or


[05/24/06 - 12:00 AM]
Taylor Hicks Is Crowned the "American Idol" Approximately 580 Million Total Votes Cast During Historic Fifth Season of Television's No. 1 Show

[via press release from FOX]

TAYLOR HICKS IS CROWNED THE "AMERICAN IDOL" Approximately 580 Million Total Votes Cast During Historic Fifth Season of Television's No. 1 Show

Prince Rocks the House Along with Guest Performers Clay Aiken, Burt Bacharach, Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Al Jarreau, Live, Meat Loaf, Carrie Underwood and Dionne Warwick

The record-setting fifth season of AMERICAN IDOL came to a spectacular conclusion tonight as Taylor Hicks was crowned the winner during the live two-hour season finale on FOX. Hicks, 29, from Birmingham, AL, emerged as America's choice in a competition that began with tens of thousands of hopefuls who auditioned in San Francisco, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Greensboro, Las Vegas and Denver. Over the course of the season, viewers cast approximately 580 million votes in support of their favorite contestants.

Superstar singer/songwriter Prince made a surprise appearance on tonight's grand finale, performing two songs from his new album "3121" - "Lolita" and "Satisfied." The show also featured the Top 12 AMERICAN IDOL contestants performing with guest artists Clay Aiken, Burt Bacharach, Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Al Jarreau, Live, Meat Loaf and Dionne Warwick. Last season's winner, Carrie Underwood, took the stage for the last time as the reigning American Idol, performing "Don't Forget to Remember Me." Among their multiple performances, McPhee sang "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" with legendary singer Meat Loaf, and Hicks was joined by Toni Braxton on "In the Ghetto."

Hicks is the fifth American Idol to be crowned, joining Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia and Carrie Underwood as winners of the coveted title, a major recording contract and a management contract.

Tuesday night's final performance show had the audience on its feet, as Hicks and co-finalist Katharine McPhee each performed three songs. Hicks sang "Do I Make You Proud," written by Absolute and Tracy Ackerman, while McPhee sang "My Destiny," written by Harry Sommerdahl, Hanne Sorvag and Tim Baxter. In addition, Hicks sang "Living for the City" and "Levon" and McPhee sang "Over the Rainbow" and "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree." The night was topped off by Daniel Powter's special performance of his hit single "Bad Day."

Tuesday's square-off featuring Hicks and McPhee marked AMERICAN IDOL's highest-rated final performance show ever among Adults 18-49 and Total Viewers. As the talent competition wound down tonight, IDOL concluded a tremendous season - gaining 2% in Adults 18-49 and 12% in Total Viewers versus the same telecasts last year, and gaining +9% in Adults 18-49 and +14% in Total Viewers versus the same weeks last season.

Fourteen-time Emmy-nominated AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment, Ltd.; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Television; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.

Go to AmericanIdol.com for all of your AMERICAN IDOL news. Check out photos from this season, along with special, behind-the-scenes information on AMERICAN IDOL. For photos of the finalists, please go to www.foxflash.com.





  [may 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)





[10/24/25 - 02:30 PM]
Video: First Look at Upcoming New Drama "Memory of a Killer" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli - Premiering This January on FOX
Dempsey stars as a hitman, Angelo Doyle, leading a dangerous double life while hiding an even deadlier personal secret - he has developed early onset Alzheimer's.

[10/24/25 - 02:02 PM]
"20/20" Is Friday's Most-Watched Newsmagazine Across the Board
In addition, "20/20" posted its best Adults 25-54 in more than four months.

[10/24/25 - 02:01 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 Across the Board, Leading NBC in All Key Demos for the 4th Straight Week
"Nightline" grew year to year across the board: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.

[10/24/25 - 01:05 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Makes Television History - Rising for Fifth Straight Week
The October 21 episode scored 6.63 million Total Viewers and a 1.38 rating among Adults 18-49, hitting new season highs in both demographics.

[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer
The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM]
FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One
Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5
Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.

[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free
Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.

[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.

[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.

[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.

[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.