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)




[05/18/26 - 11:16 AM]
FOX Sports Races Full Throttle Into Indianapolis 500 Powered by a Stacked Roster of Elite Broadcasters
Play-by-play announcer Will Buxton is alongside nine-time Indianapolis 500 competitor James Hinchcliffe and 10-time Indy 500 racer Townsend Bell on the call for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
[05/18/26 - 11:00 AM]
AMC Global Media and Chris Hardwick Announce Partnership on Relaunch of "I Think You're Overthinking It" Podcast
In this vodcast series, Hardwick invites friends and fellow celebrities for deep-dive, free-flowing conversations that explore the intersection of personal hobbies, life lessons, and the obsessive side of fandom - all while attempting to navigate the beautiful, neurotic mess of overthinking everything.

[05/18/26 - 09:45 AM]
ESPN Presents the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks Exclusively on ESPN Networks
ESPN's lead NBA broadcast team - Mike Breen, analysts Richard Jefferson and Tim Legler, and reporter Lisa Salters - will provide commentary throughout the series.
[05/18/26 - 09:31 AM]
"Call My Agent! The Movie" Premieres Globally on Netflix September 10, 2026
The original cast officially reunited Friday night on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet to announce their return in a brand new feature film.
[05/18/26 - 09:30 AM]
Disney+ Joins Hulu to Livestream Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits Music Festivals Globally
The addition of the Disney+ global livestream further enhances Hulu's historic run of streaming these Live Nation festivals by offering globally shared live events that can be watched simultaneously across continents.

[05/18/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: HBO Max Releases New Teaser from the DC Studios Series "Lanterns," Starring Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, and Kelly Macdonald
Additionally, the teaser revealed a first look at critically acclaimed actress Laura Linney, who will appear in the DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television series.

[05/18/26 - 07:01 AM]
TNT Sports Expands Roland-Garros U.S. Coverage in 2026 with All-Day, Multi-Platform Presentation Across TNT, truTV, HBO Max & Bleacher Report
For the second consecutive year, TNT Sports will present comprehensive live coverage of every day of the tournament, with main draw matches beginning on Sunday, May 24.

[05/18/26 - 07:01 AM]
Disney+ and Hulu to Stream New Series "Adventure Time: Side Quests" on June 29
The new series follows young hero Finn and his magical dog best friend Jake as they embark on adventures across the fantastical land of Ooo - partying with cloud people and punching evil in the butt along the way.
[05/18/26 - 03:01 AM]
"Oasis" Premieres on Netflix June 19
The series follows the guests and staff of an exclusive resort where appearances are deceptive and every character hides secrets that could change the course of the investigation.

[05/18/26 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Clarkson's Farm" Series 5 - Official Trailer - Prime Video
More Jeremy Clarkson brainwaves, more sheep and certainly more chaos on Diddly Squat Farm!

[05/16/26 - 07:38 AM]
It's the Wild West! Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Defending Champion Thunder Face Victor Wembanyama and Spurs in Western Conference Finals Beginning Monday, May 18, at 8:30 P.M. ET on NBC and Peacock
NBC Sports' Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Reggie Miller and three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford (analysts), and Zora Stephenson and Ashley ShahAhmadi (courtside reporters) will call every game of the series.
[05/15/26 - 02:03 PM]
ABC News Is #1 in Total Viewers on Sunday Morning, in Late-Night and on Friday Night
"20/20" saw week-to-week increases in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, hitting 4-week highs in both measures.
[05/15/26 - 10:42 AM]
The Biggest Home Cook Competition of All-Time Heats Up Food Network This Summer with New Series "100 Cooks"
Hosted by Terry Crews, the series welcomes 100 of the country's best home cooks to run through an epic seven-week culinary gauntlet where 99 cooks will be eliminated and only one is named America's best home cook and wins as much as $250,000.
[05/15/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: Maggie and Negan Unite to Save Manhattan in New Action-Packed Teaser for Season Three of "The Walking Dead: Dead City"
Starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohan as fan-favorite characters Negan and Maggie, the compelling new season premieres Sunday, July 26 on AMC and AMC+.
[05/15/26 - 09:31 AM]
Ella Rubin Joins Netflix's Series Adaptation of "The God of the Woods"
Rubin joins previously announced cast members Kerry Condon and Maya Hawke.