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)




[05/15/26 - 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.
[05/15/26 - 09:01 AM]
"The Bride!" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max May 22
The film stars Academy Award, BAFTA and Golden Globe winners Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale, with Academy Award nominees Annette Bening and Jake Gyllenhaal and winner Penélope Cruz.
[05/15/26 - 07:30 AM]
Amy Wang's Breakout Film "Slanted" Now Streaming on Paramount+
The buzzy coming-of-age satire follows a Chinese-American teen willing to go to shocking lengths to become prom queen - offering a razor-sharp take on identity, belonging and the price of chasing perfection.
[05/15/26 - 06:01 AM]
For Keeps - Meet the Cast of "Boys of Tommen"
Nancy Surridge, Conor Sánchez, James O'Donoghue, and Sophie McGibbon will star in the Prime Video series.
[05/15/26 - 05:01 AM]
Video: "Dutton Ranch" - Final Trailer - Paramount+
A new Dutton legacy begins now.
[05/15/26 - 03:01 AM]
BritBox Announces New Original Series "Chocolate Wars" (wt), Inspired by Deborah Cadbury's Book and the True Story of the Cadbury Family
The warm-hearted family drama follows the visionary Cadbury family, the underdogs of the cocoa world, on their journey towards creating the world-famous Cadbury's chocolate bar.
[05/14/26 - 11:27 PM]
Meet the 100 Contestants of "Physical 100: Sweden"
The reality competition series will have a global premiere on Netflix in 2027.
[05/14/26 - 09:31 PM]
A Mother, Two Daughters and One Big Scandal: Netflix's Crime-Comedy "Maa Behen" Premieres June 4
With the film, Netflix brings audiences a wildly entertaining story that blends small-town eccentricity with universal family madness.
[05/14/26 - 05:01 PM]
"Sunday Night Football" on NBC and Peacock - 15-Time #1 Primetime Show - Unveils 2026 Schedule
It all begins with the NFL's season opener as the New England Patriots visit the champion Seattle Seahawks in a Super Bowl LX rematch on Wednesday, September 9 on NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo.

[05/14/26 - 05:01 PM]
FOX NFL's Loaded 2026 Regular Season Schedule Features Most Windows of Any Network
In Week 10, FOX NFL presents its first tripleheader in over a decade, opening coverage on Sunday, November 15, at 9:30 AM ET with an international game from Munich between the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions.
[05/14/26 - 05:01 PM]
ESPN to Deliver Company's Largest NFL Game Portfolio Ever, Headlined by Top-Tier Matchups on "Monday Night Football" and the International Series on NFL Network
Comprised of "Monday Night Football" and NFL Network, the company will present 28 games during the regular and postseason, plus Super Bowl LXI, marking game 29.
[05/14/26 - 05:01 PM]
"NFL on CBS" Follows Record-Breaking Season with Showstopping 2026 Schedule Led by TV's No. 1 Program
Building on last season's historic viewership and with more than 100 regular-season games, CBS Sports continues to demonstrate the unmatched power and reach of its multiplatform approach across broadcast television and streaming on Paramount+.
[05/14/26 - 05:01 PM]
Prime Video Announces 2026 "Thursday Night Football" Schedule
An exciting mix of cross-divisional games, elite quarterback showdowns, and the first ever NFL regular season game at the Bills' brand-new Highmark Stadium highlight the regular-season slate.