Idol Gives Back · American Idol Compilation Series · Controversy · American Idol Magazine · American Idol Underground · Font · Video game · List of spin-offs · List of episodes |
