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American Idol (Season 3)
Format	Interactive reality game show
Created by	Simon Fuller
Directed by	Bruce Gowers
Starring	Ryan Seacrest Paula Abdul Simon Cowell Randy Jackson
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	43
Production
Executive producer(s)	Nigel Lythgoe Ken Warwick Simon Fuller
Running time	Varies
Broadcast
Original channel	FOX, CTV
Original run	January 19, 2004 – May 26, 2004
External links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

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) was the highest recorded vote total in the show's history until the May 23, 2007 finale of American Idol 6. 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.

Contents 1 Auditions 2 Semi-finals 3 Top Twelve 4 American Idol 3 Scoreboard 4.1 Semifinal Group 1 4.2 Semifinal Group 2 4.3 Semifinal Group 3 4.4 Semifinal Group 4 4.5 Wild Card 4.6 Top 12 (Soul) 4.7 Top 11 (Country) 4.8 Top 10 (Motown) 4.9 Top 9 (Elton John) 4.10 Top 8 (Movie Night) 4.11 Top 7 (Barry Manilow) 4.12 Top 6 (Gloria Estefan) 4.13 Top 5 (Big Band) 4.14 Top 4 (Disco) 4.15 Top 3 (Idols' Choice, Judges' Choice, Clive's Choice) 4.16 Top 2 (Finale) 5 Finals 6 Bottom Three Chart 7 Releases 7.1 Major releases 7.2 Minor or independent releases 8 Controversy 9 Post-Idol career highlights 10 References 11 External links 12 See also

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]

During the audition round in Houston, Texas, auditioner Jonathan Rey threw a cup of water at Simon, who moments earlier commented that he was terrible and "there's not a song in the world you could sing." Security quickly escorted Jonathan out, and Houston police questioned him, but released him after Simon decided against pressing assault charges on him. The entire incident was caught on tape and was broadcast.

Hollywood rounds contestant Taryn Southern later appeared on the Project My World series and wrote and performed the 2007 "Hott4Hill" viral video.

American Idol Season 3 Winner
Birthname	Fantasia Monique Barrino
Years as winner	May 26, 2004 - May 25, 2005
Genres	Contemporary R&B, Soul
Succeded by	Carrie Underwood
Predecessor	Ruben Studdard

This is the first time that two contestants who previously tried out for American Idol (Matthew Metzger and Lisa Leuschner) made it to the top 3 of their semifinals group. Both contestants were eliminated during Hollywood round in the previous season.

Matthew Metzger, a semi-finalist who competed in the Wild Card episode, played the part of Demarest "Duke" Buchanan on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live from August 2004 to May 2006.

Lisa Wilson, a semi-finalist on American Idol, later became Miss Georgia USA 2006.

• Leah LaBelle
• Matthew Rogers
• Amy Adams
• Camile Velasco
• Jon Peter Lewis
• Jennifer Hudson
• John Stevens
• George Huff
• LaToya London
• Jasmine Trias
• Diana DeGarmo
• Fantasia Barrino

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

Matthew 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 *NSYNC)

Kara Master - I'm Outta Love (by Anastacia)

Lisa Leuschner - Sweet Thing (by Chaka Khan)

Jesus Roman - Back At One (by Brian McKnight)

Camile Velasco - One Last Cry (by Brian McKnight)

Marisa Joy - Some Kind of Wonderful (song) (by Grand Funk Railroad)

Top 3: Lisa, Camile, Matthew

Advancing to the Top 12: Camile, Matthew

Elizabeth LeTendre - I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) (by Whitney Houston)

Eric Yoder - In the Still of the Nite (by The Five Satins)

Amy Adams - The 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

Suzy Vulaca - Un-Break 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 Etheridge)

Tiara Purifoy - I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) (by Whitney Houston)

Top 3: George, Jasmine, John

Advancing to the Top 12: John, Jasmine

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)

LaToya London - Ain't Nobody (by Chaka Khan)

Amy Adams - You Make Me Feel Brand New (by The Stylistics)

Matthew 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 I'm Yours (by Stevie Wonder)

George Huff - (Sittin' On) the 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 Hangin' On (by The Supremes)

Jasmine Trias - Inseparable (by Natalie Cole)

Diana DeGarmo - Think (by Aretha Franklin)

Bottom 3: Leah, Jennifer, Amy

Bottom 2: Leah, Jennifer

Eliminated: Leah

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 Judd)

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 ('Til The Sun Comes Up) (by Garth Brooks)

Amy Adams - Sin Wagon (by The Dixie Chicks)

Bottom 3: Matt, Camile, Diana

Bottom 2: Matt, Camile

Eliminated: Matt

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 - (Love Is Like a) Heat Wave (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

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 (Bennie and the Jets, Daniel, Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting)

Bottom 3: Jasmine, Camile, Diana

Bottom 2: Jasmine, Camile

Eliminated: Camile

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 and Bess)

Jasmine Trias - When I Fall In Love (from Sleepless in Seattle, by Celine Dion and Clive Griffin)

John Stevens - As Time Goes By (from Casablanca)

LaToya London - Somewhere (from West Side Story)

Highest number of votes: Jennifer Hudson (revealed in top 7 results show, when Hudson was eliminated)

Bottom 3: Jon Peter, John, Diana

Bottom 2: Jon Peter, John

Eliminated: Jon Peter

Diana DeGarmo - One Voice

George Huff - Tryin' to Get the 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

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

Diana DeGarmo - Someone to Watch Over Me (by Ella Fitzgerald)

Diana DeGarmo - 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

Jasmine Trias - Everlasting Love (by Carl Carlton)

LaToya London - Love You Inside 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

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 - A Fool in Love (by 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

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 - Summetime (by Ella Fitzgerald)

Diana DeGarmo - Don't Cry Out Loud (by Melissa Manchester)

Fantasia Barrino - I Believe

Result Show - The Impossible Dream (The Quest) (with Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard); Theme Medley; I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (by Aretha Franklin and George Michael)

American Idol 2004: Fantasia

Runner-Up: Diana

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 if she were announced as the winner, she correctly deduced 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."

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.

• 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)
• "Love Ko To" (Jasmine Trias)
• Jasmine Trias (Jasmine Trias)
• Love & Life (LaToya London)
• "Appreciate/Every Part of Me/All By Myself" (Latoya London)
• Miracles (George Huff)
• Fantasia (Fantasia Barrino)
• Stories From Hollywood (Jon Peter Lewis)
• And Im Telling You (Jennifer Hudson)

(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)
• Just Like Magic (Donnie Williams)
• Reality (Lisa Leuschner)

Sources: Idolsmusic.com, CD Baby

Viewers raised many complaints when, during the semifinals Wild Card round, four of the contestants were inexplicably eliminated on the spot without having had the chance to sing and compete first, leaving only eight out of twelve contestants eligible for selection.

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]

• Many other 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 currently plays Celie in the Broadway version of The Color Purple, originated by Tony Award-winning actress LaChanze.

• Official American Idol Contestants Website

• List of songs performed on American Idol

Preceded by Season 2 (2003)

American Idol Season 3 (2004)

Succeeded by Season 4 (2005)

v • d • e American Idol season 3
Fantasia Barrino · Diana DeGarmo · Jasmine Trias · LaToya London · George Huff · John Stevens · Jennifer Hudson · Jon Peter Lewis · Camile Velasco · Amy Adams · Matthew Rogers · Leah LaBelle

v • d • e American Idol
Seasons	1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7
Hosts	Ryan Seacrest · Brian Dunkleman
Judges	Randy Jackson · Paula Abdul · Simon Cowell
Winners	Kelly Clarkson · Ruben Studdard · Fantasia Barrino · Carrie Underwood · Taylor Hicks · Jordin Sparks
Winner's Singles	"A Moment Like This" · "Flying Without Wings" · "I Believe" · "Inside Your Heaven" · "Do I Make You Proud" · "This Is My Now"
Runners-up	Justin Guarini · Clay Aiken · Diana DeGarmo · Bo Bice · Katharine McPhee · Blake Lewis
Other alumni	Tamyra Gray · Kimberley Locke · William Hung · Jennifer Hudson · Kellie Pickler · Chris Daughtry · Elliott Yamin
Spin-offs	From Justin to Kelly · Juniors · Christmas · Extra · Rewind
Other	Underground · Compilation Series · Controversy · Discography · Episodes · Font · Idol series · Magazine · Video game