Best & Worst 'American Idol' Moments Uncovered
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The groundbreaking singing competition has ended, but these diva fits are hard to forget.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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The original judges, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, expertly critiqued the contestants while verbally sparring with one another.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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Before she became the best-selling American Idol artist ever, Carrie Underwood was a nervous country crooner who against all odds, won season four.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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Their sound, look and size couldn't have been more different, but they quickly became BFFs, and Reuben Studdard beat Clay Aiken and his throngs of Claymates for the season two crown.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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The acerbically honest judge, Simon, left in 2010 after season nine to jump to The X Factor. American Idol was never the same in relevance or ratings, and The X Factor was canceled after three middling seasons.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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There were two divas too many as Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj had explosive screaming matches while they were on the season 12 judges' panel, culminating in Nicki storming off the set and yelling, "If I had a gun, I would shoot the b*tch!"
Photo credit: Getty Images
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In the current season, after contestant Quentin Alexander sang, he called the competition "wack," prompting judge Harry Connick Jr. to tell him to go home if he didn't like it and calling his comments disrespectful.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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Season one came down to the wire as Kelly Clarkson barely beat Justin Guarini. Despite their costarring roles in the cheesy From Justin to Kelly movie, she became the show's biggest success story, while he plays Lil' Sweet in Dr. Pepper ads.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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Paula's odd comments were practically her signature, but she went off the rails when criticizing Jason Castro for a song he hadn't sung yet in season seven, which caused the audience to audibly snicker.
Photo credit: Getty Images
10 of 13
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The sniping between Simon and Ryan Seacrest reached a head in season six when Simon called Ryan "sweetheart," clearly annoying Ryan, who tersely replied, "Don't call me sweetheart."
Photo credit: Getty Images
11 of 13
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In season three, future Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson got the boot early, coming in eighth and shocking fans who thought she was a shoo-in for the finals.
Photo credit: Getty Images
12 of 13
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No bad audition was worse or more endearing than William Hung's tone-deaf rendition of "She Bangs" in season three, which made him an instant pop-culture phenomenon.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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Despite a weak voice, Sanjaya Malakar and his wild hairdos almost stole season six, thanks to a concerted effort to sabotage the vote by American Idol haters.
Photo credit: Getty Images
american-idol-finale-last-season-winners-best-worst-moments-7
The groundbreaking singing competition has ended, but these diva fits are hard to forget.
Photo credit: Getty Images
american-idol-finale-last-season-winners-best-worst-moments-13
The original judges, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, expertly critiqued the contestants while verbally sparring with one another.
Photo credit: Getty Images
american-idol-finale-last-season-winners-best-worst-moments-9
Before she became the best-selling American Idol artist ever, Carrie Underwood was a nervous country crooner who against all odds, won season four.
Photo credit: Getty Images
american-idol-finale-last-season-winners-best-worst-moments-10
Their sound, look and size couldn't have been more different, but they quickly became BFFs, and Reuben Studdard beat Clay Aiken and his throngs of Claymates for the season two crown.
Photo credit: Getty Images
american-idol-finale-last-season-winners-best-worst-moments-1
The acerbically honest judge, Simon, left in 2010 after season nine to jump to The X Factor. American Idol was never the same in relevance or ratings, and The X Factor was canceled after three middling seasons.
Photo credit: Getty Images
american-idol-finale-last-season-winners-best-worst-moments-6
There were two divas too many as Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj had explosive screaming matches while they were on the season 12 judges' panel, culminating in Nicki storming off the set and yelling, "If I had a gun, I would shoot the b*tch!"
Photo credit: Getty Images
american-idol-finale-last-season-winners-best-worst-moments-3
In the current season, after contestant Quentin Alexander sang, he called the competition "wack," prompting judge Harry Connick Jr. to tell him to go home if he didn't like it and calling his comments disrespectful.
Photo credit: Getty Images
american-idol-finale-last-season-winners-best-worst-moments-2
Season one came down to the wire as Kelly Clarkson barely beat Justin Guarini. Despite their costarring roles in the cheesy From Justin to Kelly movie, she became the show's biggest success story, while he plays Lil' Sweet in Dr. Pepper ads.
Photo credit: Getty Images
american-idol-finale-last-season-winners-best-worst-moments-4
Paula's odd comments were practically her signature, but she went off the rails when criticizing Jason Castro for a song he hadn't sung yet in season seven, which caused the audience to audibly snicker.
Photo credit: Getty Images
american-idol-finale-last-season-winners-best-worst-moments-14
The sniping between Simon and Ryan Seacrest reached a head in season six when Simon called Ryan "sweetheart," clearly annoying Ryan, who tersely replied, "Don't call me sweetheart."
Photo credit: Getty Images
american-idol-finale-last-season-winners-best-worst-moments-8
In season three, future Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson got the boot early, coming in eighth and shocking fans who thought she was a shoo-in for the finals.
Photo credit: Getty Images
american-idol-finale-last-season-winners-best-worst-moments-5
No bad audition was worse or more endearing than William Hung's tone-deaf rendition of "She Bangs" in season three, which made him an instant pop-culture phenomenon.
Photo credit: Getty Images
american-idol-finale-last-season-winners-best-worst-moments-12
Despite a weak voice, Sanjaya Malakar and his wild hairdos almost stole season six, thanks to a concerted effort to sabotage the vote by American Idol haters.
Photo credit: Getty Images
