Kelly Clarkson - The Original American Idol

 

Kelly entered the competition with 10,000 others, and the judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson were impressed with her voice. She earned a position in the Top 30 finalists and week-by-week performed a song on live television to North America. When American Idol concluded each week, the viewers would vote based on the performance they enjoyed the most. Clarkson sang a rendition of Aretha Franklin's "Respect" which garnered her a top 10 position.

 

Song Performances on American Idol:

* Original Audition: "Express Yourself" (Madonna) and "At Last" (Glenn Miller) (original Dallas audition)
* Top 121: "Respect" (Aretha Franklin) (Hollywood round 1)
* Top 65: "I Say a Little Prayer" (Dionne Warwick) (Hollywood round 2)
* Top 45: "Save The Best For Last" (Vanessa Williams) (Hollywood 3)
* Top 30: "Respect" (Aretha Franklin) (semi-final group 2)
* Top 10: "All I Need" (Diana Ross) (Motown week)
* Top 8: "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin, Carole King) (1960's week)
* Top 7: "Don't Play That Song" (Aretha Franklin) (1970's week)
* Top 6: "Stuff Like That There" (Betty Hutton) (Big Band week)
* Top 5: "Walk on By" (Dionne Warwick) (Love song week)
* Top 4: "It's Raining Men" (Weather Girls) (1980's & 1990's week) (top 2)
* Top 4: "I Surrender" (Celine Dion) (1980's & 1990's week) (top 2)
* Top 3: "Think Twice" (Celine Dion) (Judge's week) (top 2)
* Top 3: "Without You" (Badfinger) (Judge's week) (top 2)
* Top 2: "Respect" (Aretha Franklin) (Finale week) (winner)
* Top 2: "Before Your Love" (Kelly Clarkson) (Finale week) (winner's single) (Crowned as American Idol) (winner)
* Top 2: "A Moment Like This" (Kelly Clarkson) (Finale week) (winner's single) (Crowned as American Idol) (winner)

Finale: "A Moment Like This" (Kelly Clarkson) (Crowned as American Idol)